Top 8 Wakeboard Towers You Can Have And Why

These days, wakeboard towers have become a standard feature on any boat specifically designed for wakeboarding. But if you own an older boat or plan to buy a versatile recreational vessel, the best option for you would be to invest in an aftermarket wakeboard tower. Wakeboarding is an investment worth making for several reasons. As Loren Swor, the lead engineer and co-owner of Big Air Waketowers, points out, having the tow rope pulling you from above rather than the boat's stern makes it much easier to jump out of the water and stay up.

Mike Dovey, Managing Director of Wakeboard Towers UK, says that a tower not only helps beginners grasp the basics more easily, but also provides attachment points for handy accessories like shade-giving Bimini tops, wakeboard racks, and speakers.

The best wakeboard towers are designed to fold up compactly for easy storage and are made from durable, lightweight aluminum. Dovey stresses the importance of making sure the model you're considering fits your desired placement and has adjustable feet for proper angling. Swor emphasizes that quality craftsmanship is crucial, as wakeboard towers endure immense stress, and the risk of severe injury is real if they fail.

With that in mind, here are some of the most highly regarded wakeboard towers currently available on the market.

Monster Tower MT1 Wakeboard Tower Is The Best Overall Product

Though not the priciest or most feature-packed model in Monster Tower's lineup, the MT1 Wakeboard Tower remains a popular original choice among wakeboarding fans for its strong, silent performance at a mid-range price point. Made from 2.5-inch thick 6061/63 aluminum, you can get it with a polished and anodized finish or a sleek black powder coating. The tower accommodates boats with beam widths between sixty and one hundred and two inches.

Zero torsion mounts help prevent stress fractures and spider cracks over time, while stainless steel Heim Joints allow for precise foot adjustments to fit various surface angles. Monster Paws come with the tower for mounting on curved surfaces. Other notable features include two header bars for extra support and accessory storage, plus a rapid-release folding mechanism (no tools needed). Each MT1 tower includes a five-year warranty.

Big Air Cuda Wakeboard Tower Is second Best In The Overall Competition

For those with a bigger budget and a taste for aggressive styles, the Big Air Cuda Wakeboard Tower is worth considering. You can mount it with a forward or reverse slant, and it features built-in corner trusses for a rigid pull even in rough water. This design takes inspiration from towers originally made by professional wake boat OEMs. It also offers ample space for attaching wakeboarding gear, with an average 7-foot clearance, minimizing head bump risks.

The Big Air Cuda mounts on the side or top of any boat's gunwales with a beam width between 72 and 103 inches, and it's compatible with boats of all lengths. With only one bolt per mount, the required drilling is minimal. Other benefits include the ability to fold down the tower for compact storage and a telescoping top part for convenient assembly. The tower is made of 2.25-inch 6061-T6 aluminum, available in an ultra-polished or black powder-coated finish.

The Best Wakeboard Tower For The Budget Is The Origin OWT-1 Advancer

The Origin OWT-1 Advancer Wakeboard Tower is a budget-friendly option that's priced several hundred dollars below the market average. If you're looking to upgrade your boat without breaking the bank, this tower is worth considering. Made from durable 6063 aluminum with a 2.25-inch tube diameter, it comes with all necessary aluminum fittings and stainless steel hardware for installation. Reviewers say it's surprisingly easy to assemble, and once it's up, you can expect a reliable and robust pull.

The tower can be collapsed and stored in a standard-sized garage. However, you'll need to carefully check your boat's measurements to ensure compatibility with the Origin OWT-1 Advancer, as it has stricter requirements than other universal towers. Your boat must be between 17 and 22 feet long and have a beam width between 68 and 98 inches. Additionally, this model has a lower weight capacity compared to previous versions, with the top bar able to hold a maximum of two single speaker pods at a time.

