Using Eyebolts to Pull . . . What do you think ?

[mytee_hercules]

I'm reading about the dangers of pulling tubes and skiiers behind the boat by attaching the harness to the eyelets welded on the top of the pontoons -- makes sense to me. Like most people, I dont have the $$$ to throw around to get a fancy ski bar, either. There may be a time down the road where I may find a good metal fabricator to crate a ski bar out of square tubing, but for now, I have this idea and want to bounce it off of the crowd . . .

Someone else mentioned drilling some holes and using eyebolts. I was thinking of using some 1/2" x 4" eyebolts and use some big washers (like 2" dia.) or some metal plating to help support the aluminum around the holes and prevent it from twisting or buckling.

Does this sound like it could handle the horizontal stress of pulling a 200 lb person on a tube? I was going to put the eyelets as close to the deck as it can go so the torque should be lower. Should I use metal support on the top and botoom sides of the hole? Do you think the deck could handle this or do I need to go through some structural part of the boat -- framing or other supports?

Thanks in advance for your inputs. Comments are welcome -- pictures would be awesome.

[Woody]

Welcome aboard !!!



On our last toon, I used the eyelets all the time. I did use a towing harness like this one though:

http://www.amazon.com/Kwik-Tek-Airhead- ... B000ZYCLHG

Maybe I still should not have used the eyelets, but I did, and I never saw, or had a problem with them. I checked them often for stress cracks and such.

Our new to us Tri Toon has a ski tow bar, so I should be all set now.


Woody

[curtiscapk]

Welcome!!

Try this link. My bar was fabbed before I got the toon may give you idea.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1530&hilit=bar

[WaltF]

We use the eyelets. Ive heard both good n bad about this. I figure since you can pick up the weight of the whole toon with them, pulling a tube cant be all that bad.

So far, so good..

[GXPWeasel]

I use them every time I pull anything ( tube, knee board, wakeboard ) and I haven't seen any problem yet. I agree with Walt, in that these are made to handle the weight of the toon, so I don't see a problem using them. I also use a "Y" rope for tubes, that will even the load between the two eyelets. For knee boards, I usually pull 2, so one on each eyelett, but they take a lot less pulling power than even a 1 person inflatable.

[badmoonrising]

When I first got a slip, I called Tracker about using the eyelets to attach spring lines to. They said they were not designed to handle side-to-side pulling but forward-to-back is OK. I had to add cleats to my bow to slip by boat due to the roughness and tidal change and was advised to not use the eyelets for tying off, even in a raft up.

[mytee_hercules]

Good advise by all. I see that it may be an option to pull using eyelets maybe a couple of times until I get another system in place.

Anyone have any opinions or concerns about the success or failure of trying to pull using eye bolts attached through the deck?

[WaltF]

Yup, i have a "Y" rope too.

[toondog]

Here's what I know. I have always used a single eyelet to pull tubes. Gave it everything my 50hp could dish out. The heaviest person may have been around 180 lb and never had a problem.
Now I have been researching wake towers for my rinker. It seems most wake tower manufactures do not recommend using the tower for pulling tubers. Out of all the pull toys the tubes puts the most stress on them.
So I would say if your going to do some serious high speed tubing, look at using a tow harness. Lower speed and lighter kids should be OK with just using a single eyelet.

[ROLAND]

I'm assuming that we're talking about the "eye" hole at the front of each of the toons correct? If so, is there a problem using those to tie up to a tree when fishing. The few times we'be been out fishing we've always used those "holes" to tie up to a tree, post, whatever, when we would stop to fish. I figured if it can handle the weight of the boat for lifting, than surely it should be able to handle the current / wind pull on the boat. is this a bad idea?

[Bamby]

Personally I wouldn't use a eye bolt for this purpose. I'd think an eye bolt would quickly wallow out the wood and soon become a weak / flimsy and insecure. An u-bolt with a decent backing plate on both the top and bottom would have the potential to be a far better and secure tie-off point. And if you've got the place to put it a good quality cleat bolted through the deck and a backing plate and securely bolted may be the best bet of all, and also practical in tying off the boat in raft-offs, docks, etc.

I've noticed that a lot of pontoon boats are sourly lacking in having poor / wimpy or no cleats even when "new" it sure seems to be a poor place to cut costs / or corners to me.

[dockholiday]

I used a u bolt on my dock an put it right next to the cleat. I ended up using it rather than the cleat to hold the boat. It is s s steel an has the backing plate, still very secure. So I vote for that as a lost cost cure, plus it is a quick disconnect . It is the type that is used on the bow of runabouts, to connect to trailers.
doc

[WaltF]

Our toon came with one or two ubolts on the sides and i added a couple more to each side, so now i have like 4 along both sides. I use them to tie to the dock at the slip also for anchoring.
I usually use the eyelet on the front top of the toons to tie to trees when i beach with an anchor off the back. Holds er just fine.

[mytee_hercules]

So it looks like two big beefy u-bolts through the aluminum hull and supported with steel plates on top and bottom would work well for pulling and towing . . .

U-bolts are better than an eyebolt due to the fact that two bolts through the hull will support better than one . . .

Looks like I have a fun little product on my hands . . .

Thanks for the inputs -- would love to get more if they are out there . . .

[dockholiday]

The is the one I am using on the dock.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=10169