A bit frustrating experience

[Tobes]

So I ordered a new wakeboard tower. Pricey I know, but I did not want the hassle of repairing the original holes and the tower not being OEM for resale. Ordered from YSP a week ago today. I had not heard anything by Wednesday so I contacted them. Well, they tell me they need my hull number and a reason. WHAT? Why do I have to have a reason to order a fucking part!?!? They claim Yamaha needs a reason......... REALLY!

So I called today about it. Needless to say, it has taken a week to get to the point of even ordering and only after I contacted them. Then they tell me that it will have to be fabbed up and built by Yamaha then shipped to them. Then I have to pay a shipping fee to have it shipped to me. Are you kidding me? I just paid $3500 (keep in mind, they were $3000 just last year) for a tower and now I am being told it cannot be shipped directly to me from Yamaha and I have to pay YSP a shipping cost of hundreds of dollars?

Needless to say I cancelled the order and am pretty irritated. I will just fill the holes myself (to the best of my ability) and order a nicer custom tower and still save a few dollars. I cannot say I recommend YSP at all after this experience with them.

 

[AlphaKap]

Frustrating for sure.

Can you do a forward swept tower? That would look sharp.

 

[Tobes]

I was thinking about a Monster MTK w/ bimini. $2500 right now w/ the grey bimini.

 

[swatski]

I was thinking about a Monster MTK w/ bimini. $2500 right now w/ the grey bimini.

Isn't Monster a subsidiary of XTP - they are the same company, but XTP makes exclusively for Yamaha OEM and their products vary just slightly?

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[swatski]

So I ordered a new wakeboard tower. Pricey I know, but I did not want the hassle of repairing the original holes and the tower not being OEM for resale. Ordered from YSP a week ago today. I had not heard anything by Wednesday so I contacted them. Well, they tell me they need my hull number and a reason. WHAT? Why do I have to have a reason to order a fucking part!?!? They claim Yamaha needs a reason......... REALLY!

So I called today about it. Needless to say, it has taken a week to get to the point of even ordering and only after I contacted them. Then they tell me that it will have to be fabbed up and built by Yamaha then shipped to them. Then I have to pay a shipping fee to have it shipped to me. Are you kidding me? I just paid $3500 (keep in mind, they were $3000 just last year) for a tower and now I am being told it cannot be shipped directly to me from Yamaha and I have to pay YSP a shipping cost of hundreds of dollars?

Needless to say I cancelled the order and am pretty irritated. I will just fill the holes myself (to the best of my ability) and order a nicer custom tower and still save a few dollars. I cannot say I recommend YSP at all after this experience with them.

Try Babbitt's, those guys have excellent customer service, may or may not be able to do what you want them to do but you will get answers as they are very responsive.

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[swatski]

I'm looking myself for a 242X tower, from what I can find so far the Babbitt's has the best "list" price, but then there is tax, shipping etc. Have not talked to them yet as I'm exploring various options.
Keep us posted especially if you decide to pursue the OEM tower, very interested in your experience and what you find!

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[Tobes]

Isn't Monster a subsidiary of XTP - they are the same company, but XTP makes exclusively for Yamaha OEM and their products vary just slightly?

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Honestly don’t know. Maybe I am a bit naive about it? I did some more research about towers and I’m not dead set on it. Just irritated at this point at the oem price and experience to get it. I finally pulled the trigger and was willing to pay the price thinking their delivery date was accurate along with their price. I was told in a nice way “did you really think shipping would be $28 that we charged you at check out?” Well yeah I fucking did...... I do not expect to be charged for shipping a week after I place my order.

I’ll probably get something and attempt to repair the holes myself. If the first turns out like complete shit, I’ll pay someone. I honestly would like to get a new boat in 2-3 years, something bigger but that is a ways off so......

 

[MidnightRider]

“did you really think shipping would be $28 that we charged you at check out?”

I mean every other retailer on the face of this earth works that way but excuse you for assuming. I'd be pissed too.

 

[swatski]

I mean every other retailer on the face of this earth works that way but excuse you for assuming. I'd be pissed too.

Yep, and especially frustrating if you take into consideration an already HIGHLY inflated price of those towers to start with...


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[mdchachi]

Just out of curiousity, how did the original tower get damaged? Towing/clearance accident?

 

[Tobes]

Towing my, at the time, 5 year old on a tube. Yes I know you are not supposed to tow but at the same time, a 35lb child in a tube is going to break it? My issue was it split halfway through the weld which to me indicates a bad weld. There are also other reports of people having the same exact issue yet Yamaha believes that it is not their issue. At least lower the price on the tower for us :/ Instead, I have to answer questions about why I want to purchase a new one...........

 

[Julian]

Towing my, at the time, 5 year old on a tube. Yes I know you are not supposed to tow but at the same time, a 35lb child in a tube is going to break it? My issue was it split halfway through the weld which to me indicates a bad weld. There are also other reports of people having the same exact issue yet Yamaha believes that it is not their issue. At least lower the price on the tower for us :/ Instead, I have to answer questions about why I want to purchase a new one...........

If it isn't bent (or badly bent), I'd just repair it and get it re welded! Did you take it to the dealer to see if it was warrantied?

