Tubing question

[bigdaddy08302]

Maybe a dumb question but...what is the best way to tow a tube? What I mean is the attachment to the boat. I have an outboard motor and was looking at the pylons but I read that they are not for tubes...if not then waht would be good? That sounded good because the rider would be centered...something mounted to the ransom would be to the side.

 

[timdan94]

Re: Tubing question

this is what I use

http://www.iboats.com/Airhead-Tow-D...3681399--**********.205296313--view_id.237610

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: Tubing question

You can buy harnesses that clip into the eyes on the transom. They have a float with a sheave (pulley) on a rope that goes around the motor and clips into the transom eyes (if you have them).

They look like this http://ridewatersports.com/stcatowha1.html

 

[Amazon Man]

Re: Tubing question

Use the pylons...drag is same on start up as a slalom but less once the tube is planed. A slalom can pull a boat's stern all ove the place, a tube skims.

Unless you have unlimited space, shorten the rope down to a max of 45 feet so you don't slam your tubers into a dock and kill them. I have seen this happen 3 times...2 deaths & 1 paralyzed from the waist down. Always have at least one dedicated observer.

 

[75TowerOfPower]

Re: Tubing question

Don't use a plylon, with the transom eyes. A skier my move the boat some but if you have ever had a tube submerge you will know it will stop a boat in it's track and sometimes kill a motor. use the harness like other's have said since that is what it is used for. Also, when tubes do submerge either the plylon goes, rope ot the tube breaks, something has to give because of the boat moving at speed.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Tubing question

Well, it depends on the tube. The one we have is impossible to submerge, so we pull it from the ski pylon. HOWEVER, as mentioned, if there's any chance whatsoever of the tube submarining I'd use a harness on the transom eyes.

 

[CanWoodsman]

Re: Tubing question

One very important note:
Never attach the tow rope to the tube with a metal clip.
About 9 years ago at a Conservation Area I worked at as the Lake Patrol Officer a tube submerged & the metal clip broke free of the tube. It slingshoted back killing a female in the boat.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Tubing question

The last couple outboard boats I've owned had transom eyes quite close to the motor (like only 18" between the two eyes). We attached the tube rope to either of them and it worked great.

Ummm, good luck with that harness on the BOW eyes!!! I assume you mean stern or transom?

 

[79Merc80]

Re: Tubing question

I had a tube flip after the rider fell off, which stopped the tube and bent the support bracket on the side that the tube was at the time. I have the harness now for the tube!!!

 

[bigpoppakdog]

Re: Tubing question

I made a wakeboard pylon out of a piece of galvanized tubing from Menards. I put an eye bolt about halfway down for tubing. No more reaching behind the motor...line stays nicely out of the water, which really makes for easier pulling and a more intense ride because you really can skip the tube across the water.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Tubing question

Ummm, good luck with that harness on the BOW eyes!!! I assume you mean stern or transom?

Yeah, well, sometimes the fingers move faster than the brain.

 

[krowey]

Re: Tubing question

the harness is the best way to go, i've used one on my old boat for years