www.iFourWinns.com

Has anyone built/bought a wake board pylon and used it on their Four Winns boat? I am in the process of building one and wanted to know if anyone had any suggestion, warning, ideas, concerns...

Seems like a lot of companies make them and I have not heard of any major issues.

Pics would always be appreciated.

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Shawn
Washington, Iowa
1995 Four Winns 220 Horizon

5.8 EFI 58FAPHUE

I am very interested in seeing what you have come up with, I think about this quite a bit but haven't been able to find a solution I feel safe with.

if you have any info to share that would be great!!

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Rob

Present: 1999 Formula 280SS
Past: 1989 180 Horizon

http://www.robcamerondesign.com

I am sort of interested also. We rented a wakeboard a few weeks ago for the kids first time wakeboarding and they had a great time.

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop

I did a lot of research on the wed and several companies offer a universal wake board pylon. They range from $220 - $500. I am in the final stage of making mine and then I'll take it out and try it. I'm gonna put my 110lb 14 year old behind it first.

I ordered a c-84 Akron Floor Jack (Google it). I also ordered 3 heavy duty ratchet straps. One - 40' and 2 - 10'.

I had the top cap of the of the floor jack welded on and then put a 1" bolt with some washers and bushings on the top. This is to hold the three ratchet straps and the wake board rope. The 10' ratchet straps I ordered have loops at the end, no hooks. I will strap these to the rear cleats and then to the top of the pylon. The 40' will hook on the top of the pylon, go through the front cleat then down through the front tow hook, back up through the other cleat and then then back to the pylon.

I will tighten up the ratchets and give it a go. I'm still waiting for the straps. I built, carpeted and mounted a 30" 2x10 under the rear seat. I have a small pedestal to hold the pylon in place so it won't move around.

Now one thing that really works for me is my boat has the sport seating so the rear seat slides forward to make a bed. I just don't put the filler cushion in the the pylon is mounted under there. This way when we take the pylon down, you'll see nothing.

The pylon will telescope into each other and make a 48" pole that will store under my seat.

As soon as I finish it up and give it a test run, I'll post some pictures and a review.

I have $125 bucks in it.

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Shawn
Washington, Iowa
1995 Four Winns 220 Horizon

5.8 EFI 58FAPHUE

OK, I know, Pictures, pictures.

Last night we took the pylon for it's first run. It worked perfect. I did not get a chance to take pictures but I will. It was a funny situation. I had just finished pulling three tubes with my son and his two friends so we were pulled into a cove while I wrapped all the ropes, deflated all the tubes and the boys fed their face.

I then began the installation of our homemade pylon system.(which looks pretty good). OK, maybe a little redneck with the ratchet straps but whatever.

I first mounted the pylon and extended it up. These floor jacks are adjustable so it could be mounted from about 4'6" up to 7'8". I asked my son how high he wanted it and a proud father moment happened, "put it as high as it will go" he said.

I then ran the two ratchet straps from the top of the pylon down to each rear cleat. As I was running the long ratchet from the top of the pylon to the front of the boat and back to the top of the pylon I could hear the boat next start talking about this contraption. The dad was explaining the tension, resistance, stress points, forces, energy dispersion, angle of lift, and so on. The guy must have been an engineer. Well he never yelled "don't do it, you're all gonna die" so we went for it.

My son said it was nice, he said getting up was easier he said he could cut easier, he said it gave him more distance and height with his jumps. I will agree with this. He did have the highest jumps to date and he cleared wake to wake by a couple feet which he has never done.

We finished up wakeboarding and in about 3 minutes the pylon and straps were stored and out of sight.

One note. I have two rubber strap protector that I had planned on using where the straps on the front make contact with the rub rail but I didn't. There is a very small mark on them from the straps so I will be using them from now on. Got to keep the old girl looking good. It might add 30 seconds to install.

Worked perfect, very happy for a $100 - 7'8" pylon.

I'll try to get picture this weekend and post them.

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Shawn
Washington, Iowa
1995 Four Winns 220 Horizon

5.8 EFI 58FAPHUE