 

[swatski]

Towing my, at the time, 5 year old on a tube. Yes I know you are not supposed to tow but at the same time, a 35lb child in a tube is going to break it? My issue was it split halfway through the weld which to me indicates a bad weld. There are also other reports of people having the same exact issue yet Yamaha believes that it is not their issue. At least lower the price on the tower for us :/ Instead, I have to answer questions about why I want to purchase a new one...........

Welds breaking due to freeze-"swelling" has been well documented in those towers...
https://jetboaters.net/threads/wake-tower-cross-beam-bending-ballooning.5119/

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[swatski]

Towing my, at the time, 5 year old on a tube. Yes I know you are not supposed to tow but at the same time, a 35lb child in a tube is going to break it?

Maybe Yamaha should start watching their own adds and commercials, lol:


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[Shookie]

Late to this party.... I towed my kids all last summer on 2 different tubes (a 2 person and a 3 person, not at the same time) and connected the rope to the tower. First couple times I used the hook down by the swim platform but did like it for 2 reasons.

1. The rope often got "caught" in the spray from the jets and end up leading to some slack in the rope. My boys didn't like the whiplash.
2. When I stopped, the rope came off the hook a couple times and I didn't realize it.

So, because of that I always use the tower. No issue so far! Have people really had issues with their tower breaking because of pulling a tube?

 

[MidnightRider]

Late to this party.... I towed my kids all last summer on 2 different tubes (a 2 person and a 3 person, not at the same time) and connected the rope to the tower. First couple times I used the hook down by the swim platform but did like it for 2 reasons.

1. The rope often got "caught" in the spray from the jets and end up leading to some slack in the rope. My boys didn't like the whiplash.
2. When I stopped, the rope came off the hook a couple times and I didn't realize it.

So, because of that I always use the tower. No issue so far! Have people really had issues with their tower breaking because of pulling a tube?

I've towed tubes from towers and pylons on various model boats and setups my whole life and never had any issue. Have there been reports of towers breaking/cracking because of towing tubes, yes, I have heard of a couple cases over the years but tower construct varies a lot not only from make to make but they didn't used to make them like they do today. Plus people do stupid stuff. I have yet to hear of a Yamaha tower failing from pulling tubes, and trust me there are a lot of yamaha owners pulling tubes from the tower - more than a few have admitted it on this forum and my bet is many more do without admitting it. These new Yamaha swept back towers are built like a tank, I have no concern with them failing from "normal" tubbing. Normal meaning don't be pull an empty tube at 50 mph behind your boat or a 3 person tube with 3 250 lb adults on it - etc, etc. My opinion is be reasonable and tubing with a Yamaha tower is fine. But worth saying, per Yamaha lawyers, at your own risk.

As far as the rope coming off the tow hook, maybe you already are doing this, but in case you aren't, make sure you wrap the rope loop down around and back up through itself (its own loop) before you hook it on the hook - then pull it tight and it should stay hooked.

 

[tabbibus]

I've towed tubes from towers and pylons on various model boats and setups my whole life and never had any issue. Have there been reports of towers breaking/cracking because of towing tubes, yes, I have heard of a couple cases over the years but tower construct varies a lot not only from make to make but they didn't used to make them like they do today. Plus people do stupid stuff. I have yet to hear of a Yamaha tower failing from pulling tubes, and trust me there are a lot of yamaha owners pulling tubes from the tower - more than a few have admitted it on this forum and my bet is many more do without admitting it. These new Yamaha swept back towers are built like a tank, I have no concern with them failing from "normal" tubbing. Normal meaning don't be pull an empty tube at 50 mph behind your boat or a 3 person tube with 3 250 lb adults on it - etc, etc. My opinion is be reasonable and tubing with a Yamaha tower is fine. But worth saying, per Yamaha lawyers, at your own risk.

As far as the rope coming off the tow hook, maybe you already are doing this, but in case you aren't, make sure you wrap the rope loop down around and back up through itself (its own loop) before you hook it on the hook - then pull it tight and it should stay hooked.

I did not do the loop trick. Can't visualize it now but will try it next time. I'm also thinking of trying a tower tow and see if it feels better. The 242 LSE tower. Looks sturdy

Also, @John Morstad , look where the conversation has popped up again!

 

[MidnightRider]

I did not do the loop trick. Can't visualize it now but will try it next time. I'm also thinking of trying a tower tow and see if it feels better. The 242 LSE tower. Looks sturdy

Also, @John Morstad , look where the conversation has popped up again!

Here's a visual of how to attach the rope to the tow hook ( I think you have the same type of handle/tow hook combo but even if you have the "eye" type hook the concept is the same ):

 

[Shookie]

As far as the rope coming off the tow hook, maybe you already are doing this, but in case you aren't, make sure you wrap the rope loop down around and back up through itself (its own loop) before you hook it on the hook - then pull it tight and it should stay hooked.

You know, I don't think I looped it.... know exactly what you mean and don't think I did it. My 2018 is a lot different though. The way the hook is now, not so easy. If the rope is too large, hard to get through that hole. (feel free to run with that and make some jokes....)

 

[tabbibus]

oh interesting. Not what I had envisioned in my mind. Thanks for the pics. I have the hook type attachment like Shookie has.