Has anyone seen this tow pylon solution

[Maclin]

I had been looking for a solution to change the center tow point on my boat. The stock one is low in my opinion, just a few inches above the swim platform (I/O boat), and tube riders get sprayed in their faces when the rope dips in and out of the wake's hump. The corner rings are at the same level, so even with a bridle the rope is in the same spot.

I was thinking about a really short pylon on top of the stern and did searches and found this little gizmo...:





This video shows how it works...

I have it installed, my boat's configuration was ideal back there for it. I will post back once we use it.

Here is a pic of my install, this was part of some improvements I put on over the weekend. Foldown platform ladder, platform grab bar just in front of the ladder, grab handles on the stern and the tow pylon...

 

[sutor623]

Re: Has anyone seen this tow pylon solution

Nice man. Looks clean. What type of cash are we looking at for something like that?

 

[Philster]

Re: Has anyone seen this tow pylon solution

Where you new piece is mounted is about the height most newer ones are installed by the manufacturer. Makes sense.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Has anyone seen this tow pylon solution

Sutor,

I found this one on eBay when I was looking for used and new pylons. There were 3 or 4 different listings for it. List price on it new is $39.95 from what I can tell. Some eBay listings were $27 plus shipping, some were $47 plus shipping. The one I got was from a buy it now for $15.88 and FREE shipping. I was pretty happy with the price I found! That is also the ad with the video and the pic.

Here is a link to the relisted ad...:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&vxp=mtr&item=350551106244

 

[Maclin]

Re: Has anyone seen this tow pylon solution

Philster,

Thanks for your input bud! I researched lots of boats regarding their towing and stern configuration and saw that the newer ones (mine is a 1991 model, and not even a fresh design then) had the tow hook eye up higher on the stern.

On mine the best place for a tow hook eye is right where my stern navigation light is. Mine is also just a ring, so I use a quick disconnect to get the advantage of not having to tie the rope on. I am not so good at knots. I was anxious to at least replace the ring with an eye.

The top of the stern is the next best place and I figured maybe I could mod a pylon and put it there. It is very sturdy right there. Then I found this thing, and that was that. It installed well, the coaming is thick and reinforced right there and with a piece of wood under that with the plate that came with it this should be good for 3+ person tubing.
The full width of that coaming was trimmed with a single piece of teak, I had to cut that in half to make room for this as the studs were not quite long enough. I cut the pieces at angles with a slight slant and it looks pretty good. So low profile too, much better than any standard pylon I could have found.

I will repost with results.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Has anyone seen this tow pylon solution

I used this new tow point yesterday for tubing, worked great. Keeps the rope up to clear the platform ladder which was my main goal as the OEM tow ring is just above the platform. The boat handled about the same. For my boat this was a good upgrade for how we use it.

 

[markheck1]

Re: Has anyone seen this tow pylon solution

Hmm..that looks pretty cool, My only concern is that they don't make it any more.....
Maybe that's because all the newer boats are designed with tows built in.....

 

[Maclin]

Re: Has anyone seen this tow pylon solution

It needs a fairly wide coaming or other structure to mount on. My boat's old-school stern config made it a perfect fit, I really like the low profile. I have a tow ring in the middle and was using it, but it is just above the platform and I wanted to put on a over platform folding ladder, needed a higher point so the rope could clear it. Most newer boats have their ring up higher.