Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

[SkiDad]

Hi Guys, this is the back of my 1985 bayliner.... can I put a 2nd set of u-bolts in the blue section ? I'm guessing the transom stops at the white but I wasn't sure. I think I would be OK to hook up in the blue for skiing - but not sure about tubing. I have one of those booster balls but it's a pain to hook all that up for tubing and then hook up a different rope for skiing / deflate the booster ball, etc. And also when I ski the rope hits the wake when I get way out to the side.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

You would be much happier with a Water Ski Pylon.
The tow line will swing above the engine and well above the wake.

If you must, Stainless Steel Stern Eyes with backing plates would be better than common U-Bolts.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

Stern Eyes

I used to get those all the time from my mother, when I was a wee pup.

 

[SkiDad]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

You would be much happier with a Water Ski Pylon.
The tow line will swing above the engine and well above the wake.

If you must, Stainless Steel Stern Eyes with backing plates would be better than common U-Bolts.

I had looked into those pylons. my dad has one on his boat but it was factory - I heard your not supposed to pull tubes with them and I don't think my splashwell is that sturdy - would be great for skiing - but I was looking for an all around solution that will cover both skiing and tubing.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

...I heard you're not supposed to pull tubes with them and I don't think my splash well is that sturdy ...

The stress on the boat is not any more than the pull of the handle that the skier feels.
The "No Tubes" warning is more for what might happen if the rope were to break and by chance fly into the cockpit.
Even with large tubing and monster mountings, wake-board towers have the same restrictions.
The warnings are written by the company lawyers not their engineers.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

I would make sure your transom core goes all the way up to the blue area, and is in sound shape before I would install and tow. If it does than I don't see why not.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

The other question is....
How is raising the stern eyes going to make the line change much different?
I can see one clip on the starbord stern eye and assume there is a bridle attached to both eyes.
If you snag the bridle with a boat hook and swap the tow lines, you're good.
The upper position will help some, but is no guarantee the tow line will stay above the wake.

To the main question....
Another set of stern eyes and a tow bridle, even set in the Upper White area, will pull the arms off the skier before they start to strain the stern!

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

Another set of stern eyes and a tow bridle, even set in the Upper White area, will pull the arms off the skier before they start to strain the stern!

I HATE when that happens!

 

[SkiDad]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

The other question is....
How is raising the stern eyes going to make the line change much different?
I can see one clip on the starbord stern eye and assume there is a bridle attached to both eyes.
If you snag the bridle with a boat hook and swap the tow lines, you're good.
The upper position will help some, but is no guarantee the tow line will stay above the wake.

That pick is old - from the 1st time out. I can look for better pics

I'm not I understanding what you mean by "If you snag the bridle with a boat hook and swap the tow lines, you're good." ?

my boat is still in storage - I have to get it in a few weeks and can check the transom - i didn't know how far they generally went up - just now warming past freezing in the north. Just trying to plan for something better than last year... i think getting up about 6 inches will get the rope from hitting the wake - its just barely hitting.

the booster ball helps for the tube but obviously it's not for skiing, but I would rather just hook to one spot and use a regular rope for the tube - the booster is cool but gets in the way.

 

[redneckpunk]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

Best option is a tow pylon. There are so many options for size and mounting that include splashwell, transom, gunwells, floor, etc, depending on boats configuration. If your transom does go high enough and is in good condition (ie not rotting) than stern eyes with backing plates would would work. What BobinCo was referring to, I believe, was using a bridle such as this Best option is a tow pylon. There are so many options for size and mounting that include splashwell, transom, gunwells, floor, etc, depending on boats configuration. If your transom does go high enough and is in good condition (ie not rotting) than stern eyes with backing plates would would work. What BobinCo was referring to, I believe, was using a bridle such as this http://www.iboats.com/Tow-Harness-Ski-Bridle-Poly-Rope-8-Seachoice/dm/view_id.70678?cm_mmc=Google_Main-_-Mall+Product+Listings%3AGoogle-_-+%3AMall+Product+Listings%3AGoogle-_-Seachoice&kw={keyword}&gclid=CMCBosbjvLYCFU_ZQgod8 ToAqA and then just swapping ropes depending on activities.and then just swapping ropes depending on activities.

