Spring Sale on Wakeboard Towers

Which wakeboard tower will fit my boat?

To find out which wakeboard tower will fit, your first step is to measure your boat’s beam width. Depending on the beam width, you will be able to fit one or even several wakeboard tower models. All our universal wakeboard towers are designed to be adjustable and can fit just about any inboard boat made in the last 50 years. Aerial’s “universal” towers are carefully designed and tested so that strength and performance are not compromised when installed properly. To find your boat’s beam width, you can also ask your boat’s manufacturer, find your boat online at nadaguides.com, or we can find your boat in the database if you call us at (843) 948-6915.

Can I install a wakeboard tower by myself?

Our instructions are very simple and anyone with basic skills and tools will have no problem. If you get stuck, not to worry — we are one of the few wakeboard tower companies with a fully staffed, fully trained, full-time support staff in our Summerville, South Carolina office. We’re available by phone, email and live chat Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm EST. Although most of our customers do the installation themselves, some will have their local boat shop do the installation for them. We have a list of some boat shops in your area listed along with “preferred” Aerial Authorized Dealers and Installers.

How long does it take to install a wakeboard tower?

The average time to install a wakeboard tower is 4–6 hours. If you are adding accessories like speakers, lights, or a tower bimini, it will take longer.

How much does it cost to install a wakeboard tower?

You should expect to pay between $1,000 to $1,500 to install just a wakeboard tower. The cost will vary depending on the boat shop you hire and their hourly rate. The number and type of accessories you want will also increase the total cost. For example, electric accessories like speakers and lights are easy to mount but the wires must be run through the tower’s tubing then properly connected to a power supply.

What diameter tubing are your wakeboard towers?

We use 2.25" diameter tubing for the main wake tower frame and 2.5" diameter tubing for the top connecting section. All our clamp-on accessories ship with clamp inserts to match the diameter depending on where you install them.

What kind of aluminum are your towers made of?

Aerial’s wakeboard towers are made from 2¼" outer diameter 6061-T6 aluminum. 6061-T6 is a high grade aluminum alloy that is commonly used for airplanes, race cars, premium bicycles and other applications that require high strength and less weight. “T6” indicates the highest level of temper offered in wakeboard towers. To achieve a T6 designation, the metal is heat treated by precipitation hardening and involves two steps of solution heat treating and aging. Ultimately, the process changes the molecular properties and increases strength. There are different temper levels and smaller numbers indicate lower strength — T5 is weaker than T6, for example. Aluminum is also great because it is lightweight, corrosion resistant and easy to clean. Weight is important because it’s both easier to install and will have minimal effect on the boat’s performance and stability.

Some manufacturers use weaker 6063 aluminum for all their towers, unfortunately. It is NOT aircraft-grade as it is often claimed to be. It’s primarily used as an architectural metal alloy, most commonly for window and door frames, roofing and other products that require light to medium strength. 6063 has a different molecular composition that gives it lower tensile strength and is more malleable. We feel that 6063 is used by manufacturers mainly to save cost. A quick Google search online will give you many results that compare 6061 to 6063 in detail.

Below is a table illustrating why 6061-T6 is superior to 6063 and an important feature to find in a tower:

What type of material is used for the tower bimini canopies?

We use Sunbrella™ Plus marine-grade fabric for all our canvas tops. Sunbrella™ is pretty much the undisputed best option for the marine industry. Just about every single boat you see in your local marina is dressed up with Sunbrella™ canopies, biminis, covers, seating, etc. Fade-resistant Sunbrella™ fabrics protect against salt water and all kinds of weather. They breathe so moisture doesn’t get trapped like vinyl, which can mildew. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends Sunbrella™ as an aid in the prevention of sun-induced damage to the skin. A properly cared for Sunbrella™ canopy will out-live a competitor’s marine canvas by as much as 10 times. Be careful — we have heard from many customers who have purchased from some of our competitors and said their canvas faded drastically in only a few months.

Can I pull tubes, inflatables or any towables from a wakeboard tower?

Absolutely not! You should never tow a tube from a wakeboard tower. The amount of force could damage or break a wakeboard tower, lead to damage of your boat’s fiberglass hull and possibly injure someone. Towing a tube is very different than towing a wakeboarder. There could be significantly more drag or anchoring force than a wakeboard tower was designed to handle.

In fact, even factory installed wakeboard towers found on the most expensive wake boats don’t allow you to tow tubes. They all have warning labels that specifically state not to, otherwise it will void your warranty. If an aftermarket wakeboard tower manufacturer claims their towers are strong enough to pull tubes, we would advise you not to trust that claim.

We recommend you use a low transom mounted ski tow eye hook to tow tubes.

Is there an Authorized Aerial Wakeboarding reseller or installer in my area?

Please check our Where to Buy page to find the closest Aerial Authorized Resellers & Installers. We have also added some local boat service and repair shops that are in your area. You can be confident that any reputable boat shop can complete the installation with no problem. In our experience, there are very few shops that have not installed a wakeboard tower. That said, be sure to do your homework, read shop reviews, get a written quote and get their warranties in writing.