Grab handle / tow ring project begins...

[ajholt7]

Just buy a tube that puts less stress on your boat.

[ajholt7]

I'm just going with the math. Also, if there were no purpose for the tow rings why would they be offered by Tige and other manufacturers as options or, in many cases, standard equipment? All trailered boats have transom hooks, yet tow rings are very popular....

Not trying to "convince" anyone, just explaining my reasons.

Thanks!

{Sigh}

[JreisRZR]

You can tow like 400lbs on the ski pylon - unless you are running a circus and towing 13 people on a tube why not simply tow with the pylon? 400lbs is the recommended max, but we all know that has a 20% b.s. factor on it. So unless you are hauling 500lbs; sounds like a ton of squeeze but no juice.

plus that's the max skiier weight, I can only imagine how much force a slalom skiier puts on that pylon when making some laid out turns.

I don't tube,but id tow from the pylon. I live on a lake though and have had to tow neighbors BOATS home, which seems like it has not been covered , in the event I have to tow an x star(its happened twice) where do you tow from when towing that 4500# monster...

[kko]

I have towed a 3 person tube with 2 guys combined over 500lbs drove like I was trying to kill them (they like a wild ride) with the V harness and can assure you the tube will rip before the D-rings ever even think about getting damaged. The tube is the weak link I have got 3 or 4 of them to prove it. We dont do much tubing anymore but if I did I would have no worries about pulling off the D-rings.Its a VERY strong area of the boat and can handle the load without any problems.

[IDBoating]

{Sigh}

Cute!

By the way, please note I didn't start this thread to convince anybody of anything. I'm simply documenting a mod to my boat in case it helps anyone, and I'm interested in constructive feedback from those who are interested. I did not and am not trying to have an argument. If one occurs, someone else will have started it. You'll find that I will explain my point of view, but beyond that everyone is welcome to their opinion and I'll thank them for tolerating mine.

Thanks!

[IDBoating]

I am not try to be mean just asking some questions.

Definitely no offense taken here! Please ask questions. Brainstorming is how problems get solved.

Are you planning to pull more than your young son on the tube? What speeds do you plan to pull at? What kind of tube or tubes do you plan to pull? How many tubes do you plan to pull at a time?

We use our boat as an all-around entertainment device. We do wakeboard, and wakesurfing is a big item this year. But we also pull skiers (pylon) and, importantly for this discussion, a wide variety of tubes for the guests who don't live on the water and whose max skills are basically sitting in a tube.

We have two "screamer" tubes that we pull together so all ages (including adults) can do "battle tubing" trying to kick each other off as we rip them across the wake. We have a double tube and, new this year, a triple with ~500 pound (IIRC) capacity that looks a lot like the one in your video. Speeds are up to ~30 MPH with lots of sharp turns to achieve a "crack the whip" effect. When we load up the multi-tubes with 2-3 visiting adults and start whipping them around corners I suspect the stresses get pretty high.

We also tow a few docks occasionally, and in one case we pulled cedar trees we had freshly felled to build a new section of boat dock. This is obviously low-speed work.

In short, if it was just our family of three we wouldn't tow all that often. But we open our lake house to family and friends all summer long. We have visitors probably 40% of the days during the summer. And those folks want to be pulled on something inflatable a lot of the time. The low tow point gets a lot of use.

On positive side good luck with your ballast install and what ever you decide on to pull a tube so that you and your family can get out on the water and enjoy it this summer making memories

Agreed! That's what this is all about: Having fun and making memories!

Thanks for the feedback!

[skippabcool]

We have two "screamer" tubes that we pull together so all ages (including adults) can do "battle tubing" trying to kick each other off as we rip them across the wake. We have a double tube and, new this year, a triple with ~500 pound (IIRC) capacity that looks a lot like the one in your video. Speeds are up to ~30 MPH with lots of sharp turns to achieve a "crack the whip" effect. When we load up the multi-tubes with 2-3 visiting adults and start whipping them around corners I suspect the stresses get pretty high.

My buddy likes to pull the tubes super fast and we would behind my parents wave runner, until we read the warning label. Part of the reason that I asked about the speed is because all tubes come with a warning on the speed. All of them that I have seen are 20 mph max for adults and 15 mph max for kids or slower for both. I wondered if this number plays into part of the tubes ability, pressure on a boat, and safety of the riders. Since we have read that that is all we pull now.


