Barefoot tower boom vs barefoot pylon boom

[Grasshopper]

I am looking to buy a boom for my 1999 pro air. I have three kids who love going to the lake. They are all under eight years old and I'm looking to get a boom so I teach them how to wakeboard. A friend of mine has a pylon boom that my oldest was wakeboarding off of last year. I was leaning towards the tower boom so it would be out of the way seeing how my boat is ALWAYS at maximum capacity but have been told that I take a chance on breaking something on my tower or even the deck of boat. I plan to have this boat for at least another five years so could just go with a pylon boom and run it behind the driver seat so it is out of the way. Reason for wanting to go with a tower boom was so when I do sell my boat to upgrade I could take my tower boom with me. Any input would be helpful.
Thanks

[Quinner]

Do you have the original FCT1 or a different tower? If FCT1 you may want to confirm the tower boom will work with the smaller diameter tubing.
Unless your next boat is going to be a VDrive the pylon boom can be taken to the next boat as well. Never used a tower boom but looks a little like it could be a PITA to put up/take down, pylon boom is pretty simple.

[s_kelley2000]

I was going to ask the same question as Quinner. If you have the Gen 1 FCT1 then I would not want to put any sort of side load on that tower. Mine kept cracking welds without the additional stress of a boom. Gen2 FCT I would not worry about putting a tower boom on it. But either way I think I would go with the pylon boom. You can likely find a good deal on one if you look around CL for a little bit. If it's not compatible with your next boat you can always sell it and probably not lose anything.

Gen 1 FCT 1:


FCT2/NDT, notice thicker diameter and it hinges forward halfway instead of from the feet:

[hondaprlud]

I had a regular one for my 96 Sport DD and a tower boom on my 04 SANTE 210. without a doubt the first one was easier to setup and take down on the water. When i sold the 210 i kept the boom for the next boat. Unfortunately the boom would not fit the larger diameter Titan tower on my 230 so I sold it.

[Grasshopper]

I have the FCT2 on my boat. That is what I was thinking that it would be a pain setting up and breaking down one off the tower. Especially with 3 to 5 little kids wanting to jump in and out of the boat while doing so. I do plan on going to a Vdrive next and already thought about the bigger tubing on the newer boats. Didn't know if all I would have to is get different clamps or not. Looks like a pylon boom might just be best for now. Who knows

[pSchwade]

haha - I was looking for the link with the correct tower info and I realized that Shawn was the original poster... those are gen 1 and gen 2 (new dimension tower) variants of the FCT1 tower.

http://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/fo...427#post304427

[hondaprlud]

I have the FCT2 on my boat. That is what I was thinking that it would be a pain setting up and breaking down one off the tower. Especially with 3 to 5 little kids wanting to jump in and out of the boat while doing so. I do plan on going to a Vdrive next and already thought about the bigger tubing on the newer boats. Didn't know if all I would have to is get different clamps or not. Looks like a pylon boom might just be best for now. Who knows

When I called to buy different clamps for my Titan, Mike suggested that selling the old and buying a new boom would be cheaper. I didn't have him quote it, but sold my old one.

[Grasshopper]

Thanks for the info. Looks like I'm going with a pylon boom for now and worry with a tower boom whenever I go to a Vdrive.