tubbing from a jon boat

[NolaZach]

Okay, I like to tube behind a boat. I have never tried to ski or wakeboard.

My boat is a 17' (listed as 18) jon boat with a rebuilt 1975 70 hp motor. I got6 it up to 38(gps) mph the other day. So I know its fast enough.

My worries are can the transom support having a heavy tuber? What would be the best way of mounting the tow rope?

right now all I have is a handle at either end and no ladder. I have no problem getting in an out the boat, but others might.

I doubt I am the first person here to want to use a jon boat as a pleasure boat.

I do want a ladder though because were we do water sports, there are tons of alligators and no one wants to be in the water with them for long.

I was just wondering if its okay to mount a tow rope of to one side of the boat, and are there any damages to the boat or motor that could happen?

I am new to this, but I know the boat could pull a tube, I just need to figure out how to hook it up and get a ladder. Thanks in advance.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: tubbing from a jon boat

I have no idea about your transom but you should really pull from 2 points with a harness if you are towing off the back of the boat. I am no expert on Jon Boats so can not advise you either way on strength and suitability.
However I would not be tubing anywhere near alligators !!!!!

 

[tysonnathan]

Re: tubbing from a jon boat

My uncs got an 18' alum john boat with a 90hp johnson that he pulls skiers and tubers behind all the time... he hooks a floating line between the handles and then hooks the ski rope to that. this ensures that the boat is pulling evenly from both sides..

heres a link to one...
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/s..._100250_200006000_200000000_200006000_200-6-0

 

[NolaZach]

Re: tubbing from a jon boat

I have no idea about your transom but you should really pull from 2 points with a harness if you are towing off the back of the boat. I am no expert on Jon Boats so can not advise you either way on strength and suitability.
However I would not be tubing anywhere near alligators !!!!!

The other day I saw this 12' gator and I was trying to get close to it (on the boat) then it went under, about ten seconds later I saw a kid (maybe six or seven) fall off a tube not thirty feet away. I didn't want to scare him so i didn't say anything about the gator.

Generally they don't attack people, I can't remember the last time that i heard of a gator attack here. We are swamped with them I see far more gators than I do snakes.

anyway

i think I will do the float line between the two handles and rig a small ladder.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: tubbing from a jon boat

The other day I saw this 12' gator and I was trying to get close to it (on the boat) then it went under, about ten seconds later I saw a kid (maybe six or seven) fall off a tube not thirty feet away. I didn't want to scare him so i didn't say anything about the gator.

Generally they don't attack people, I can't remember the last time that i heard of a gator attack here. We are swamped with them I see far more gators than I do snakes.

anyway

i think I will do the float line between the two handles and rig a small ladder.

Gators !!!!! Snakes !!!!
I think I will stick to Lake St Clair !!!!!

 

[NolaZach]

Re: tubbing from a jon boat

I was in Ontario last summer. Its a huge provence. I was in Buffalo and had decided to drive to Toronto because I have never been. Definetly had some nice scenery. Then I had to go to Ohio so I drove through Ontario to Detroit. I would like to go out there again.

Of course the weather. I'm 27 and have only seen snow here twice in all my life, and only once did it stick to the ground.

Here I can go boating 12 months out the year. Of course with gators. People in south Florida have it worse, they got crocs too.