So what's wrong with a tower

[HVL2010]

Reading a couple of threads I asked myself the question in the title. I added a New Dimension Tower onto my 1992, and I haven't looked back. While I realize it isn't a wake machine (no ballast and hull not designed to sink) it actually seems to have made a good boat better. First, it looks like a factory tower. Monster makes a very good product, but it looked aftermarket to my taste. Second, I now have the ability to tower mount a bimini. Third, I have racks on the tower to hold not only wakeboards but also skis and skates. This frees up a ton of room in the boat so that it feels way less cluttered and more organized. Last, I find that the higher tow point has been great for skiing and could be good for trick skiing if I were to ever take that up.

Is the bias I read mostly an aesthetic thing, or do people really think it changes the function of the boat in a negative way. My personal opinion after having a flyhigh pole, is that I can't believe I waited so long to do something like this. I'm not knocking anyones opinion...just curious in how you arrived a one different than mine.

Thoughts?

[Chexi]

Reading a couple of threads I asked myself the question in the title. I added a New Dimension Tower onto my 1992, and I haven't looked back. While I realize it isn't a wake machine (no ballast and hull not designed to sink) it actually seems to have made a good boat better. First, it looks like a factory tower. Monster makes a very good product, but it looked aftermarket to my taste. Second, I now have the ability to tower mount a bimini. Third, I have racks on the tower to hold not only wakeboards but also skis and skates. This frees up a ton of room in the boat so that it feels way less cluttered and more organized. Last, I find that the higher tow point has been great for skiing and could be good for trick skiing if I were to ever take that up.

Is the bias I read mostly an aesthetic thing, or do people really think it changes the function of the boat in a negative way. My personal opinion after having a flyhigh pole, is that I can't believe I waited so long to do something like this. I'm not knocking anyones opinion...just curious in how you arrived a one different than mine.

Thoughts?

Nothing. Some of the older boats need reinforcing for the tower mounts, but other than that, there is nothing wrong with adding a tower. Some ski purists will pay less for your boat because you added it, but just as many others will pay more. I added a tower to my Tige closed bow ski and agree that it was a good move for the wake racks alone. I suppose the usefulness of a tower is nil if all you do is ski (remember, some biminis do not need towers), so it adds no value, but the only reason it would detract value is from an aesthetic point of view. Personally, it is my taste that boats look naked without towers now, but that it just my opinion.

[HVL2010]

I figured the answer lies in aesthetics. It is still interesting to me that the practicality of the thing seems to get overlooked. A form over function thing if you will. I felt that way when I initially bought my boat...now I wouldn't think twice about it.

[east tx skier]

For me, its purely aesthetics. I recognize they are quite functional. It's just not my cup of tea, and I passed on a couple of boats simply because it wasn't something I wanted. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it if it suits the boat owner.

[Nautiquehunter]

That's the beauty of ownership. Its your boat the only one you have to please is yourself. Tower or no tower have it your way.

[Andrew]

It's not that hard to unbolt a tower and fill the holes.... I can't think of any reason that a tower would detract value...

[igkya]

I took my tower off last year and used gator grip to cover the holes. Made it look like a step pad.

[cotton]

Nothing but it seems like its perception. I have a 206 and can’t imagine not having the tower but think a 196 looks much better without one. A ski buddy and MC Promo guy said he used to think the towers looked horrible but after a few years of having them (for resale) he can’t imagine his 197 without it. A ski buddy and Nautique Promo guy said he used to think the bimini looked bad but now would never own another boat without it; so it appears it’s what we get used to.

Our tower is a must. While I don’t wakeboard that’s what kids these days want to do and the tower allows us to load up the boat (including the back seat) with passengers and watch the wipe out show. When the kids aren’t with us and slalom is the goal, the tower’s weight doesn’t seem to hurt anything according to the short liners. Actually, when slaloming I add another 50 lbs of weight in the bow per suggestions from some on this site, and run a half a tank of gas or less.