Towing tubes on Ve

[talltigeguy]

How do you guys tow a tube on your Ve? My 05 24V had a sticker on the ski pylon stating it was not meant for tubing. I can understand that because there really is no strength to it, just alluminum in the fiberglass. I have a 2-3 person tube that sometimes submerges and puts an enormous amount of stress on the rope, I'm confident the ski pylon would not hold up.

I have used a tow harness attached to the lifting rings with my 05 24V, but the rope tow point is sort of low in the water and causes the rope to drag. The lifting rings are even lower on the back of the boat on the Ve series and I wonder what you guys are doing. I am not sure if the tower would be good with a tube, it may be more strain than the tower is meant to endure.

Please, give me your experience.

[raythompson]

Towing a tube

Tow from the transom rings. Do not use the ski pylon or the tower. The stress that a submerged puts on towing assemblies is extreme. You risk damaging where the tower attaches to the hull and the same applies to the ski pylon.

The ski pylon is something that Tige should definitely reinforce. Mastercraft has theirs attached to metal which is anchored to the hull. A very good approach.

[sparky216]

I always tow tubes from the tower....you get better air, then again I got to thinking and just called Samson Sports and asked them, they stated that you should NEVER tow a tube from the tower, it wont hurt the tower but the strain could damage the boat where the tower attaches. So now I'm confused??

[Coop]

I've been using the ski pylon on my 24V for tubing. I've submerged it once or twice without any problems. Maybe I've just been lucky.

Talltigeguy -- Where did you get your tow harness? Is it the kind with a wheel/pully that moves back and forth? (We had one of those for an old outboard we had.) Does the low tow point (and rope dragging) inhibit the tube from moving side to side and across the wakes?

By the way, installing a pylon that can't handle these forces seems bogus. Every manufacturer knows people will be pulling tubes, and it does not seem it would be that difficult (or expensive) to make it stronger, a'la MC.

[Tequilasun]

We tow from the Ski pylon. But I am fully aware that there "could" be a problem. It just hasn't become one yet. We only pull one tube at a time, too.

The only issue with the lift rings is that when the water catches the rope, it can give the tube rider a jerky ride. That, and you catch some extra spray.

[talltigeguy]

I agree that the current ski pylon is a bogus design. My older Tige had a serious mounting structure that went to the stringers and could handle any load. I suspect that the transmission is a lot easier to work on with the current ski pylon. Do I dare mention the phrase 'cut corners'?

I ask the question because it is a PIA to run the tubes off of the transom rings. The rope sits too low in the water and it also puts the tube that much further back where the wake is wider and makes it even harder to get someone outside of the wake. The rope sits low and tends to get hung up in the water more than when I put it on the ski pylon. I have smaller kids that need to get outside the wake, but freak out if I go fast to do it.

Malibu's ski pylon is bolted to the frame too. I think that the current Tige ski pylon is a Tige 'innovation'.

I use this tow harness and have had very good luck with it. I have broken two of the Airhead tow harnesses, they suck. The material is like a seat belt material and simply runs back and forth to keep the stress equal on both lifting rings. I would not get a tow harness that does not move from side to side because the stress could then be applied laterally to just one of the rings. I know that they are very strong, but if you put the wrong force on it...

[Tanner]

When you guys are referring to the transom rings.... are you using some sort of Y to hook to the two, or are you just hooking to either one of the one's on the side?

My old Glastron used to have a ring in the center of the transom that you could use perfectly for tubing, but the Tige has the Handle there, of course it could just go up above that but I guess they assume people would never use it. O well.

[talltigeguy]

Tanner,

There is a picture of the tow harness to hook to the lifting rings just above your post. I wouldn't hook to just one of the rings for the reasons stated in my last post.

[tony dunn jr.]

I am just now at the 20 hour mark on my 22ve I was going to the tower but now I am with sparky totally confused. I guess I will be getting the harness also. My girls are grown and they and my wife have been waiting for the two seater to take a ride and I have been waiting to give them one! lol. Another good thread because I probably would of tore something off the boat! Thanks Tall.

[raythompson]

I have been known to use a parasail. That places significant strain on the tow equipment. I have harness that is rated for 5,000 pounds pull. It attaches to the D rings on the transom and the trailing rope is attached to a pully that rolls back and forth on the rope attached to the hull. This is absolutely necessary for pulling a parasail. I also use that for towing the tube.

I too was a little dismayed in the way the ski pylon is attached. The tower is just bolted to hull and I suspect is not strong. You certainly could not lift the boat by the tower or ski pylon but you certainly could with lifts rings on the transom.

[jsz]

I have a 2002 21V and my pylon SEEMS very sturdy as Talltigeguy said "serious mounting structure bolted to the stringers". I haven't seen the newer ones but it sounds like they are much less sturdy. I have always pulled from the pylon and haven't had any problems yet...

Have any of you had problems pulling with a pylon designed like mine on the 2002 21V? I'm trying to weigh the pros vs. the cons mentioned on this post.

[talltigeguy]

Jsz,

You will be fine. I had a 2002 21V and I loved the ski pylon. Unbeleivably strong. I once caught a big 3 seater tube just right and it dove down while going about 15 MPH. It literally stopped the boat in its tracks, you felt like you hit a sand bar. The pylon was unhurt. The pansy version of the ski pylon started in 2003.

[jsz]

Thanks. I've looked at that thing before and thought it was the strongest thing on the boat.

[raythompson]

Originally posted by jsz
Thanks. I've looked at that thing before and thought it was the strongest thing on the boat.

Unfortunately that is not the case on the newer boats.

[xpjim1]

I tow 2 tubes at a time, each one attached to a transom ring and have never had a problem. I did it on my 20V and on my 24V. I check those rings daily to ensure they are tight and solid. I tow 2 -3 people per tube. No problem getting people outside the wake, and with skillfull driving can get both outside their own sides wake. Using the tow harness that slides is very dificult for me to get the tube outside the wake. Going on my 5th year of doing this.

My airhead harness has held up well, they make 2 different ones. I mainly use it to tow in Malibu's!!!