DIY Wakeboard Racks

Wakeboard racks became near necessities in the mid-2000s as the sport took off in popularity. Wakeboarders discovered that they could jump higher if the rope was hooked on a higher point in the boat, therefore extended pylons and towers became prominent accessories. Boaters soon took advantage of these innovations to incorporate storage into them in order to free up more room inside the boat for passengers. As the cost of these racks hovers around the price of a wakeboard, many athletes have resorted to creating their own.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 bungee cords, 6 inches each
  • 1-inch-by-6-inch-by-36-inch aluminum block
  • 4 aluminum poles, 1-inch diameter by 15-inches
  • 1-inch diameter by 12-inch elastic foam tubing
  • Drill
  • Drill bit set
  • 4 metal screws, hexagonal end, 1/2-inch diameter by 2.5 inches
  • 8 washers, 1/2-inch diameter opening
  • 2 U-clamps and bolts, 2-inch diameter 1/2-inch threaded
  • Socket set
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Instructions

    • 1

      Drill a 1/2-inch hole through the large face of the aluminum block in each corner. These holes should be centered 1 inch from the 6-inch and 18-inch sides.

    • 2

      Drill four 1/2-inch holes through the large face of the block. These will be for the two U-clamps. They should be located at the two short edges, 1 inch and 3 inches from the short edges of the block.

    • 3

      Drill holes into the ends of the four aluminum poles using the 3/8-inch drill bit. They should be 1.5 inches deep.

    • 4

      Drill through the ends of the aluminum poles with the 1/4-inch drill bit. These holes will be for the bungee cords. Drill them through the ends that do not have the screw guides drilled into them.

    • 5

      Place the washers over the 2.5-inch screws and drill the screws through the aluminum block and into the ends of the aluminum poles with the screw guides. Align the poles so that the holes are vertical.

    • 6

      Slide the foam coverings over each pole. Make sure that the four holes are not covered.

    • 7

      Mount your rack on your wakeboard tower using the U-clamps. Slide the open ends of the U-clamps around the tower pole and through the holes in the rack. Slide washers over the threaded ends and tighten the bolts. You may have to adjust the height on the tower to align the two U-clamps with the tower poles.