Towing a tube

[Galaxy24]

On a 2013 Z1 I was told by the dealer that the ski eye on the transom should be used for skiing only and to not pull a tube with it. If I am going to pull a tube I was told to make a bridal between the transom hooks and attach my rope to the bridal. Does anyone here tow a tube this way?

TIA

[talltigeguy]

This is awesome. Do a search for the term 'pansy pylon' and you will find that I coined the phrase.

The corporate line has been all over the place on this thing. We have even gotten mixed messages from corporate. But your dealer was told this because of a few failures when tubes were used. I first had direct knowledge when a friend of mine saw it, and then I have not seen anything more than gelcoat cracks around the pylon for all the years since. My friend saw shards of fiberglass around the pylon and it was visibly bent. I can't even find a picture of anything more than gelcoat cracks around the pylon ever since, so I have become more gentle, and stopped calling it a pansy pylon. So although I think the pylon is not supposed to be used for tubes, it works just fine. Keep the nut underneath tight and I doubt that you will ever have a problem. And if you do, hire a guy to fix the fiberglass and you will be good to go.

To directly answer your question...I used a bridle for a year or so on my 24V. It sucks. The tube ropes fall into the water and limit how well you can whip a tube unless you go faster than a lot of people want to go. Whipping someone into the flats 60 MPH does not make you a good tube driver, but that is sort of another subject. That led me to just say WTH and use the pylon anyway. I towed a 5 person water weenie for years without a problem.

Lots of guys use the Alpha Z tower without a problem too.

[Ewok]

Oh yeah, the tube thread 2013

[skippabcool]

Agree with Ewok. This has been beat to death. I would also think that if any manufacturer could find a way to exclude themselves from lawsuits they would.

I also agree with Tall that pulling from the transom hooks it sucks, sprays water pulls the nose down etc.., and creates other issues that can be just as unsafe.

I believe if you search WAboating has posted that what your dealer is suggestion puts tons of force and is way worse than using the hook. He manufactured a hook on his handle to use.

How big of a tube?

I have a pylon and pull a huge 4 person tube from it. But that is just what I have decided since I don't have a handle or hook. IIRC my manual actually says that I can.

[Galaxy24]

Thanks for the info. I will check the manual after I take delivery. Maybe it will say something along the line of yes or no from the ski eye.

[bigskymudflaps]

I have used a bungee before. I don't really like the way it can bounce a bit, however, it will significantly reduce the loads on the pylon. Of course if you don't yank the tube around much or take lighter riders, it's not a huge deal. Yank three adults with a little slack in a line and you're liable to bend your support, fracture the fiberglass, or snap something.
I think I paid about 50 for mine. The larger diameter rope has a rubber band material in it for about 4 feet. Good luck

[Duncan]

SPRING is here as shown by a new tube tow thread

This is awesome. Do a search for the term 'pansy pylon' and you will find that I coined the phrase. .... I towed a 5 person water weenie for years without a problem.

Lots of guys use the Alpha Z tower without a problem too.

Ah, the pansy pylon. I actually deleted that semi-useless bit of equipment (we don't slalom). As an aside, I love not having the pylon in the way and risking injury. I can always drill the deck and install if needed for re-sale. It still amazes me Tige does not design a retractable pylon!

Tall, does that mean you no longer tow the water weenie? That piece of equipment was always prominently featured in your pansy pylon posts of yesteryear. I for one will miss it.

We tow tubes from the Alpha Z tower on our 2009 RZ2. Tige rep at a boat show "unofficially" said the forces they successfully tested the Alpha Z greatly exceedetd tubing forces (i.e., they broke heavy tow ropes with no effect on tower).

Biggest tube we have is a two person pulling mostly kids and occasionally adults. I do keep an eagle eye and throttle off if I even think the leading edge is going to plow under the water. This is only a potential issue with our lay-down flat two-person tube. Our steerable two-person tube seems virtually dive-proof. I highly recommend the latter btw -- you can carve that thing back and forth and even get air over the wake. Best of all, the boat does not need to zig zag, you just let the rider do all the turning work.

[talltigeguy]

I still use the water weenie, but don't pull it from the pansy pylon since I sold that boat. The Malibu retractable pylon has done fine with it as well.

The pics of the water weenie are priceless for sure...Like this one:



Or I have a new one I quite like:

[houstonshark]

NOBODY is an expert on tubes and power turns! Where is he when you need him?

[konajay]

Awesome pics Tall... The looks of terror are priceless

[Bogdog]

I am SO buying a water weenie, when I was a kid we had a big off on one of those and one of the boys got his knees in the back of a girls head, but WTH it looks like fun.

Duncan, please elaborate on your steerable tube, I trashed a brand new O'Brien after it submarined with my kids one too many times, we experimented with speed, rider position etc and eventually just decided it was a piece of chit.

[Duncan]

Duncan, please elaborate on your steerable tube, I trashed a brand new O'Brien after it submarined with my kids one too many times, we experimented with speed, rider position etc and eventually just decided it was a piece of chit.

We have a Sportstuff Slalom Jockey Doable. They are about $200-300. There is a commercial here ...

The reason I recommend it is the pull point is underneath (prevents submarining and allows 360s and quick turns). It is actually challenging to get the hang of doing 360s (and multiple 360s). The tube carves really well and to hold a line way outside the wake takes a lot of balance and guts (you are leaning out with your face near the water and one side of the tube in the air). An decent rider can take a small child safely and give them a HUGE thrill.

The BEST part of this tube is the boat can drive straight while riders have a blast carving, doing 360s, and jumping the wake--no zig zags required.

I dislike towing tubes but the fact is with guest families on the boat, some kids and adults just do not have the time or interest in learning to surf or board. We also have a knee board that is easy to learn. But the steerable tube has been REALLY popular, takes some skill, and not a pain in the tail to drive.

[talltigeguy]

I am SO buying a water weenie, when I was a kid we had a big off on one of those and one of the boys got his knees in the back of a girls head, but WTH it looks like fun.

Duncan, please elaborate on your steerable tube, I trashed a brand new O'Brien after it submarined with my kids one too many times, we experimented with speed, rider position etc and eventually just decided it was a piece of chit.

Once people get used to it, then they do better at knowing how to fall and the teeth to the head incidents get less. When teaching newbies, I like to only have 3 people on it to give some space. I don't always do it, but that is what I like to do. It can be dangerous when people all land on top of each other.

It can be a blast to play on just when sitting and listening to music. King of the hill battles can be epic with it. This one might be close to its last season, and I think I have had it for 7 years now. Another one will replace it, no questions asked.