While you may have access to a boat for learning how to wakeboard, it may not be fitted with a wakeboarding tower. This will have you wondering if you can go wakeboarding without a tower.
Yes, you can wakeboard without a tower, but you will miss out on several benefits. A wakeboarding tower provides a higher rope attachment on the boat’s stern, resulting in an upward pull for the wakeboarder’s rope. This makes it less likely to faceplant and much easier to get up on the wakeboard.
Setting up your boat with a wakeboard tower allows more advanced tricks and makes the boat more comfortable and practical. In this article, we will help you figure out what to expect if you wakeboard without a tower.
Wakeboarding Without A Tower: What to Expect
When you wakeboard without a tower, the rope is generally tied to a ski eye on the boat’s stern, which is typically quite low above the water surface. This results in a downward pull that can make you faceplant if you catch your board’s front.
When you pop off the water for jumping, the negative angle of the rope towards the low eye can pull you down, keeping you from going high. Being low, the wakeboarding rope also gets affected easily by the agitated water behind your boat.
When wakeboarding without a tower, trying different rope lengths can help position yourself at an ideal place on the wake. For example, shorter ropes – that is, 15 to 22 inches shorter than normal – can place you closer to your boat, where the wakes are closer apart with more ramp to them. This can help you jump across them.
What Does a Wakeboard Tower Offer?
1. Longer Air Time
With an elevated tow line, you will be pulled upward naturally. This way, you will be able to jump higher, and with longer air time. This makes it much easier for you to perform epic and challenging movements.
Similarly, unlike when wakeboarding without a tower, the likelihood of falling while trying to get up on your wakeboard is reduced. Even if you happen to lose your balance, the tower will help you restore your stance quickly.
2. Better, Stable Movement
If you wakeboard without a tower, your rope will be very low, eventually catching water and causing inferno splashes. Even if you have covered most of your body with board shorts and a good rash guard, the splashes can be annoying when you are trying to turn between sides.
A tower indirectly enhances the rider’s stability. Low towing might tempt beginning riders to look downward to check the rope’s clearance. When they do, the wakeboarders end up bending their bodies forward unconsciously, which can make them sink.
3. Platform for Accessories
A tower also provides an easy way to upgrade the boat with accessories. For starters, it is possible to attach cool wakeboard tower speakers to spice things up with all your favorite tracks. Adding some lights to the tower will allow you to wakeboard safely at night.
4. Storage Rack
Why let your wakeboards take valuable boat space when you can just hang them? It is extremely easy to install wakeboard racks on the tower’s frame. In most cases, racks are sturdy and spacious enough to hold up to three wakeboards.
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FAQs
Q: Does a Wakeboard Tower Make A Difference?
Yes, wakeboard towers do make a significant difference. Pulling your rope up, they allow you to jump higher, giving you longer air time. Since the rope is way off the water surface, the tower eliminates the possibility of annoying splashes.
Q: What is the Purpose of a Wakeboard Tower?
The main purpose of a wakeboard tower is to elevate the tow point. In addition to keeping the rope off the turbulence that forms behind the boat, the higher tow point makes it much easier for the rider to get back up on the board after doing tricks in the air.
Q: Can You Put A Wake Tower on Any Boat?
Universal wakeboard towers are generally designed to be adjustable. This means that they can be installed on most modern boats. It is, however, worth noting that some boats – especially older models – may not support the wake tower.
Q: Can You Pull A Tube from Wakeboard Tower?
Pulling tubes from the wakeboard tower is not recommended. In addition to harming your boat, it will put the passengers in harm's way. The tube can create a hole at the mounting position, causing the tower to collapse, leading to injuries.
Q: Do You Need A Tower for Wakeboarding?
A tower is not mandatory for wakeboarding. However, to improve your riding experience, increase your air time, and also get up on your board more quickly, a tower may be a good idea.
Globo Surf Overview
While wakeboarding without a tower is possible, you may want to consider installing the tower on your boat for an enhanced riding experience. In this guide, we have outlined some of the benefits offered by the tower. We have also discussed what to expect if you wakeboard without a tower.