Abstract: A water sports tower is pivotably attached to a watercraft through an articulating base structure. A joint is supplied joining lower ends of uprights of the tower to gunwales of the watercraft. The joints are configured to join each of the lower ends of the uprights through the joint to the gunwale. The joint includes a follower element opposite a reference element with the reference fixed to the gunwale of the watercraft and the follower element fixed to the lower ends of the uprights of the tower. A pair of links, including a short link and a long link, join portions of the reference and portions of the follower. A driver is preferably provided between at least two of the elements of the joint, such as between the follower and the reference. The driver can supply an additional force to assist in raising and lowering of the tower relative to the watercraft.