Lightest/Smallest boat for tubing and light 2 ski skiing - size & weight?

[flemingdl]

Hi,
Really getting interested in a boat for teen kids & I (all 150 lb's or less) to tube and even pull a two ski skier. For skiing i realize only two persons w/b in boat, & need a power prop.

What types of boats best for such? I presume at least 14', am aware of large dinghy's, inflatables, many options.

I also wonder about motor options, want the lightest.

Reason the weight a factor, is I have access to walk up type launch (free & no crowds) and picture carrying boat & motor separate frm car/trlr assembling in the shallows, then Whalla, HAVE SOME FUN!

Thx for info

Don in Wa. state

 

[haley]

Re: Lightest/Smallest boat for tubing and light 2 ski skiing - size & weight?

Intriguing opportunity...

I looked up the weight of a 15hp motor - not saying it would do what you want, just curious about weight. The 15hp was already over 100lbs. For the hull I would think you would have to look at inflatables - zodiacs and such.

Good luck with your adventure.

Jh

 

[2ndtry]

Re: Lightest/Smallest boat for tubing and light 2 ski skiing - size & weight?

I have tubed behind a 12' aluminum with a 15 hp, and my aunt claims to have skiied behind the same boat when she was younger. It can be done, but I think this is getting down to the the least HP required, I would think a 25 HP and a cart would be better. Although I can't find any solid info on weight, I suspect a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) might suit your purposes, you should look into them. They have a solid v-type hull but inflatable tubes for sides.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Lightest/Smallest boat for tubing and light 2 ski skiing - size & weight?

Interesting idea about the rigid/inflatable. I learned to ski behind a 14' with a 35HP, and had some friends who used a similar setup. I can see launching it by hand, but recovering it would be much harder. Anyplace to hook up a power winch or come-along? If an obliging tree is close by, then I can see a couple of you pulling it off.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Lightest/Smallest boat for tubing and light 2 ski skiing - size & weight?

My dad swears he has skied behind a 35 hp on a small boat. He is about 150 lbs.

Nothing you could carry to the water, though.

How about a nice jet ski? Some of the newer ones are 200-250 hp, can carry 4 people, and will EASILY pull two skiers.

For a couple hundred bucks, you buy a "jack" for lack of a better word. You use it to pull the ski down to the water, and launch it. I see them do it off the beaches here all the time.

I will try to find a picture of what I am talking about.

Here you go. They also come with 4 or 6 wheels. You can roll a pwc to the shore with one hand. Oh yeah. They call them "dollies".

 

[southkogs]

Re: Lightest/Smallest boat for tubing and light 2 ski skiing - size & weight?

My dad swears he has skied behind a 35 hp on a small boat. He is about 150 lbs.

Nothing you could carry to the water, though.

How about a nice jet ski? Some of the newer ones are 200-250 hp, can carry 4 people, and will EASILY pull two skiers.

For a couple hundred bucks, you buy a "jack" for lack of a better word. You use it to pull the ski down to the water, and launch it. I see them do it off the beaches here all the time.

I will try to find a picture of what I am talking about.

Here you go. They also come with 4 or 6 wheels. You can roll a pwc to the shore with one hand. Oh yeah. They call them "dollies".

View attachment 109191

Bravo scooper - I NEVER would have thought of that.

 

[scooper77515]

Re: Lightest/Smallest boat for tubing and light 2 ski skiing - size & weight?

They used them down at the beach all the time. I don't think you can tow long distance with them, maybe you can.

But the jetski sits on it sorta balanced, so you can push it into the water quite easily, launch it and reload it without struggle. The wheels are wide and don't sink into the sand at the beach like my jetski trailer did. And they are WAY lighter than my trailer.

 

[relocyo]

Re: Lightest/Smallest boat for tubing and light 2 ski skiing - size & weight?

My dad swears he has skied behind a 35 hp on a small boat. He is about 150 lbs.

Nothing you could carry to the water, though.

How about a nice jet ski? Some of the newer ones are 200-250 hp, can carry 4 people, and will EASILY pull two skiers.

For a couple hundred bucks, you buy a "jack" for lack of a better word. You use it to pull the ski down to the water, and launch it. I see them do it off the beaches here all the time.

I will try to find a picture of what I am talking about.

Here you go. They also come with 4 or 6 wheels. You can roll a pwc to the shore with one hand. Oh yeah. They call them "dollies".

View attachment 109191

+1 thats exactly what he wants... He just doesnt know it yet

 

[haley]

Re: Lightest/Smallest boat for tubing and light 2 ski skiing - size & weight?

With my tow vehicle's weight restrictions I was seriously considering the PWC for skiing option. You need at least a 3 seater if your area requires an observer - a place for the skier, observer and driver. You also wish to confer with the person who would be the observer, in my case my wife, to see if they were okay with sitting backwards on a pwc .

The model I was homing in on was Yamaha's SUV 1200. A sweet ride if you can find them. Might be heavy though.

jh