How high should my racks be?

[I Lean]

Hi everyone! (the few that exist here  ) Looks like this forum is just getting started--as good a place to ask as any, right?

I'm building a tower on my boat, and having never had the pleasure of tower-ownership before, I'm wondering how high on the tower I should mount the wakeboard racks?  I ordered some of these racks, so where I place a horizontal tube for them to clamp onto is where they'll be, no adjustment. http://cgi.ebay.com/wakeboard-tower-board-racks-adjustable-wakeboarding_W0QQitemZ140167601666QQihZ004QQcategoryZ23807QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I want to use some thin-wall oval tube for most of the front to back spreaders, and only use the larger round tube where I have to, for the racks.

Thanks!

[Yeldarb]

Welcome to wake-forums!  Yeah, we're just getting started, but hopefully the place will grow as time goes on.

The racks on my boat are at about chest level when I'm standing up, from what I've seen this is about the standard.  It all comes down to what works best with your boat and tower though.  (And what you want; some people even put the racks on top of the tower rather than on the side)

Good luck and let us know how it turns out    (Pictures are golden)

[I Lean]

Thanks for that, your experience confirms what a guy I work with told me--which is a bit higher than I was originally planning.  Glad I asked!

I'll get some pics next time I get a chance to work on it, most likely this weekend.   

[Yeldarb]

Sounds like a cool project

[I Lean]

OK, got it mostly done.  Just need to make the tow point now, drill some holes for running speaker wires, remove and finish welding, and take it to the powdercoater. 
Folded down, it has about 2" to the garage door opening:


And in position:


Up with the stock bimini top--still enough room for speaker cans. 


On the sides, the lower horizontal tube is oval, the upper one is 1.75" round which will accept the board racks. I'm looking forward to keeping the boards out of the boat next summer.

[Yeldarb]

Wow, lookin' good!

Did you fabricate it all yourself?

[I Lean]

I fabbed all of it with the exception of 4 pieces I had a friend machine, the threaded adapters for the heim joints.  I also bought a couple of these nifty little spools to use on the tow point:


Other than that, it's just 2" .095 DOM, 1.75" .120 for just the rack spreader, and 2x1x.062 oval tube for the rest of the spreaders. 

[Yeldarb]

Very nice.  How much time do you have invested in it?

[I Lean]

Hmm, good question.  It's hard to tell since I spread it out over the last 3 weeks or so--I'd guess 6 or 8 hours so far, and another 4 or 5-ish to go. Ish.

[Yeldarb]

Have you been able to try this puppy out yet?

[I Lean]

No, it's currently 30-ish degrees and snowy here, so I'll have to wait a few months before trying it.  (it's killing me, too...) 

It does look fantastic sitting in my garage though.    Powdercoating sure does hide all the flaws nicely.

Oops, forgot a pic:

[h2OFUN72]

DUDE AWESOME JOB HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH IT