Back on topic, I would still check with your dealer on the cost of new cables to reroute the isolator, they have to have them or be able to get them from Tige. West Marine or the like may have them as well. It might be the cheapest and fastest.

[IDBoating]

Back on topic, I would still check with your dealer on the cost of new cables to reroute the isolator, they have to have them or be able to get them from Tige. West Marine or the like may have them as well. It might be the cheapest and fastest.

It's easy to make your own cables, too. In fact, I have just finished one for a separate mod I'm hoping to finish today. I'll post photos when I'm done.

Thanks!

[jwanck11]

While this may be true, I very seriously doubt you will ever damage your boat using the y system. It's your time and money, waste it if you want. Just don't try and convince other people that y system will cause damage until you can prove it.

I agree. The y-system is USED with outboards.

I grew up skiing and tubing behind a D-ring triangle. We did this for more than a decade on the same Y-system. They are safe and effective. The proof is in several decades or more longevity of a viable product.

Going a diff route is a personal choice. Justifying by putting down a completely usable solution is inappropriate.

[IDBoating]

Going a diff route is a personal choice. Justifying by putting down a completely usable solution is inappropriate.

Again - I'm just explaining my point of view. I've said that already. Here, I'll quote myself:

By the way, please note I didn't start this thread to convince anybody of anything. I'm simply documenting a mod to my boat in case it helps anyone, and I'm interested in constructive feedback from those who are interested. I did not and am not trying to have an argument. If one occurs, someone else will have started it. You'll find that I will explain my point of view, but beyond that everyone is welcome to their opinion and I'll thank them for tolerating mine.

You want to do something different? Great! We're here to have fun! Do it in whatever way you like! No argument from me!

Now, how about returning the favor...?

I'll update as things progress. Thanks!

[IDBoating]

You know, I need to say something.

I started this thread as a purely informative discussion with photos. I did not criticize anyone or anything. I simply said "I want a tow ring on my 2009 24Ve". We had a good thread going.

Then someone made an alternative suggestion, which I appreciate. They went on to specifically ask "Why go through all the trouble...". A good question. All I did was answer, and the very last thing I said in that message was "In my humble opinion, of course." It's right there. Go back and read it. Plain as day.

Yet now some are trying to turn this thread into an argument. Why? What is your agenda? I'm discussing a mod, someone asks a question, I answer and openly remind everyone that my answer is my opinion, and suddenly there's a problem.

Why must this thread devolve into something personal? Can't we discuss our boats, and mods, and ask and answer questions, without it becoming an argument?

I hope so. That's been my goal for the whole thread, and it will continue to be so.

Back to the mods... speaking solely for myself, of course.

[carcrz]

LOL Because people have nothing better to do. I completely understand why you're doing it. For me, it would be one less thing to have to tote around and mess with. Just looking at your pic of the inside, it looks like it's already reinforced (starboard glassed over of course). Has anyone checked w/ Tige to see what their thoughts are on a tow hook where the handle is? I would think it would be a matter of welding on a hook to the current handle & having it re-chromed. Or if it is already an option, swapping out the handle for the optional hook/handle. This definitely isn't the first time it's been brought up.

[jwanck11]

Otherwise they are a bad idea. In my humble opinion, of course.

No, they are not a bad idea. For anyone that comes across this thread and reads the elements behind this erroneous determination: the Y systems are a perfectly viable and reasonable option. They are and have been in use for decades, are safe and a wholly effective solution.

WA - I hope you find a solution that you want to employ.

[kko]

Was not trying to upset anyone. Just wanted to mention the Y harness for people they may not have known about it. Impo its safer than (some) people doing mods to their boat that really shouldnt be. I am NOT saying you..but someone could try this mod thinking its the only do more harm than good not knowing they could tow tubes safely for under 20 bucks. Have fun getting her like you want her and enjoy.

[IDBoating]

Was not trying to upset anyone. Just wanted to mention the Y harness for people they may not have known about it. Impo its safer than (some) people doing mods to their boat that really shouldnt be. I am NOT saying you..but someone could try this mod thinking its the only do more harm than good not knowing they could tow tubes safely for under 20 bucks. Have fun getting her like you want her and enjoy.

Thank you, and I totally agree. Different solutions for different people. I just wish people weren't so quick to assault someone else's opinion, particularly when it is clearly identified as such.

Update coming... see below!