Drilling through FCT Gen ?

[Treybizttu]

Posted this on CCF but figured I might get more repsonses on here due to more wakeboarding folks.

Ended up with a set of Wakeboard Racks from a later model Nautique with the "titan" tower. It has round clamps but they are way too big for my 00' vintage FCT. However, the racks themselves are two pieces with the rack coming completely apart from the two halves of the clamp. I personally like the idea of having them on the oval bar and don't care or need to have a "clamp on style".

I can basically use my drill press and make the mounting holes go all the way through the rack, make a template from that, and drill some holes in my oval bar on the FCT. Say 4 holes each rack. Use stainless hardware and through-bolt the racks to my oval bars... I also have access to a water jet so I can make a backing plate for the other side of the oval bar if need be.

Good idea? Bad Idea?

The finish isn't great on my tower so I'm not worried about that but I was unsure that putting 4 holes in each side of the oval bar was a good idea. I have seen lots of holes drilled in various towers but I figured I'd get a consensus on here wether I was going to severely weaken my tower or not. I stopped by the lakehouse this weekend and it didn't seem like the oval bar was super thin material but it wasn't solid either.

[Treybizttu]

Interesting... Figured I'd get more of a response on here.

[Chexi]

Many people have done this, and the original towers all had racks mounted this way. The only downside I see is if water gets in and you live in (and store the boat in) a freezing climate. I see you are in Grapevine (presumably TX), so if you store your boat inside, I see no problem at all. Pretty small risk anyway, but something to consider.

[Treybizttu]

Living in Texas means freezing isn't a big concern. And yes, my boat is under a carport during the summer and tucked away in the family barn during the winter. To further combat the chance that water would get in there I could always do a little silicone water proofing I guess.

And I did notice when I was searching for flight clips that it appeared there original design was to bolt through the oval bar.

[Treybizttu]

Anddd Viola. I'm going to round the edges of the back plate a bit but otherwise this is my plann.

[kend]

Living in Texas means freezing isn't a big concern.

LOL, new here? Winterize by Halloween -trust me on this.

[Treybizttu]

Haha, I meant that in reference to a little water freezing in my tower... And no, born here 33 years ago and they haven't booted me out yet.

And I'm very aware of the Texas winterizing process... Winterize the first time in october and then re-winterize 2 or 3 more times when it's 85 degrees randomly during October and November. . Repeat the same process in the spring when it's 80 one day and snowing the next.

I love this place.

[swankster]

LOL, new here? Winterize by Halloween -trust me on this.

Yep, I usually wait until Thanksgiving to winterize but have made a few runs to the storage facility in early Nov to drain the boat.