What are some features of wakeboard towers (any manufacturer) you like/dislike?
Pros: Ease of folding, access to board racks, and getting rope attached. Height of tower / speaker placement so I can walk under the tower without mashing my skull. Must fit with the lines of the boat - some towers look forced and ugly
Cons: Too low, PITA to fold down, makes noise / rattles, wobbles at higher speeds without rider (old MC towers), speakers that I can hit my head on.
What features would you like to have on your new tower if cost wasn't an issue?
$$$ not being a thing - quick removal of tower and all accessories. Common wiring plug(s) at base and top for modular addition of extra stuff. Tower could fold partially via switch for going under bridge / low boat lift cover. Bimini that would "roll up" into the tower.... so I could extend an arm or two that it would hook to, then if I didn't want it up it would just roll itself up into the tower's crossbar. LEDs integrated into the frame - RED/Green nav, RGB for party cove, and white forward and back for docking. Hollow compartment in an old Illusion X for basic tool storage would have been great (screwdrivers and etc).
Do you find raising/lowering a tower bothersome or difficult? Why?
Alone, sometimes, just because I don't want it to drop like a rock and wreck something ... perfect world it would be on a switch, but that is an expense I would rather see in other areas of the boat. Sometimes just the multiple pins / parts can't be done easily by 1 person.
Do you find the tower getting in your way during any activities or preventing you from doing anything? How so?
Not really, just the height of some towers + speakers is an issue. Some boats tower mount + windshield placement makes reaching over the side tougher than it should be for the driver. Also older towers without swivel board racks can make tie-ups difficult and/or getting into a boat lift
What aspects of a tower do you find aesthetically pleasing?
As long as it fits with the lines of the boat it looks okay.... some boats looks like the tower was an afterthought, and it shows.
Does the type and thickness of material matter to you?
Not really, as long as there is data to support it being used without failure.
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