Corroded Ski Pylon

[87ts6m]

Hey guys, heard that this forum is more active than the supra one, so I figured I would post my question here:

Where would you guys go to find replacement ski pylons for these boats? The one on my '87 supra is corroding at the base and flaking pretty bad in my opinion. I'll see if I can post a picture later today.

Would you guys be concerned skiing on your boat with a pylon like that? Maybe it isn't that bad and I'm just making a big deal out of nothing, but I would hate to have the pole kick back at the passenger if it were to snap. I would hope it would just bend first though...

Thanks

[zabooda]

My 98 was four years when I bought it and the only rust on the boat was the pylon mount at the base. It was really corroded so I wire brushed it in place, primed it and painted it. I never had an issue. I didn't even want to try and unbolt it. My pylon never flexed in cuts but I know the cheaper boats like the Ski Brendella and Malibu Skier did.

[87ts6m]

Sorry, I meant to say the corrosion is at the base of the pylon where it goes through the floor, not where it mounts to the hull of the boat. It's the aluminum itself that is chipping and corroding away, just above the floor.

[87ts6m]

Grabbed a picture, anyone know where I can find a replacement pole?
20210522_172939.jpg

[HFarr]

Have you tried scraping it to see how deep it is? Doesn't look very bad from the photo. Looks like light surface corrosion in the photo. If so, not a big deal. Just clean it off with a wire brush. Does this pylon slip or screw into a sleeve in the floor?

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[87ts6m]

Yea, the picture doesn't do a good job of showing it, I'll try taking a wire brush to it. The pylon slips into a sleeve with 4 large set screws.

[HFarr]

The corrosion is probably from the two surfaces coming into contact. Especially if the sleeve or set screws are different metal, and sometimes even a different alloy aluminum. Just keep them clean as you can. Occasionally take the pylon out to clean.

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[zabooda]

Do some non-destructive (hopefully) testing. Haul your boat to your favorite light or power pole with a come-a-long and rope. Secure your boat to the trailer, attach the come-a-long to a pole, connect a rope from the pylon to the come-a-long and crank away. Test the pylon straight back from the pylon and at 45 degrees on each side. Tell the crowd that you attracted that the show has concluded and the next show will be in an hour. IMO, the weakest point will be at the attachment points and testing should be done considering the potential consequences of a catastrophic failure of the pylon system.

[HFarr]

Do some non-destructive (hopefully) testing. Haul your boat to your favorite light or power pole with a come-a-long and rope. Secure your boat to the trailer, attach the come-a-long to a pole, connect a rope from the pylon to the come-a-long and crank away. Test the pylon straight back from the pylon and at 45 degrees on each side. Tell the crowd that you attracted that the show has concluded and the next show will be in an hour. IMO, the weakest point will be at the attachment points and testing should be done considering the potential consequences of a catastrophic failure of the pylon system.

And remember the MOST important part of this test is to video and post it here for us all to see!!

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[87ts6m]

Oh boy, sounds like I'll have some fiberglass repair in the future haha, at least the video will be good!

Left the boat at the cottage, I'll try pulling out the pylon this weekend to clean up and then try to test. Hopefully it's just a surface defect.