Anyone using a boom on an 18 footer?

Just wondering if anyone has a good boom set up on an 18 footer? Trying to help a friend come up with a good setup.

I saw an 18 footer with a 225 Evinrude on it a couple years back that had a pylon in the front more like an inboard with a boom bracket on it.

 

I have never done that, but if I did I think I would go with a couple of brackets mounted to the deck right behind the drivers seat (one on each side) for a detachable boom.

I have never been able to figure out how to mount a forward ski pole unless you use the "over everything" style like the Bartlett boats.

jim

 

Eric,

I kept the boom I had K.W. Show Ski make up for my "Barefoot Hydrodyne" when I sold it , and have fitted it to my 18 footer. I may have to extend the "T" leg to get more height of of it , as it appears to be a little low right now.

Karl (K.W.) makes a real nice unit. It's two piece and well built. It even has a built in ski handle on it for beginners, which can be flipped around if you don't want it . It's a pin on type and the mounting bracket stays on the pylon.

I have a picture of it installed on the "Barefoot Hydrodyne" if you'd like to see it.


Bob

 

Bob,

I tried calling you the other day. I found some more photos for your collection. They are when I had the original trailer restored to its current state. I will shoot you them in the mail.

Greg

 

I would like to see the boom pictures.

jim

 

Greg,

Would love to have the pictures for my scrap book. Just got back from a snowmobile trip up North. Hope you and yours have a great New Year...and let's talk soon.

Bob

 

I'll be looking into a boom for an 18' this spring as well. I have been trying to think of ways of attaching to the pylon, and hopefully including the height adjuster (two plates with multiple holes for the end of the boom). Any ideas/pics/etc. would be helpfull. I may have to call KW and see what they can do.

 

Here is a picture of the mounting bracket and the K.W. boom assembly. The two piece boom assembles with two spring loaded buttons.
If you want to reverse the training handle, push in the buttons and rotate it 180 degrees.
The mounting bracket is adjustable via two large wing nuts and remains on the pylon. A 1/4" quick pin attaches the boom to the bracket. I had the bracket polished to match my pylon.
I also purchased the "Barefoot International" storage bag to keep the boom in when not in use. It has two compartments, which holds each section nicely.
Bob

 

I have a center pylon boom set-up and it's worked great for me. I'm not sure if it's original but it sure looks like it.

At one point I had to install an aluminum L-plate on the passenger gunwale because a budy of mine decided to hang his entire weight from the boom and it cracked/crushed the fiberglass. In addition, I fabricated a support block out of a couple of 2X4s and bolts to keep the gunwale from flexing. Look at the pictures and you'll see what Im talking about.

Unfortunately, someone stole my original boom years ago. I replaced it with a straight boom from Barefoot International.

 

If you attach a boom to the top of the gunwale (the deck along the sides) of an 18' Hydrodyne, you absolutely need to reinforce the underside of the deck. There is no support under there at all. In fact, if it were not for the white pigment in the gelcoat you'd be able to see right through the top of the deck in that area and you can easily see light through it if you lay down and look up at it. A block of wood at a minimum should be used.