enough power for a larger towable?

[Rancherlee]

I've pulled a single person 54" tube behind my boat many times and can get 25mph out of it pretty easy with that tube. A couple of my friends want to get a 2-3 person towable but I was wondering if I have enough power to do it. I have a 55hp johnson on the back of a 16ft Lund fishing boat which tops out at 32mph with me and a spotter in the boat, currently I can tow the single tube 20-25mph (15-18mph is my planing speed) at just under WOT. What types of multi-rider tubes are easier to pull?

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: enough power for a larger towable?

That's a good bit of weight for that motor. Do you have any tabs? I would think getting the towable to plane would be difficult with that amount of weight in relationship to your horsepower. You may have to drop your prop pitch to help compensate. If you don't have trim tabs, then at the very least you may consider a hydrofoil. I would never otherwise recommend the hydrofoil, but it may well help in your situation.

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: enough power for a larger towable?

I was thinking about trim tabs but I have a 6hp kicker/trolling motor hanging on back also that might get in the way. If I could talk my wife into the 90hp yamaha thats in the local paper that would solve my issues (early 90's with controls for 1200$).

 

[hibbert6]

Re: enough power for a larger towable?

I've pulled a single person 54" tube behind my boat many times and can get 25mph out of it pretty easy with that tube.

I can't imagine wanting to be pulled at 25mph with another head to bash my teeth on on the same tube! Maybe some others are more thrill-seeking, but usually, the more people, the slower I pull them...

Dave

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: enough power for a larger towable?

not 25mph with 2 or more people, I usually tow 20mph unless they want the speed jacked up more. I'm more worried about actually breaking plane AND being able to have enough power to get them outside of the wake.

 

[Almeja]

Re: enough power for a larger towable?

I think getting a large towable with several aboard slung outside the wake will be problematic for your boat/engine combination. You might get it to happen, but likely won't be much fun.

More hp would help, but with a lightweight aluminum fishing boat, the towable may become the proverbial tail wagging the dog. Things might get a big dicey and provide a bit more thrills for the driver than the passengers.

FWIW: The 'Banzai' is pretty much the standard multi-passenger towable in these parts.