Why Get a Tower

As advanced as all the radar, sonar and other electronics that today’s boats have are, sometimes your eyes can be your most powerful tool. People get boats with towers, or add on to their boat for increased visibility.

A tower provides an elevated position in which to scan the horizon for diving birds (an indicator of fish feeding below), free jumping or swimming fish and greater visibility down into the water. These are fish catching tools that enable those in the blue water game to stay ahead of the competition.

Tower Features

Many towers also feature a helm station from which the captain or operator can drive and navigate their vessel from. These elevated helm stations also have controls that can “lock out” the ground level helm station so that those in the tower and those below aren’t fighting for control of the vessel.

Depending on your exact setup, you may be able deploy and control your vessel’s outriggers as well.

Tower Considerations

A tower is not for everyone. These are commonly seen in boats that journey far offshore in search of pelagic fish such as tuna, wahoo and dolphin (mahi-mahi). If you prefer bottom fishing reefs and wrecks, a tower doesn’t offer much help. On smaller vessels, some towers are actually able to fold down, but in the case of a larger, offshore style boat, they cannot, so bridge clearance is a consideration.

If this seems like a lot to think about, don’t worry, you don’t have to make this decision alone! Call, click or visit your local MarineMax store, our knowledgeable staff will be able to help you

NEED MORE BOATING NEWS? 

You can see or hear more episodes of Boating Tips and our sister podcast, From the Helm Boating Broadcast, on The MarineMax Blog, accessible on the website or via mobile phone through the MarineMax App. You can also access more episodes on Amazon, Spotify, Google Podcast, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast news. See you out on the water!