Towing a skier

[rollyjs]

New to skier towing w/pontoon boat. (20 fter w/85 hp evenrude)When I tried towing a skier the bow comes up and the stern goes down to the point of taking on alot of water. Is there a way of changing the angle of the motor, or what do I do to prevent this? I did alot of sking behind a regular boat. It always a lot of fun until it was my turn to row. ;-)

 

[hckplyers]

Re: Towing a skier

Sorry you didn't get a response yet. Been out since this outing? Do you have a tow bar or just pulling off the tune eyes with a harness? You will need to have the motor all the way down of course, then after you get the skier up you can trim up the motor, if that is an option on your boat. We have a set of the parabolic skis, very wide tips, that really get a skier up quick, even if on the large size. You do lose some manuverability but they are great for beginners and pull easy. Also have the extra weight, people and coolers, sit more in the front when starting out. They can move back as you get leveled out a bit.

Have to share this with you. We had our grown son and family on the pontoon this Sat, it is a tritoon with a 115 on it. It was really windy and we had 2-2 1/2 ft waves leaving the launch, headed for the smoother water on the other side of the lake, where it was good water. The wake boarders and skiers were there all lined up in there boats. Son hops in the water we take off with him in tow, he is doing some hard cuts as we go past all those other boats and you should have seen the looks on there faces!!!!!!!!! We were at about 30 when we got past them, priceless.
So maybe you just need some different skis, check Craigslist you might find just what you need at a reduced price.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Towing a skier

Trim the engine all the way in so the prop is closest to the transom, that is really all you can do other than having someone sit up in the bow to add a little weight.

Also, you don't say you did but I don't recommend tying a tow rope to the rope eyes, they are made to tie the boat off at the dock not to tow a skier, they look really heavy BUT they are welded to metal that is less than an 1/8'' thick adn really don't like a side load.

A pair of stainless U bolts through the last cross member is a much better place to tow from.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Towing a skier

Trim the engine all the way in so the prop is closest to the transom, that is really all you can do other than having someone sit up in the bow to add a little weight.

Also, you don't say you did but I don't recommend tying a tow rope to the rope eyes, they are made to tie the boat off at the dock not to tow a skier, they look really heavy BUT they are welded to metal that is less than an 1/8'' thick adn really don't like a side load.

A pair of stainless U bolts through the last cross member is a much better place to tow from.

You mentioned this before and I'd really like to follow your advice. Would you happen to have a pic? I think I know how to do what you're recommending, but I'd hate to screw it up. Not that I would!

 

[Dkrager]

Re: Towing a skier

Trim the engine all the way in so the prop is closest to the transom, that is really all you can do other than having someone sit up in the bow to add a little weight.

Also, you don't say you did but I don't recommend tying a tow rope to the rope eyes, they are made to tie the boat off at the dock not to tow a skier, they look really heavy BUT they are welded to metal that is less than an 1/8'' thick adn really don't like a side load.

A pair of stainless U bolts through the last cross member is a much better place to tow from.

The eyes on the back of mine say lift point on them. So if it's heavy enough to lift the boat from those eyes, then surely it's heavy enough to pull from. ?????
Not all boats are created equal though.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Towing a skier

I think the caveat is they are designed for vertical load, not horizontal. I've been using mine with no issues, but all I ever pull is a couple of seven year olds on a tube.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Towing a skier

Incoop got it, they will take a vertical load but don't do so well with a side load, I honestly don't like that they lift from them, the end cap is only .080 which isn't super thick but we load 20 boat everyday at work and haven't ever had on break.

We do get dealers back quite often though that use them to tie down the boat and they bend them because of the cross load.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Towing a skier

So, any advice on adding the U bolts to the back cross member? Just got her back from the weld shop last night and I don't want to have to take her in again because I did it wrong.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Towing a skier

The "lifting rings' on my pontoon are just a fancy eye bolt. They are bolted horizontally through the last cross-member.

With that layout, when you lift vertically is when you get a side load....a towing load exerts a load in line with the bolt which is its strongest point.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Towing a skier

Hmmm. Mine are welded on the tops of the toons at the ends.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Towing a skier

Hmmm. Mine are welded on the tops of the toons at the ends.

Then I'd agree with the "don't tow with them" crowd.

http://www.iboats.com/Ski-Tows/dm/*******.081764603--**********.836978728--view_id.258735

Check the link and see if it would suit.
You could mount one on both corners of your last cross-member.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Towing a skier

Might do that. Thanks.

 

[Mr Crabbs]

Re: Towing a skier

I'll add to the confusion. When I asked my Tracker service guy (not the sales guy) he told me to go ahead and pull tubes and skiers from those eyes on the logs.