Towable Tubes

K

kevello@comcast.net

New member
Hello:
Just wondering if anyone has tried towing an inflatable water toy behind their boat? We haven't, but would like to consider it.
What type/model might work well at C-25 speeds? (and for 50 year old bodies)
Secondly, what do you use for attachment points on the boat? Thanks for any thoughts.

Kevin
 
Kevin,

I don't have a 25, but have towed inflatables on other large boats. First, you need to get a tow "yoke" - they are commonly available and hook to your two aft cleats, port and starboard. The best yoke forms a "Y" with a pulley easing the swinging right to left of the towee. Also, usually has a float ball or two to keep the appaaratus out of the engine prop.

If you tie directy to the aft anywhere, without the swivelling yoke, the towee will hinder your turning, planing, and general handling.

As mentioned, Overton's has a huge selection of toys, but so does Wal-Mart, etc.

HAVE FUN! John
 
Thanks for the link Chris.
That looks like a good option for the tube.
As for towing, do you feel that the
attachment point(s) on the boat need to be elevated? There are
two thru bolted U-bolts mounted at each end of the transom that seem like good candidates, but they are not too far above the waterline. I'm hesitant to use my aft mooring cleats because I don't know yet what kind of loads pulling one adult on a tube exerts. All thoughts welcome.

Kevin
 
Ah yes...
Thanks John,
that is the rest of the info I needed. I have towed disabled boats
before and I recognize what you're saying about compromised control. Thanks for the reminder. The pulley will be critical.

I'm off to start shopping.

Kevin
 
It's a pretty heavy pull. My experience has been that the tube usually goes under the surface of the water for a few seconds until the boat pulls it up on plane. Start out with your arms stretched out straight and your body hanging off the back of the tube and it will come up faster. If you start with your body on the tube it will go under and stay under. :D

I've used a Y-cable like John mentioned and a single elevated tow point with equal sucess. From your description, I would use the through-bolted U-bolts rather than the cleats.

Chris
 
WHOA!! Now THAT"S tubin'. I'm confident that my 135hp on a C-25 is just the package to really make that bird perform.....
Certainly looks safe and fool proof too. I'd love to see the out takes.

Thanks for the great link though.

Kevin
 
Not sure where toys like the "manta ray" have gone in the US, but when the flying tubes first came out here, there was a goodly amount of concern about liabilities --both by the boat drivers and bodies of water which allowed them. You might want to check the local regulations...

If you use the towing eyes on the C Dory 25, be sure that they are well backed up with blocks.--Someone appareltly added 4" x 6" starboard blocks in back of the eyes with large fender washers on my boat. There was a different color gel coat, indicating that a repair was done before this re-enforcement was added.

I agree with the cable--I use a high load snatch block and float when towing boats. Most of the "water ski" stuff is not strong enough. We do tow tubes with grand kids and great nephews etc--but mostly with an 18 foot CC and 115 hp engine.
 
I have towed my kid and his friends around the local lake a few times with the c-dory. It worked just fine. Just start off slow and get them going before you jump on the throttles. I have towed two in the tube with 4 more on the boat. All these kids are my size or bigger. You will not be the fast boat out there but they will have fun. I just used a ski tow rope and tied off to the back cleats. DO NOT use and metal on the tow rope. Several kids have been killed by the quick releases being used at the tube end. folks want easy and quick disconncet between the rope and the tube,so they use a big metal d-ring or something of the like. The straps the d-ring are thru brake at the tube and it goes flying straight for the boat where some one gets it in the head. tye your ropes on with knots like the manual say's.
 
Just a note to Thataway Bob. I was being somewhat dry in my remarks that the Manta looked safe and simple. In addition to being a few hundred horsepower short of what I'm guessing it needs, that's not something the wife and I will be attempting to ride in this lifetime. 30 years ago I'd have been all over it. But thanks for the notes regarding the backing plates. I'll look into them.

Thomas, thanks for the confirmation that you have actually pulled it off before. I certainly do not plan on being the swift boat out there, just want to get them up on a plane. I agree emphatically about the metal releases. I was knocked out cold by a flying ring at the end of a tow rope while operating a seine skiff in Alaska 30 years ago. Haven't forgotten it.

Have a great 4th everyone.

Kevin Costello
 
kevin if the kids are little, 8 to0 12, then towing is no problem. I towed a bunch of kids for my friends daughter birthday party once. All I had for a boat at the time was a 12ft boat with a 25hp motor but it got them up on plane and they had a great time. its not rocket science its boating.
 
I was going thru some of my old slides today, and found a couple of me skiing on a single solomn ski behind a 13 foot "Wolverine" cold molded boat with a 25 hp outboard--
 
thataway":bgcqsme0 said:
I was going thru some of my old slides today, and found a couple of me skiing on a single solomn ski behind a 13 foot "Wolverine" cold molded boat with a 25 hp outboard--
Click to expand...
I looked in your album and didn't see the pictures Bob 8) Real glad to have you back already !!
 
I would have to scan the slide and then put it in the album...It might be interesting to see a "before"--22 year old "Bob Austin". The boat is far more interesting! Amazing what we did with those little wooden boats. We "cruised" a lot of the ICW from New Orleans to Brownsville Texas in that 13 footer. We carried a tent/screen house and camped ashore each night in the misquito infested salt grass.
 
Back
Top