Tube towing

[Domsz06]

I use tube when weather chops up or have guests who have exhausted trys on the boards or skis and jsut want to have some fun rather than falling over all the time. Tube driven well can be a great hoot for old farts as well

Graham

Completely agree!!

[talltigeguy]

Sorry not to have seen this thread sooner.

THIS IS MY PET PEEVE!!!!

My 21V 2002 had the awesome pylon bolted into the frame like ALL OF THE OTHER MANUFACTURERS DO (HINT, HINT). My 24V has the weaker pylon fiberglassed in with aluminum supports. My friend has seen one that was partially pulled out of the fiberglass, unfortunately no pic.

I have a 5 man water weenie and use a tow harness to pull it from the lifting rings. The rope constantly drags in the water spraying the riders in the face, blinding them (not the kind of ride they were after). I have just bit the bullet and have put it on the ski pylon and it rides much better. So far no cracks in the gelcoat there. The Ve series tow rings are even lower on the transom and the problem with a tow harness should be even worse.

I will consider looking at other manufacturers if Tige does not fix this. It is a big deal for anyone with kids or unskilled adults who want to ride tubes.

I once advertised on this board that I will buy a RZ2 promptly if they give me 3 years full warranty on the ski pylon and tower (including the fiberglass around the supports) so that I can pull tubes without worries. I never heard back. The RZ2 is even worse because the tow rings are under the swim platform, so your only options are the pansy ski pylon or tower.

Sorry for the rant. Most of the regulars on here have heard this before. A little birdie once whispered in my ear that a fix was in the works, but I have not seen anything yet.

[Domsz06]

tall,

do any other manufactors offer a better tow point? I mean one that is reinforced?

[chpthril]

On my boat, tubing is treated with the same respect as as any other watersport. I'm 38 and I won't pass up a chance for a kick a$$ tube ride, niether will our 19 yr old son and his friends.

As the 'tour guide' on my boat, it's my goal to make sure everybody has a good time

I would love to find away to reinforce the pylon, (hmm, one more winter project)

[Domsz06]

tour guide eh? I prefer the rodeo guide see how fast I can throw em! can you hang on for seven seconds?

[chpthril]

tour guide eh? I prefer the rodeo guide see how fast I can throw em! can you hang on for seven seconds?

Tube wars man, best 2 out of three and the looser has to swap out. winner keeps going til he is de-throned

[Domsz06]

ha ha ha that is great!! Have to try that one next time!!

[zad0030]

We have a tube and its fun and all when its rough like at the lake of the ozarks. But where do you put it when its not in use? We either tie it off on the platform or if someone wants to ski we throw it up on the tower and then we look like fools with a tube flopping around in the wind on top of our boat.

[Domsz06]

mine get strapped to the back of the boat, tied to the tow rings and we just leave it there. Even if we are boarding, it works just fine. I have strapped them with bungee's to the tower, and if you do them upside down, and nose down to the top of the tower they don't move. Granted I don't have a big tube. Just my .02

[yearroundboarder]

do any other manufactors offer a better tow point? I mean one that is reinforced?

I hate to say it TIGE', but Malibu's pylon is built like a tank - far superior to those in the newer Tige' models (RZ and Ve'). Complete steel frame similar to those on the older Tige's. Another nice feature with their design is it retracts down into the sun pad below the cushions when not in use. This design solves a lot of the problems discussed on this board in the past.

[chpthril]

We have 2 72" tubes. If we put in at friend's house we just leave them tied to the dock, otherwise, it's almost easier to just deflate them and stuff them back in the storage.

[mtnsmith]

I picked up a rechargeable inflator from Target that is built by coleman, it is quite fast, about 3 minutes for a 72" HO tube, and holds charge well so we just deflate when not in use and stow the tube. I think the most times it has been used without a charge was 7, 5 on saturday and 2 on sunday. It could have done more but we were done boating. We are lazy enough that we use it for anything really, pool floats, inflatable boat for the kids, beach ball...whatever.

[Coach]

I hate to say it TIGE', but Malibu's pylon is built like a tank - far superior to those in the newer Tige' models (RZ and Ve'). Complete steel frame similar to those on the older Tige's. Another nice feature with their design is it retracts down into the sun pad below the cushions when not in use. This design solves a lot of the problems discussed on this board in the past.

I am with you on this. I am not sure why Tige didn't make a retractable pylon like malibu and Supra.

[xpjim1]

We pull 2 Connelly convertibles when the lake gets blown out. Tube wars are always on. 2 teams of 2 people. The kids are very competetive.

Where's my friend Nickypoo to say how much he hates tubers???

[talltigeguy]

tall,

do any other manufactors offer a better tow point? I mean one that is reinforced?

EVERYONE but Tige has a ski pylon that is bolted down into the stringers.

Malibu's pylon is very nice indeed.

It looks to me like it is just a cheap way to cut cost.

Jim,

Do you pull from the tower then?