2010 Illusion Tower Video

Hey guys, i got a notification for malibu's youtube channel on new video uploads... they posted this.. I really like the new tower!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScQRiXNcrqI

simple enough!! haha

incredible!

i need one!!!!

Im very excited to see the new tower!

Cool but it looks really tall even while folded.

it looks nice, but is there nothing that actually locks the tower up other than the gas shocks?

okay, i retract that question after a bit more research. they don't show it in the video, but state in their blog, there is a bolt to loosen first

Very nice, i wonder how the bimini's are going to look?
only issue
still bungees for the racks...com'n...i hate those damn bungees!!!!

why would you want slide on/off board racks? So you can and have to take them off the boat every time?

i like the quick release board racks. easy on off for road trips. plus I have to take mine off to fit in the garage. Not sure I like the bulky look though.

Removable board racks are an absolute godsend when you pull your boat long distances. The hardest thing on my boat to clean are racks covered with bugs. I really miss the old Titan quick release racks that I had on my last boat. Also, it looks like you'll gain some garage clearance by removing the racks when it's folded down.

I know that it's usually an option, so if you don't need the removables, you don't get 'em.

As far as the tower goes, I'm liking it a lot more after seeing this video. I'm getting kind of excited to check it out. I should have mine sometime next week, so I'll be sure to put up plenty of pics.

That tower looks great. I can't wait to see it with a bimini.

Wow, zero weight tower. What a cool, long overdue idea.

Tower is taller than old illusion and lower than illusion xs when folded.

Removable racks are a must for me, I can't put my boat in the garage with racks on.

I think the tower up/dn functionality is the bomb and BU deserves props for making that happen. A taller tower is a good thing. Now, lets see the bimini please.

BTW, the reason I would not want quick release racks is because my boat lives on a hoist and is easy prey for someone looking for some racks to steal.

I would think that would be a reason you'd WANT removable racks. It's pretty easy for someone to remove a bolt or two to steal your racks. With the quick release you can either lock them in a compartment or take them with you. Seems like it would work like a removable face plate on a stereo.

It sucks that people are just now learning about the "weightless" tower folding. Although it's probably not quite as advanced, Malibu has had a spring-loaded tower since the original Illusion came out. I had one on my 2006 boat and you could adjust the tension depending on the amount of weight you had on the tower (lights, speakers, racks, etc). It bums me out when I see cool features like this, but they don't get promoted very well. I tried to get the word out in one of our earlier articles on that boat (http://www.wakeworld.com/getarticle.asp?articleid=713), but it still amazes me that people don't know about such a great feature.

Good point David. I was thinking I would have to take them off, run them up to the house and find another storage place. But, stowing them in the boat would be fairly painless, not adding much to the entire shut down process.

I like the new tower and the sliding racks. I just hope the racks dont fall off like my 08's have. I've had 2 break in rough water with 2 boards on. The single half inch bolt doesnt work very well. Thankfully no one was hurt.

What broke? The bolt or the rack? I can't imagine how those mounts could break if they were properly secured.

Those racks are absolutely awesome.

David, the bolt broke both times. Just 1 bolt that holds the rack to the tower.

Meh... it's just another gimmick-laden tower.

That bolt is HUGE! I don't understand how it could break unless it was loose and bouncing for a long time. Can we see a pic of the hole in your tower?

If that's a "gimmick-laden tower," then call me a gimmick lover!!

for the guy who asked about the bimini... it looks a whole lot like the current one! high, tight and plenty of coverage.

i think the chick is just realy strong

I agree with David on the fact that Malibu and their dealers never really promoted how easily their towers already were to break down and put up... With out tools. I have to fold mine down every time to store it back in the garage and that was a major selling feature to me that I already knew about... No one really mentioned it at the boat show or anything. I can break mine down by myself and raise it too... it is a little harder than it looks with the new one, but easily doable and no tools required.... (well except an allen wrench to remove the Titan spinners to get it to clear the garage header)

I wish i could lower my illusion by myself, but with speakers and racks that thing gets heavy. Its hard to pull the pins and hold it at the same time.

Chance, yes that's one of the problems with doing it by yourself, you cant remove the pins very easily by yourself. Once removed thought it is a one person job. On the old towers if it's too heavy, you just need to tighten the bolt to add more tension to the spring in order to make it easier to move up and down.

Having to thread/unthread two bolts everything you raise/lower the tower is kind of lame. Isn't there a better solution than that?