Best Mid-Range: Monster Tower MT2 Wakeboard Tower

For customers seeking a mid-price range solution, the Monster Tower MT2 Wakeboard Tower is a great choice. As the upgraded version of our overall winner, the MT1, it features a curved leg design that adds up to 3 feet of extra height for easier jumps, more storage space, and increased head clearance when moving around on deck. Plus, it comes with a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects. This tower is a good fit for boats with longer windshields and accommodates beam widths between 60 and 102 inches, making it versatile for various boat sizes.

Constructed from 2.5-inch thick 6061/63 aluminum, the tower boasts a polished and anodized finish for added durability. A swivel tow point allows your rope to move freely in any direction, while a quick-release mechanism enables easy folding without additional tools. Like all Monster Towers, this model benefits from zero-torsion mounts with Heim Joints for precise adjustments and comes with Monster Paws for simple mounting on curved surfaces. These features are standard across the Monster Tower range.

Best Splurge: Aerial FreeRide Wakeboard Tower

If you can afford to splurge a bit more, the Aerial FreeRide Wakeboard Tower is carefully designed to mimic the eye-catching appearance of OEM towers. This tower is perfect for those looking to make a statement. Expect a dramatic forward-sweeping design, strong reinforcing buttresses, and a twin H-top for added strength and storage capacity. Aerial has also developed speakers, wakeboard racks, and a Bimini cover specifically for this model; however, these accessories must be purchased separately to give your boat an even more professional look.

Constructed from 2.25-inch diameter aircraft-grade 6061-T6 aluminum, the tower provides rock-solid performance, and its rotating mounting feet fit flush against any hull. You can choose between polished aluminum or black powder-coated aluminum finishes. Other benefits include a Coast Guard-approved navigation light, quick-release knobs for easy folding, and a five-year warranty. The tower is compatible with boats featuring beam widths between 75 and 100 inches.

Big Air Twister Wakeboard Tower Is The Most Innovative Product

For those looking for something a bit more unique, the Big Air Twister Wakeboard Tower offers an inventive design featuring integrated swiveling wakeboard racks. Easily rotate your boards in and out of the boat with a twist of a knob, and the tower can store up to four standard wakeboards without needing additional aftermarket racks. Designed to be universally adaptable, this tower fits any boat with a beam width between 72 and 103 inches. Constructed from lightweight, strong, and silent aircraft-grade 6061-T6 aluminum, it offers both power and durability.

The mounting feet use a single bolt to attach either to the side of the hull or the top of the gunwales. With standard-height gunwales, you can expect an impressive 7 feet of head clearance, leaving plenty of room for additional accessories like speakers and bimini tops. The tower also features a dual swiveling rope head for maximum freedom of movement. Plus, the tower folds up easily and is available in either polished aluminum or a black powder-coated finish.

What to Look for When Buying a Wakeboard Tower?

Materials

Aluminum is the preferred material for wakeboard towers due to its lightweight and rust-resistant properties. However, not all aluminum is created equal. Mike Dovey from Wakeboard Towers UK advises that "the marine environment is tough, so unless you feel like polishing your tower every time you use it, don't cheap out on a polished aluminum tower for saltwater use." Instead, he suggests going with a high-quality anodized or powder-coated finish to ensure your tower will continue to look and function its best for an extended period.

Fit

Although aftermarket wakeboard towers are designed to be compatible with a wide range of boats, there is no guarantee that they will fit in practice. According to Loren Swor from Big Air Waketowers, each tower model has "specific requirements for boat width, as well as interior access and hull thickness." You must take all of these into account when deciding which route to choose. Some manufacturers offer custom solutions for boats with an unusually wide beam or specific types of boats, such as pontoons.

Installation

Wakeboard towers typically come with mounting feet that give the user the option of installing the structure on the side of the hull, on top of the gunwale, or both. Some also have the ability to be adjusted to perfectly match the exact angle of the mounting location. This feature is highly recommended by Dovey because it "prevents torsional stresses from passing through and damaging your boat." Similarly, it is better to have a lower number of bolts required per foot. Less drilling improves the hull's strength and integrity and reduces the risk of Gelcoat cracking over time.