Rope drags with tube

[sleek2004]

Re: Rope drags with tube

i have the ball and wouldnt tow without it

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Rope drags with tube

OK, here's what you need to do: Go to the bank & get 2 or $3,000 & buy a wakeboard tower. Like the one my 14 year old son thinks I'm gonna buy
The prices on those are crazy expensive, but they would solve your problem. Only problem for me is I only paid $700 for my entire boat & motor. Kind of like the $5,000 stereo in the $200 car. Just an idea for ya.......

 

[SeanT]

Re: Rope drags with tube

Pulling tubes from the tower is just an accident waiting to happen (and I'm not talking about boats flipping or nonsense like that, I mean exposign the tower to things it wasn't designed to handle, like swamping a tube). I can't believe the number of people do it despite the warning labels. I bet those same people never check their mounts and other points for tightness either.

I have one of the best after market towers in the business, and I still need to tighten knuckles and elbows once in a while. Depends on the design of the tower obviously.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Rope drags with tube

Sounds like you have the rope threaded wrong on the tube. It shouldn't drag once you take off.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Rope drags with tube

Sounds like you attached the tube incorrectly. Is the ring on the tube through another piece on the tube? If not you will have a problem.

 

[briguy2817]

Re: Rope drags with tube

There is no other way to attach the tube other than the way I have it. Unless you try to attach at the handles, which I didn't. I went with a lighter rope and that solved all of my problems. The one I was using seemed like it would fill with water and drag in the middle between the boat and tube. I haven't had any problems with the new rope at all.

Brian

 

[Reimlaw]

Re: Rope drags with tube

I have had the same problem with drag and spray while pulling an inflatable and took the advice of other posters and purchased the booster ball. It will get a workout on Labor Day. I'll let you know how it does.

 

[DJ]

Re: Rope drags with tube

1. Rope too long.

2. Not mounted high enough.

3. Trimmed way too high.

The biggest mistakes are usually #1 & 3.

 

[EricJRW]

Re: Rope drags with tube

I have had the same problem with drag and spray while pulling an inflatable and took the advice of other posters and purchased the booster ball. It will get a workout on Labor Day. I'll let you know how it does.

That's what I was going to mention.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Rope drags with tube

You say your using the "big thick rope", what is the size of the tube?
Those large diameter ropes are made for very large tubes. Like the Big Mable that are large and heavy.

If you have a one or two person tube, or in general, a light weight (I don't mean cheap, I mean the actual weight of the tube) tube. The rope is too big and when it gets wet, is too heavy. That is most likely what creates the spray and drag.

You need a smaller diameter rope that does not "soak up" water. My "big" rope is a softer, loosely braided rope that actually "holds" water making it even heavier. The smaller "tightly" braided ropes, I believe nylon, are much better for the smaller lighter weight tubes. Go to the Wallyworld and pick one up and give it a whirl.

Thats ridiculous. If the rope is taut it won't drag. Sounds like he connected it incorrectly to the tube.

 

[wired1236]

Re: Rope drags with tube

I had the same problem and just went to a smaller line. My heavier line for my multi-person inflatable was too heavy and sagged. The smaller line workes great so I suggest using the smallest rated line you can for the inflatable you are pulling.

 

[lilcane88]

Re: Rope drags with tube

I strongly believe your problem lies in the rope length. We've played around with different lengths and the longer we got, the more drag we experienced. Our sweet spot is about 45-50 feet.

 

[Thad]

Re: Rope drags with tube

Thats ridiculous. If the rope is taut it won't drag. Sounds like he connected it incorrectly to the tube.

Believe what you wish. I suggested to the OP what I believed was the problem, he took my advise and now has no problem.

 

[briguy2817]

Re: Rope drags with tube

Believe what you wish. I suggested to the OP what I believed was the problem, he took my advise and now has no problem.

And works like a charm it does! My kids actually talk to me again


Brian

 

[sethjon]

Re: Rope drags with tube

This all makes sense, however, as I mentioned, sometimes the tow hook is just too low. Like I said, we have used both boats with the exact same tube and rope, and on mine it is fine, on my buddy's it drags in the water. His hook is lower than mine. Both boats are a little over 21ft, both V8s, both bowriders. Main differance is the height of the towhook.

Aside from putting a wake board tower on there or some other radical solution, what can my buddy do?

I have a boat that is so lo to the water and do not have any problem towing tubes of any kind. Make sure you are threading the tube correctly before attaching it to the tube.