Tube Towing (Sun Tracker)

[Classic]

I know this topic has been posted a bunch of times.... I think I have read most of them, but I'm really trying to identify/verify something on my boat.

I have a 2002 25' Sun Tracker Regency Edition with a 135hp i/o motor.

I want to pull people on tubes (maybe wake board/skier if possible).

When I bought the boat the guy I bought it from told me that he was told by Sun Tracker that the "eye" on the back of the boat was used for this. I called Sun Tracker today to verify this and tried to describe what I was talking about. She put me on hold and came back and said this was a mooring ring and they used a ski bar for their boats.

I have been reading a ton on-line and finally came across this:
http://www.iboats.com/Seadog-Transom-Mo ... w_id.39715

Which looks exactly like what is installed on the back of my boat. I'm not sure if this came factory this way or was added later. Can I attach a rope and pull a tube with this? Anything I should double check? Ideas on where I can get more info?

Any help, suggestions.... Whatever.....would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[lakerunner696]

I use the 2 eyes on top of each log. I use the hookup that connects to each one and has a hookup for tube on a pulley so when you turn it goes along the cable. It also floats to keep it out of prop

[JohnO]

IF you have a ski eye like that and it is not properly mounted (with lots of backup structure behind it) a tube would likely rip it right off the boat. Especially if the tube submarines on you.

Either use the two lifting rings on the tops of the outer tubes (with a suitable harness) or get a tow bar installed. I can't seem to find a link for one at the moment but I know they're out there.

[rrhodes]

That is a intended for pulling if it was installed properly. Can you get a picture of it and another from the backside if where it is installed.

[toondog]

DITTOS on using the two eyes and a towing harness. Of all the water toys, pulling a tube will put the most stress on your boat. Even many wake board towers do not recommend them for towing tubes.

[smltooner]

I use the 2 eyes on top of each log. I use the hookup that connects to each one and has a hookup for tube on a pulley so when you turn it goes along the cable. It also floats to keep it out of prop

I use the same set up.

[Classic]

I thought I had read in a bunch of posts that using the eyes on the pontoons would put stress on them and eventually crack the welds.

I wil get pictures of the eye (ski ring) next time I am at the lake house (in the next couple of weeks).

Thanks for all the input so far!!

[dockholiday]

yep basically same as what has been said. depends on what the ski tow is attached to an how it is attached. The tow bars installed on most toons are connected to the deck in 4 places, usually 2 on either side of the motor. The hook or portion you connect the rope to is usually just above the motor.
doc

[Ray Jr.]

Premier says (Dealer and Factory) to use the log eyes with a 2 log boat, and with a PTX package they say to use the stainless U-bolts that are on the transom, in both cases they say to use the yoke harness like others have stated.

[playcat]

I use the harness attached to the eyebolts in my transom to attach my towline, like others have suggested. it keeps the line in the water some, so I recommend adding a float to keep the towline out of the wake. After 3 years, no problems at all.
I used the same setup to tow a 20 foot bowrider away from a rockpile in an emergency once, so I guess it can handle a kid in a tube. I do NOT recommend using any wakeboard/inflatable towline to tow a boat; just did it that one time because they were in immediate danger.

[GXPWeasel]

Yep, we use the exact same thing. The "Y" harness attached to the tube eyes on the back, that is, until my ski tow bar is finished.

I have one being custom built right now, and hopefully will be done by Memorial Weekend.

[spurhunter]

This weekend I used the two cleats on the back corners since I dont have any loops on my logs. I am trying to find somebody to do it, but dang its expensive to weld aluminum.

[jafo9]

on my suntracker i/o, i looked into that exact tow hook like you see on the back of v-hulls for skiing. i never could find a good place to mount it that i felt would be strong enough. we used the harness method that attached to the lifting ring on the back of each pontoon. we used a fixed one for tubing and we had one that had a pulley where the ski rope connected for skiing. it made the transition from left to right smoother.

[bassn386]

Spurhunter, using the cleats to pull a tube could result in the cleats failing. There's a tremendous amount of moment being applied when pulling a tube or skier. If you don't have the ski ring or a ski pylon (my Bennington came with one that's removeable), use the pulley that attaches to the eyes. I used that on my old Suncruiser pontoon and never had a problem pulling tubes.

[Classic]

So it looks like I don't have rings on the back of my pontoons. I remembered seeing them, but I guess they are only on the front of the tunes. What I do have is two U rings on the back of the boat, on either side of the outdrive. I'll see if I can figure out how to post a picture up here. Can I hook the y rope to these?