Universal vs. Custom Wakeboard Towers

Time Requirements

Your time (and patience) is another factor that must be considered when deciding which type of tower is right for your boat. There are only so many weekends in the summer and you’ll want to be able to enjoy as many of them as possible with your new wakeboard tower.

Because of everything that goes into creating a custom tower, it takes significant investment of time to create one while universal wakeboard towers are in stock and ready to ship to you, usually within 2-4 days.

And added time savings, especially if you choose a Monster Tower, is the ease of installation that will save your time even after your tower is delivered. Our towers can be easily installed at home or at your boat dock in about four to six hours and our sales team is available to help with any questions or concerns you might have during installation. Or, if you’d prefer, you can find a local dealer to assist with the installation.

Engineering, Testing, & Safety

The guarantee of safety that comes with high quality engineering and testing is one of the most critical components of any wakeboard tower. Pulling a wakeboarder behind your boat is a thrilling way to spend time on the water, but it’s imperative that you do so safely. Part of that responsibility lies on the boat’s driver to be cautious and the rider to communicate their needs with the driver, but first, you need a solid foundation in tower safety.

At Monster Tower, our engineering and testing proces, is a large part of what sets us apart from other manufacturers in the wakeboard tower industry. Our specialized engineers are dedicated to creating the strongest and most exhilarating towers on the market and putting them through rigorous testing before they ever reach a customer. The same level of quality and attention to detail cannot be guaranteed for custom towers. There are fabricators out there who are highly dedicated and skilled who may be able to produce strong, safe towers, however there are no testing requirements or standards that must be met on these towers.

Warranty & Returns

The availability of a warranty or returns process for towers that do not meet your expectations is another area that sets a universal wakeboard tower apart from a custom wakeboard tower. When having a custom tower built for your boat, it will typically be nonrefundable and may or may not come with a warranty from the fabricator.

On the other hand, universal wakeboard tower manufacturers provide standard warranties (in our case, five years of protection against defects in parts or workmanship) and a straightforward returns process. At Monster Tower we like to say, “If you don’t love it, we want it back!” Because your satisfaction is a top priority, if any portion of your tower is defective or doesn’t meet your needs our customer service team will work with you to make it right as quickly and easily as possible.

Design, Materials, & Fitment

We can’t forget about aesthetics when discussing the relative merits of a universal or custom wakeboard tower. If you’re looking for a unique design or to match your boat’s styling exactly, a custom tower may be the right solution for you. Alternatively, universal wakeboard towers can provide a look that can generally match the styling and aesthetics of your boat but will look a little more “cookie cutter.” Keep in mind, if you’re looking for more ways to level up your tower for a more custom appearance, you can add things like Monster Tower booties for a more streamlined, clean look.

Materials used in the construction of your tower should also be considered. At Monster Tower, we use 2.5-inch 6061/63 aluminum tubing to achieve strength, stability, and corrosion resistance in our towers. We then anodize or powder coat them for superior protection. Regardless of your decision on a universal or custom wakeboard tower, be sure to research the manufacturer or talk with your fabricator about the quality of materials that will be used in its construction as standards may differ between shops.

Another thing to keep in mind is the fitment on your tower. Many boaters tout the custom wakeboard tower for its ability to conform perfectly to the curves and contours of your boat. Attaining a perfect fitment is key to the structural strength of your tower, so at Monster Tower, we’ve developed a way to provide that same strong fitment in a universal design. With just two simple measurements, you can determine which tower(s) will fit your boat. Then, during installation, you'll customize the position of the bases and lock them into the perfect placement with a Monster Paw and adjustable heim joint for a strong and precise fit to your boat’s contours.

Parts & Accessories Availability

Finally, as much as we all hope that we don’t need them, the availability of replacement parts should be considered as part of your tower buying decision as well. While we offerall replacement parts and hardware for purchase at your convenience, it may be more challenging to find replacement parts for custom wakeboard towers. If a part has to be custom fabricated, this could cause long delays in getting your boat back on the water for wakeboarding.

In addition, the availability of accessory items like racks, bimini tops, lights, and more must be considered. If you choose a custom-built wakeboard tower, you’re going to need a custom bimini top. Depending on the diameter of tubing that’s used in the construction of a custom tower, you may not be able to find readily available accessories to fit - in which case you’d need to have those customized as well.

Comparatively, universal wakeboard towers are designed in relatively universal tubing sizes (2.5-inch at Monster Tower) to ensure you can take advantage of the wide variety of accessories that are available off-the-shelf.