Towing a tube with an inflatable?
 

Has anyone towed a skier or someone on a water board with an inflatable
boat? Was the towing harness hooked to the transom, or carry handles?

Terry

I would not think an inflatable is designed to tow anything with much weight
it in and at any fast rate of speed, especially a skier. You will most
likely tear the transom or handles off if you try it.


"Terry" wrote in message ...
Has anyone towed a skier or someone on a water board with an inflatable
boat? Was the towing harness hooked to the transom, or carry handles?

Terry

it will work fine, just make sure you attach the rope on the transom
and not on the tube or somehting crazy like that

Are you sure about that? I always thought the handles were where the
harness would attach to.


wrote in message
oups.com...
it will work fine, just make sure you attach the rope on the transom
and not on the tube or somehting crazy like that

it depends on your boat. If it is rubber all around a transom then pull
off the transom

wrote in message
ups.com...
it depends on your boat. If it is rubber all around a transom then pull
off the transom


That is exactly what you will do if you try to ski off an inflatable and
attach the tow rope to the transom.....you will indeed "pull off the
transom". :-)

no. the transom is the only sturdy thing on the boat. The motor pushes
the transom and the tube hangs on the transon. all load stays on the
transom.

If you attach the tube/ski to the tubes then you pull out your transom

Yes. Buddy of mine has been doing it for years.
Connect the lines to the Transom. Preferably low on the transom.

Tie the rope around the inflatible pilot's waist and tell em to hang on
:)

Seriously though, it would seem like the transom would be the logical
place to tie the rope if anyplace will work at all. The transom has to
be strong enough to deal with the force and weight of the engine
pushing the boat. I doubt anything else on an inflatable is built as
strongly. Plus the transom will be getting more force from being
pushed forward by the engine, so maybe some pull from the skier will
equalize that out a bit (not sure on that though though).

"Arcadefreaque" wrote in message
oups.com...
Tie the rope around the inflatible pilot's waist and tell em to hang on
:)

Seriously though, it would seem like the transom would be the logical
place to tie the rope if anyplace will work at all. The transom has to
be strong enough to deal with the force and weight of the engine
pushing the boat. I doubt anything else on an inflatable is built as
strongly. Plus the transom will be getting more force from being
pushed forward by the engine, so maybe some pull from the skier will
equalize that out a bit (not sure on that though though).


"not sure on that though....." Indeed.

I hope you folks telling this person to go ahead and use his inflatable for
water skiing or pulling a tube are absolutely certain that it can be safely
done, especially with the advice to tie the harness off the transom.

I did not see anyone ask what type of inflatable it is, how big it is, what
size engine, how old it is or any other specifics on it.

*JimH* wrote:
"Arcadefreaque" wrote in message
oups.com...
Tie the rope around the inflatible pilot's waist and tell em to hang on
:)

Seriously though, it would seem like the transom would be the logical
place to tie the rope if anyplace will work at all. The transom has to
be strong enough to deal with the force and weight of the engine
pushing the boat. I doubt anything else on an inflatable is built as
strongly. Plus the transom will be getting more force from being
pushed forward by the engine, so maybe some pull from the skier will
equalize that out a bit (not sure on that though though).


"not sure on that though....." Indeed.

I hope you folks telling this person to go ahead and use his inflatable for
water skiing or pulling a tube are absolutely certain that it can be safely
done, especially with the advice to tie the harness off the transom.

I have pulled things with mine and it works fine. Safely done depends
on driver and participants.... Transom is the place to attache the
harness...

How well it works is a different question

I did not see anyone ask what type of inflatable it is, how big it is, what
size engine, how old it is or any other specifics on it.

doesnt matter ... if the motor is too small it wont pull

wrote in message
oups.com...


*JimH* wrote:
"Arcadefreaque" wrote in message
oups.com...
Tie the rope around the inflatible pilot's waist and tell em to hang on
:)

Seriously though, it would seem like the transom would be the logical
place to tie the rope if anyplace will work at all. The transom has to
be strong enough to deal with the force and weight of the engine
pushing the boat. I doubt anything else on an inflatable is built as
strongly. Plus the transom will be getting more force from being
pushed forward by the engine, so maybe some pull from the skier will
equalize that out a bit (not sure on that though though).


"not sure on that though....." Indeed.

I hope you folks telling this person to go ahead and use his inflatable
for
water skiing or pulling a tube are absolutely certain that it can be
safely
done, especially with the advice to tie the harness off the transom.

I have pulled things with mine and it works fine. Safely done depends
on driver and participants.... Transom is the place to attache the
harness...

How well it works is a different question

I did not see anyone ask what type of inflatable it is, how big it is,
what
size engine, how old it is or any other specifics on it.

doesnt matter ... if the motor is too small it wont pull


And if the motor is maxed out on the inflatable it may be all that transom
can handle.

when there is a loud "snap" just let go off the throttle ! hahaha

I think we are answering diffeent questions.
1) Can it be done with an inflatable? Yes
2) Can this person do it safely with their particular inflatable?
Insufficient information

Any vessel in disrepair is subject to a multitude of possible failures.
Which preclude any statements on the general safety of any activity.

As for where to attach the line. It should be attached to a point able
to withstand the anticipated forces plus a safety factor. For a
outboard powered vessel (*) the transom/engine mounting structure,
transmits the entire force of the engine to the rest of the vessel. By
necessity it is one of the strongest parts of any small boat. And
should be designed to transfer the maximum power, of the largest rated
engine on the capacity plate, to the rest of the vessel.