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Author Topic:   tow tower for 18' Outrage

gmoulder posted 04-04-2012 03:27 PM ET (US)
Everyone,
Would like to design, fabricate, and install a tow tower for wake boarding on the Outrage. 18' 1988 with twin 70s. Power should be NO issue with the Vipers. Problem is trying to pull someone out of the water with the bridle attached to the transom lift eyes. Am thinking of a system of maybe 1 1/4" sch 10 SS pipe / tube, attached with socket flanges on the outboard ends of the strongback which runs across the beam about 2' forward of the transom and then again to the transom. Having the tow ring at an elevation just above the engines might work. This has to have happened before. Ideas, designs which have worked would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Glen
russellbailey posted 04-04-2012 03:40 PM ET (US)
If all you want is the tow point at the height of the engines, the Turboswing works great. It is about $1000 for a twin engine version like what I have on my Outrage 25 with twin 150s. My tow point is just above the cowling on my Optimax 150s, which are pretty high since they are 25" shaft models on jackplates. I can email a picture of it with a wakeboarder in tow.
If you want a real wakeboard tow tower, it will take some work. The gunwales as original are not sufficiently strong for mounting and would take some reinforcement. I considered that approach closely before going with the Turboswing.
It is almost watersports season here in VA and I'm excited to be in the water soon.
russellbailey posted 04-04-2012 05:02 PM ET (US)
An an aside, there is no problem getting up with the tow eyes - the low angle of pull does not matter much for getting out of the water - a wakeboard still pops right up.
I suspect you'll find the tow eyes to be a pain with twin engines however, even with a bridle. That was the main reason I got the Turboswing. The extra height in the pulling point was just a bonus.
gmoulder posted 04-09-2012 04:51 PM ET (US)
Thanks Russell,
I had seen the Turboswing video before. The pulling point on the boat is too low. Although some have gotten up on wakeboards using the lifting eyes, my crowd generally achieve swallowing lots of Lake Tuscaloosa. I want something that is about the same elevation from the water surface as the hands of an adult on the wakeboard. Will think about this more, but believe that the result will be a custom fabricated tubing apparatus fixed on the strongback and the transom, with the tow point perhaps 3" to 4" above the engines.
Glen

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Author	Topic: tow tower for 18' Outrage
gmoulder	posted 04-04-2012 03:27 PM ET (US) Everyone, Would like to design, fabricate, and install a tow tower for wake boarding on the Outrage. 18' 1988 with twin 70s. Power should be NO issue with the Vipers. Problem is trying to pull someone out of the water with the bridle attached to the transom lift eyes. Am thinking of a system of maybe 1 1/4" sch 10 SS pipe / tube, attached with socket flanges on the outboard ends of the strongback which runs across the beam about 2' forward of the transom and then again to the transom. Having the tow ring at an elevation just above the engines might work. This has to have happened before. Ideas, designs which have worked would be appreciated. Thanks, Glen
russellbailey	posted 04-04-2012 03:40 PM ET (US) If all you want is the tow point at the height of the engines, the Turboswing works great. It is about $1000 for a twin engine version like what I have on my Outrage 25 with twin 150s. My tow point is just above the cowling on my Optimax 150s, which are pretty high since they are 25" shaft models on jackplates. I can email a picture of it with a wakeboarder in tow. If you want a real wakeboard tow tower, it will take some work. The gunwales as original are not sufficiently strong for mounting and would take some reinforcement. I considered that approach closely before going with the Turboswing. It is almost watersports season here in VA and I'm excited to be in the water soon.
russellbailey	posted 04-04-2012 05:02 PM ET (US) An an aside, there is no problem getting up with the tow eyes - the low angle of pull does not matter much for getting out of the water - a wakeboard still pops right up. I suspect you'll find the tow eyes to be a pain with twin engines however, even with a bridle. That was the main reason I got the Turboswing. The extra height in the pulling point was just a bonus.
gmoulder	posted 04-09-2012 04:51 PM ET (US) Thanks Russell, I had seen the Turboswing video before. The pulling point on the boat is too low. Although some have gotten up on wakeboards using the lifting eyes, my crowd generally achieve swallowing lots of Lake Tuscaloosa. I want something that is about the same elevation from the water surface as the hands of an adult on the wakeboard. Will think about this more, but believe that the result will be a custom fabricated tubing apparatus fixed on the strongback and the transom, with the tow point perhaps 3" to 4" above the engines. Glen