pulling skiers and tubers...

[searay4now]

Hello all, I have a pretty fast 20' boat, open bow. What precautions should I use when pulling skiers and tubers, I know I shouldnt go over 25 or so mph. and I should have at one other person besides myself for a spotter, anything else I should look out for?, how about those three seater tubes? how safe are they?

 

[kd6nem]

Re: pulling skiers and tubers...

I hope there will be more comments here besides mine, since my experience towing is rather limited- about one season. There is wild and there is wild. A bunch of kids I was towing kept wanting to go faster. I surprised them and slowed down to big wake speed- just partially planing the boat. We were in a lake cove all alone, and I kept crossing my own wake. The tube would ride up on the edge, occasionally over the top. That was more action than they could have had going faster. As far as multi-passenger tubes I don't have a lot of experience aside from my inflatable jet-ski which holds two. It is possible when getting crazy to have knees and elbows collide with heads and mouths, etc., but I have never seen any problem bad enough to where they aren't ready to get right back on and do it again. I rather like the idea of being able to haul two or three at a time. Probably no more than two in my boat- only 55 hp outboard (but easy on gas).

 

[JasonJ]

Re: pulling skiers and tubers...

Safety is relative to what you are doing. Make sure everyone knows the signals. The spotter needs to know what the tuber/skier wants, and the tuber/skier needs to know the hand signals to get what he wants. Don't tow too close to shore, stay away from other boats, make sure there is a good bright orange flag up when someone is in the water. Don't whip them unless they are masochists and enjoy flyin arse over elbows. If some one goes down you want to safely and prudently get turned around and back to them asap so they don't get run down by another boat. Others will give more advice I am sure. Good luck and be safe...

 

[blifsey]

Re: pulling skiers and tubers...

Here's a long list for tubing...<br /><br />* Ditto on the hand signals...<br />* Only have 1 person reading the signals and telling driver what to do. Nothing more confusing than having 3 or 4 folks telling you what to do. If using a multi person tube and they give conflicting signals (one says faster and one says slower), stop and work it out. We were having situation where tubers wanted me to swing them to right or left but I couldn't because of oncoming boat, dock, etc. We worked up a signal to mean "wait, can't do that now" because tubers got impatient.<br />* Remeber as the tube swings out, it will be going faster than you.<br />* Watch how close you get to shore/docks/etc because of tube swing<br />* Try not to get too much slack in rope and have it yank tight.<br />* If pulling multiple tubes, make sure all rope lengths are same so nobody gets clotheslined<br />* If you slow suddenly, tube can submarine<br />* ALWAYS cut engine off when folks are climbing in/out tube & boat.<br />* If you lose a tuber, drop off plane and circle to right to pick them up. Keep them to starboard (driver's) side of boat so you can see them better<br />* Get a nice ski mirror so you can see action without looking back. I won't substitute mirror for spotter, I just use it so I can sneak a peek at the fun.<br />* Be sure all understand idea of taking turns and that you will pull each an equal amount of time. OR ELSE, you will be in danger due to mutiny of the tubers!!!

 

[LubeDude]

Re: pulling skiers and tubers...

Nothing I can add to these recomendations other than you will have better luck towing the higher you have your rope fasted to the tow boat, a ski pole is a good investment if towing a lot!!! It keeps the rope out of the water better and just makes the towing more enjoyable! Also helps get the tube planing faster! Oh, dosnt jerk your boat around as much either!!

 

[blifsey]

Re: pulling skiers and tubers...

We've got a two seater tube and because of its width I would say its safer than a single tube. Biggest danger is tubers konking heads but we've never actually had it happen.<br /><br />We had the big 2 seater with a single round tube on each side last summer (yes, 3 tubes, 4 kids). The little tubes would get hung on the edge of the wake and then the big tube would come screaming across the water and slam into the little tube. This would send the little tube flying! It was great fun for the 12 year old kids with us but a little too much for the 9 year old. Looked around once and my 12 yr old daughter's tube was about 6 feet in the air upside down, she was heading into water head first about 2 feet off the water!

 

[blifsey]

Re: pulling skiers and tubers...

I just started pulling my daughter on skis last summer. With a V8, 20' boat, I was pushing throttle to far on the "hit it". When I had my BIL in boat (who is an experienced skier), he coached me through pulling her up a little slower. That was the ticket!!! About 18 to 20mph seemed right speed for her. Much slower and you could see the skis getting low in the water. Much faster and she would signal to slow down. When pulling her and making a wide turn, I have to watch speed pretty close since the turning causes boat to slow down.

 

[blifsey]

Re: pulling skiers and tubers...

Oh...and #1 safety issue...all skiers/tubers regardless of age wear a proper fitted PFD. We picked up some of the better ones with 4 or 5 straps instead of 3 so they can fit better.<br /><br />Can you tell I'm eating lunch at my desk because of bad weather today??? You've got me wishing for Spring and there's ice forming on trees outside

 

[Bondo]

Re: pulling skiers and tubers...

#2 Safety Issue.....<br />Have a Spotter who's Paying Attention .....<br />It's the Law in Most States....