Wakeboard Rack Loosens

[scottbailie]

I have a 2017 212X with the swivel wakeboard racks, which I love, except for the way they mount to the tower. It's a friction fit around the tower tube with a small set screw to hold them in place. First of all, I don't like the idea of snugging a set screw into the scratch free powder coat of the tower. Secondly, I've had the racks loosen up after just a few weeks and twist on the tower. Anyone have better luck, or have any suggestions for keeping them secure?

 

[Stevenpigsooie]

Did you use blue loctite?

 

[KXCam22]

I ended up drilling mine into the tower tube, tapping the hole and putting a bolt in. No slippy now masser. Cam.

 

[scottbailie]

Thanks for the feedback guys! I didn't use loctite, but not a bad idea. Cam, good solution - I'm not sure why that isn't the OEM install. It would limit the exact mounting location, but its not like there's much variation available anyway.

 

[Russell]

And on a side note/question. If you remove the outer clamp from the swivel unit will the underside clamp
(the side that is flat against the alloy swivel assembly) come off or is this piece attached or molded to the
bar directly? I'm looking for an alternative to my factory wake racks on my 212X - 2010 ed. Thanks guys, Wade

 

[scottbailie]

I ended up drilling mine into the tower tube, tapping the hole and putting a bolt in. No slippy now masser. Cam.

I hate to dig up this old thread, but with spring just around the corner, I've got boat mods on the mind...
Cam - what did you end up using for hardware? Just one tapped hole in the same spot the as the original "set screw"? I assume you didn't drill any new holes in the racks themselves?

 

[scottbailie]

Anyone else done this yet? My concern is that the current hardware is a socket set screw, which is necessary because there is virtually no room for a screw/bolt head. The only real way I see this working is to drill the tower, mount the rack, and then run a tap through the rack and into the tower so the threads line up. One concern is that the tower tube is not thick enough to allow enough threads to catch - the threads are fairly coarse on the stock set screw. Any recommendations?

 

[Julian]

My racks moved on my tower the first time out....then I went ape on them and tightened them down...haven't moved since...and that included a bimini trip and a half (the half being going out to rescue one boat half way across and back!)