Wakeboard tower for 2001 Cobalt 262

[Cobalt262]

I have a 2001 Cobalt 262 with a radar arch. Cobalt recommends against using it to tow skiers because it is only fiberglass. The arch is mounted on top of the gunwales. Does anyone know if the wakeboard tower on a 262WSS will fit on my boat? Thanks, J

[AsLan7]

Hey cobalt262...welcome to the CChat forum. So glad u found us!

Great resource here regarding all things Cobalt (& boating in general).

I had a 262 and now own the 263 with the stainless arch to pull wakeboarder's.

Of course the WSS arch is not "plug and play".

Anything can be modified--just depends how much money you want to spend to heavily reinforce mounting points and hull strengthening.

I personally have not heard of anyone doing that particular mod and would steer clear of that myself.

Please post pics if you go down this road.
Again, welcome aboard. Hope you stay awhile.

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https://youtu.be/kACYSivIyuM

[Big Block Power]

Honestly I don't believe any of the towers are rated to pull skiers. Mine is not also. I only tow wakeboard or a kneeboarder.
I was thinking of doing the same thing kind of but I needed flat gunnels. And mine are not.

[ajcampen]

Honestly I don't believe any of the towers are rated to pull skiers. Mine is not also. I only tow wakeboard or a kneeboarder.
I was thinking of doing the same thing kind of but I needed flat gunnels. And mine are not.

I'm confused BB why can't your metal tower tow skiers

[Driller]

From the 2011 262 owners manual:

Avoid injury or death. DO NOT overload the tower or use it for anything other than water sports. The ski tower maximum load is 1,000 lbs (454 kg). Only one skier can be towed with the tower.

[AsLan7]

FWIW, I would never pull skiiers or tubers from ANY wake tower (yes, including strongesttower.com towers). Loads from single rider wake-board pulls are fine (if the tower allows it). Most if not all of the force generated during wake-boarding is small and generated from behind the boat.

When you get into pulling skiiers (or worse tubes) from a tower, the loads generated can be excessive and can also cause great instability in the handling characteristics of the boat during side loads since it is a massive fulcrum/leverage point.

Youtube videos will show tubers being pulled behind certain towers with great disclaimers and with real short ropes (illegally) to keep the tubes from submarining (which--if submarined--can actually pull the wake-board out of the mounts and seriously injure someone).


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[Big Block Power]

Honestly I don't believe any of the towers are rated to pull skiers. Mine is not also. I only tow wakeboard or a kneeboarder.
I was thinking of doing the same thing kind of but I needed flat gunnels. And mine are not.

I'm confused BB why can't your metal tower tow skiers

Ok I'm not sure why you would want to pull a skier from a tower anyways? I would think you would want the rope as close to the wake or so without dragging in the water. A straight shot. There's a reason why your inboard ski boats don't pull from a tower much less they don't have them. My tower just says one skier only. I'm not sure on the weight limit.

[AsLan7]

Honestly I don't believe any of the towers are rated to pull skiers. Mine is not also. I only tow wakeboard or a kneeboarder.
I was thinking of doing the same thing kind of but I needed flat gunnels. And mine are not.

I'm confused BB why can't your metal tower tow skiers

Ok I'm not sure why you would want to pull a skier from a tower anyways? I would think you would want the rope as close to the wake or so without dragging in the water. A straight shot. There's a reason why your inboard ski boats don't pull from a tower much less they don't have them. My tower just says one skier only. I'm not sure on the weight limit.

Right on BBp.

As far as skiing from a tower...I could see if you were teaching someone on two skis or even using trick skis pulling them from the tower to help in "getting up". Yours is also rated at 1,000 pounds on page 3-35 of the OM.

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https://www.cobaltboats.com/art/manuals/2007_222_OM.pdf

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Barefoot skiing may be an option since the skiier will stay behind the boat. Knee-boarding and wake surfing (initial start) are other possible options.
However, slalom skiing with those excessive side loads at increased speed (30-34mph) with rope that is now angled up to launch you off wakes is best kept for wake boarding which is normally at a slower speed (in the low 20's).

[Cobalt262]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I did call Cobalt and asked if my 2001 262 could support a wakeboard tower in place of the radar arch. They said, "On the 262, the gunwale side is not reinforced for an arch. We did not offer one for it in 2001. Later on, in 2004 we did offer another tower for this boat and did reinforce the deck for it. But on this one, it is not reinforced."

Safe boating everyone.

[AsLan7]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I did call Cobalt and asked if my 2001 262 could support a wakeboard tower in place of the radar arch. They said, "On the 262, the gunwale side is not reinforced for an arch. We did not offer one for it in 2001. Later on, in 2004 we did offer another tower for this boat and did reinforce the deck for it. But on this one, it is not reinforced."

Safe boating everyone.

Thanks for the info and update Cobalt262.