best way to tow with a lund baron I/O?

brunolund

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 26, 2008
Messages
419
i have a 96 baron 2150 with an I/O mercruiser. the original tow ring above the outdrive has been removed and there is a large hole there where the previous owner ran the cables for the 15hp kicker motor. i want to be able to pull my kids skiing and tubing. i don’t like the yoke style as the rope always drags in the water. i’ve been told not to pull tubes with a tower, so what would everyone recommend? the fuel tank is in the center of the boat where a pylon would mount, so don’t think that is a good idea either. ???
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
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Jul 23, 2011
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49,585
i don’t like the yoke style as the rope always drags in the water.


pull from the transom tiedowns with a bridle.

it only drags until the line is tight, then its out of the water
 

JASinIL2006

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 10, 2012
Messages
5,674
Personally, I won’t tow tubes from the tow hook. A bridle attached to the transom tiedowns is your best bet.

If the rope dragging in the water while pulling riders is a problem, get a booster ball. They work great, and they stop rope spray from hitting your riders.
 

ahicks

Captain
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Sep 16, 2013
Messages
3,957
Personally, I won’t tow tubes from the tow hook. A bridle attached to the transom tiedowns is your best bet.

If the rope dragging in the water while pulling riders is a problem, get a booster ball. They work great, and they stop rope spray from hitting your riders.
Taken one step further, you can make retrieving the tow rope easier (leaning over the back of some boats can be interesting) by attaching an new extra light line (1/4"?) to said float, that leads into the boat. This lets you pull the float into the boat where you can then pull in the tow rope easily.
 

dwco5051

Commander
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Sep 14, 2008
Messages
2,411
Like the others said go with a bridle and float. A pylon mounted over the turning center of the boat is good for competition slalom skiers cutting hard and otherwise pulling the stern to one side or the other. Helps the driver keep in a straight line on a marked course but not necessary for what you are planning.
 

Yegboats

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 20, 2016
Messages
518
This is my favorite, it doesn't get sucked back into the drive area like the rope type. Lasts a lot longer too becasue it doesn't chafe/unravel like the rope style.
Also 14' is just about double your transom width and that's what's recommended.
 
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