~RNP

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

The stress on the boat is not any more than the pull of the handle that the skier feels.
The "No Tubes" warning is more for what might happen if the rope were to break and by chance fly into the cockpit.
Even with large tubing and monster mountings, wake-board towers have the same restrictions.
The warnings are written by the company lawyers not their engineers.

This is untrue. A tube rope is hooked to the device so you can't just "let go". If the tube submarines it can cause up 4000 lbs of pull dragging through the water and ripping your pylon from its mounts. DO NOT PULL A TUBE FROM A PYLON. A wake board tower may or may not hold the stress from behind but if you are turning and the tube digs in it can capsize the boat pulling sideways. I usually don't disagree with you Willie but in this case I must.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

I'm not I understanding what you mean by "If you snag the bridle with a boat hook and swap the tow lines, you're good." ? ...
I would rather just hook to one spot and use a regular rope for the tube ...

A tow BRIDLE attaches to both stern eyes.
The tow point is now in the center of the boat, behind the engine, and not to one side.
Some have a pulley to allow the tow point to slide along the bridle. Everything Floats!

When changing lines, snag the bridle with a boat-hook, pull it aboard and swap the lines at the pulley.
There would be no need to be able to reach the bow eyes once the bridle was attached.

 

[SkiDad]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

I have one of those The one is the first pic was the one that came with the boat and was probably as old as the boat. I got this one attached after a few times out.


But have been thinking of getting one that doesn't have the pully.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

Sorry, the tubes should never be towed on the pylons. The moment that tube submarines or digs in hard, it's going to rip that pylon from its mounts. The stern eyes will be fine, just make sure you install them with a backing plate to distribute the load. You shouldn't need a booster ball with the bridle if you install the eyes in the blue area you indicated. I'd just ski with the bridle as well.

 

[BrianCinAz]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

The stress on the boat is not any more than the pull of the handle that the skier feels.
The "No Tubes" warning is more for what might happen if the rope were to break and by chance fly into the cockpit.
Even with large tubing and monster mountings, wake-board towers have the same restrictions.
The warnings are written by the company lawyers not their engineers.

That is completely WRONG! A tube has a considerably larger resistance to being towed compared to a skier. Try holding the tow rope when pulling a tube at 15 mph, you can't do it. The warnings are there because people have torn holes in their boats from the stress of tubing..

 

[SkiDad]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

Got my boat home now - here's another picture of the back.

i put 2 gray areas up higher (look for the red arrows) My transom stops at the white - the blue and above is just fiberglass. Do you think it would be OK to pull tubes and skiers from that point i have marked on the picture - i think it's OK except my concern is the steps being there - do you think that's an issue when I take off, etc ?

Also i did find a used pylon - thinking of getting it - but I mocked it up with pvc and it only clears my motor by 3-4 inches - is that high enough ? - here a picture of the mock up. I used the measurements of the used pylon.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

You will still need some reinforcement on the inside, Ski hooks are a common item on many boats, my guess is they would all have a backer plate to some degree, even if its very large stainless steel washers. The pole you have mocked up seems like the wrong application with the outboard you are running. Most I have seen are with I/o's and inboards.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

Personally I would want the eyes to be higher, it will help keep tubes from going under and also help skiers somewhat, with your boat I would want the eyes as high as possible like in between the red line and the rub rail.

I think the bridle idea is perfect for you. Twin eyes should handle the load just fine with proper backing.

 

[SkiDad]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

Hi Guys, I ended up picking up a used pylon for 70 bucks. I got it installed last weekend - it was a LOT of work to make a spot through the foam in the gunwales. I had some 1/4 thick stainless plates made for me at work - 15.00 for the steel... way over engineered, but this thing is solid.

1st plate is 3x4" which I put at the back points, the bigger plate 4x6" is what I put in the splash well to catch the 1/2 plywood supports - the splash well is on 1/4" thick where there is only fiberglass but 3/4 at the spots where there is wood.

[

 

[southkogs]

Re: Can I put U-Bolts here for Skiing and Tubing ?

...it was a LOT of work to make a spot through the foam in the gunwales.

... but, I think you'll like it better than installing u-bolts. Nice job.