Ski Pylon & Tubing

[Mainiac Boater]

I recently purchased a 2001 Sugar Sand Tango and would like to utilize it for tubing. The ski pylon has a warning label printed right on it that indicates it should only be used for skiing - not parasailing or tubing. Now I won't be trying parasailing from this boat anytime soon so I'm all set there. How about tubing? I've read some folks tube from the pylon just fine, others say it is a terrible idea as there is greater potential for slack ropes and snapping back to tension as well as submarining the tube.

How could I rig up this boat for tubing without using the pylon? Would the hooks for strapping to the trailer work. Seems like they would be very low to the water.

 

[convergent]

Re: Ski Pylon & Tubing

The problem with a pylon and tubing is that the force on the rope is much, much greater than with a skier or wakeboarder. Look at the size of a ski rope and compare it to a tubing rope. My tubing rope is rated at 4,000 pounds and is significantly larger than my ski ropes. So the issue is that the force may greatly exceed what the pylon is designed to handle and therefore could rip it out.

I use the sportstuff booster ball hooked to a harness on the transom hooks for tubing. It seems to work fine.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Ski Pylon & Tubing

If the "pylon" on your Tango is the short pole (Like 4" tall) just ahead of the rear seat, that seems like the obvious place to tow anything from, including a tube. If there is a taller aftermarket pylon of some sort on your boat then that might be a concern.

Are there any Sugar Sand forums that have something to say about this?

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Ski Pylon & Tubing

There is a label telling you not to do so, don't ignore it. Simply get a harness/pulley for $10 a wal-mart or other watersports store and hook it to the trailer tie-down hooks. They are more than strong enough and people have been pulling tubes that way for decades.

 

[Mainiac Boater]

Re: Ski Pylon & Tubing

The picture that was posted is my exact setup. In fact, I can't tell for sure, but it looks as though the pylon in the picture has the same warning - at least the label looks similar.

I have done a lot of tubing but this is my first boat so now I am learning how to rig things up appropriately.

Concerning the trailer tie down hooks, it seems these would be very low to the water. That doesn't cause a problem??

Thanks for the responses!

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Ski Pylon & Tubing

It depends on the placement of your tie-down hooks. However if they are 8-12" off the water, that its more than enough to tube without dragging the rope in the water.

 

[EricJRW]

Re: Ski Pylon & Tubing

In regards to rope being low to the water, it has already been suggested above, but here's a link for the sportsstuff 4K Booster Ball:

http://www.iboats.com/4k-Booster-Ball/dm/*******.212267237--**********.187933120--view_id.484190

PS. There's also another thread on it if you want to read more, and if that link does not work, just go to the iboat.com store and search "booster ball"

 

[Mainiac Boater]

Re: Ski Pylon & Tubing

Neato. Thanks for the info.