Wakeboard tower cracked

[Rickytrz]

Found this crack right in front of the tower, I believe this is happening due a too much vibration, do this happened to someone else?

 

[ZGhost]

That’s not good at all, I often wondered about the strength of the towers while underway as I watch the tower flex and scream with every chop. This is why I never tow a tuber from the tower but ok pulling a skier or a surfer up due to lower speeds compared to the abuse you would expect from pulling a tube at higher speeds with the inherent resistance.

Sorry mate I don’t have much to offer but I’m sure someone here could chime with a solution? Probably take it to a welder and have them re-weld or look to add some sort of a welded sleeve on top to reinforce the area.

 

[biffdotorg]

This is why I never tow a tuber from the tower but ok pulling a skier or a surfer up due to lower speeds compared to the abuse you would expect from pulling a tube at higher speeds with the inherent resistance.

Sorry mate I don’t have much to offer but I’m sure someone here could chime with a solution?

Oh you will get folks to chime in with that statement. I have my popcorn ready, as someone has to push this button at least twice a year. Let's just drop the tubing from the tower theory for this discussion. As if the OP was towing something heavy, they may not have asked what would cause this.

 

[Rickytrz]

Oh you will get folks to chime in with that statement. I have my popcorn ready, as someone has to push this button at least twice a year. Let's just drop the tubing from the tower theory for this discussion. As if the OP was towing something heavy, they may not have asked what would cause

That’s not good at all, I often wondered about the strength of the towers while underway as I watch the tower flex and scream with every chop. This is why I never tow a tuber from the tower but ok pulling a skier or a surfer up due to lower speeds compared to the abuse you would expect from pulling a tube at higher speeds with the inherent resistance.

Sorry mate I don’t have much to offer but I’m sure someone here could chime with a solution? Probably take it to a welder and have them re-weld or look to add some sort of a welded sleeve on top to reinforce the area.

Thanks for the reply, the weird thing is that I never towed anything with that tower and the crack is in the front by the canopy release knob.

 

[Scottintexas]

I don't think we've seen that before,



.

 

[Julian]

Yeah...thats a first for me to see. I thought this was going to be an ice induced crack resulting from water intrusion.....but that doesn't match that scenario (that looks like bulging out metal). This looks like either 1) impact related or 2) stress, but its in multiple spots....so lean more towards impact....???

 

[Miitch]

It looks like its right around the weld point? Could be a half assed weld.. But why is it failing 3 years later?

 

[biffdotorg]

It looks like its right around the weld point? Could be a half assed weld.. But why is it failing 3 years later?

Probably because his YES warranty just expired.

Joking aside, it is an odd spot for sure. I'm not sure where an impact or what kind of stress could do it there.

 

[biffdotorg]

Found this crack right in front of the tower, I believe this is happening due a too much vibration, do this happened to someone else?

do you mean right in front of the tow point? If that's the case, a crack like that could have been from pressure on top of the tow point. Do you have a zoomed out photo of the location?

 

[Rickytrz]

do you mean right in front of the tow point? If that's the case, a crack like that could have been from pressure on top of the tow point. Do you have a zoomed out photo of the location?

Front of the tower where the roof sit

 

[Rickytrz]

Probably because his YES warranty just expired.

Joking aside, it is an odd spot for sure. I'm not sure where an impact or what kind of stress could do it there.

The only stress is vibration up and down I guess

 

[Rickytrz]

It looks like its right around the weld point? Could be a half assed weld.. But why is it failing 3 years later?

Good question have no idea

 

[Rickytrz]

Yeah...thats a first for me to see. I thought this was going to be an ice induced crack resulting from water intrusion.....but that doesn't match that scenario (that looks like bulging out metal). This looks like either 1) impact related or 2) stress, but its in multiple spots....so lean more towards impact....???

No impact the roof is intact

 

[Rickytrz]

View From top

 

[ZGhost]

I analyze quite a bit of structural failures as part of my work. With every up and down and bouncing wave, there is a downward force that gets transmitted to the contact point between the bimini and tower. Repeatadley and over time, weakest point gives. In this case, it’s the weld around that contact point.

 

[Rickytrz]

I analyze quite a bit of structural failures as part of my work. With every up and down and bouncing wave, there is a downward force that gets transmitted to the contact point between the bimini and tower. Repeatadley and over time, weakest point gives. In this case, it’s the weld around that contact point.

View attachment 150991

exactly what ZGhost said.

 

[jdkaeser]

I analyze quite a bit of structural failures as part of my work. With every up and down and bouncing wave, there is a downward force that gets transmitted to the contact point between the bimini and tower. Repeatadley and over time, weakest point gives. In this case, it’s the weld around that contact point.

View attachment 150991

I'd agree with ZGhost. That is a bit of weight all being supported by 2 smallish vertical welds. I'd say it is a bad design by Yamaha. You might be the first to have this on the forum, but my guess is you will not be the last. If it is under warranty I would take it back and see if they will replace. Doesn't look like bad welds as the actual metal is tearing past the welds which is indicative of metal fatigue due to stress, not breaking of the welds.

 

[Neutron]

how about this one... I didn't notice it until the paint chipped off.. I was washing it this weekend and noticed the paint flaked, scratched with fingernail and weld parts crumbled.

This pic is the front left of the Bimini top.. literally can't understand how this would happen outside of a bad weld joint. no word yet on warranty.

Is that debris in the crack. Looks like it to the right side when you zoom in. Almost like flakes of broken up shells