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The kids are calling my bluff on towing a tube or skiier.

Where would you tie off the tow line? I am thinking that I need to install Pad Eyes for this not sure how difficult that is.

Jim

How can you pull a skier with a sailboat ?

I usually tie a line between the two cleats on top of either side of the transom (the ones also used for the rudders)... then tie a sliding knot in the ski-rope and let it slide from side to side along the cross-rope. This allows the ski rope to change angles and prevents dragging the boat to one side, particularly when going straight. Just don't go too long with the cross-rope or it will foul the rudders. It works fine for us.

When skiing, always remember you MUST have a spotter working with you, watching the skiier at all times, and the skiier must have a floatation vest and know the proper hand signals.

JoeVacs wrote:How can you pull a skier with a sailboat ?

Umm... you don't. But most of us have decent motors on our powersailors and can manage to pull up a reasonable size adult with our boat.

Tell the kids the ski rope is connected to the top of the big stick that holds the sails up so that wake boarders can get good air.

Glenn

Just use a slip-knot around their necks

JoeVacs wrote:How can you pull a skier with a sailboat ?

I and another passenger pulled a 150 lb skier easily with my Mac-X, powered with a 50 hp Nissan. No problem. The Mac did just fine.

The boarding ladder worked well when all was done.

JoeVacs wrote:How can you pull a skier with a sailboat ?

Easy no problem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWwx5SI_aSk
once your kids see this you may have to get a faster sail boat

J

I was just worried that the cleats for the rudders would pull out!



Jim

I've used the pivot bolts of the rudders, and they worked in a pinch, but I wasn't comfortable using them long term. Rudders and other obstacles (mods) complicate things, so I've decided to use the motor mount bolts as tow points. I cut 3 links of stainless chain for each side, and secured the two end links to the mount bolts with self locking nuts, leaving the center link as an attachment point. Haven't had a chance to proof test it yet, but it is certainly strong enough. Having the tow cable/rope attached close to the motor pivot should minimize interference with ladder and rudders. I'll be giving it a try next weekend:)

i attach about 6-8 ft bridle rope between the aft cleats and attach the ski tow rope to that. it works well. ideal is to get the one they sell with a pulley and its red and large enough to float.

Here is a link to the video wake boarding Macgregor 26X with 90HP Economy Cruiser 2 3,600 views as of 3.15.14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdBzrgLxixE

Here is a link to the video wake boarding Macgregor 26X with 90HP Economy Cruiser 2 3,600 views as of 3.15.14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdBzrgLxixE

Tie it to the back of the boat.


You could be fancy and do it right with a bridle between two cleats. I've simply attached it to a dock cleat on the stern.

All,

This is what I rigged for our kids this "first splash" weekend. The rope is a standard dockline with the loop end run thru the cleat as though docking and the tail end run thru the cleat in a normal locking criss-cross fashion. Over the motor, but between the rudders (inside) I tied two figure eight knots(so I could untie them after being wet and under tension/an overhand knot would be more permanent/work as well). Then, the yellow setup is a towing bridle I ordered from Amazon ($20) with two hooks, a block, and quick attachment/release point for the towline. I kind of had to rig this under kid-pressure as the towing bridle wasn't long enough to use. The benefit is the dockline between the figure eight knots lays across the top of the engine cowling and the towing bridle had a float at the towing line attachments point...therefore I couldn't tangle the prop. It worked well pulling three kids and a monster tube at slow to full speed. I was going to move the knots to the outside of the rudders, but think I will leave it as is since it worked and didn't snare the rudders. The two pics below (if I linked them right?) will show the kids/tube and the bridle under load at full speed.

[img]http://s1026.photobucket.com/user/Allon ... sort=1&o=0[/img]

[img]http://s1026.photobucket.com/user/Allon ... sort=1&o=1[/img]

Respectfully,

David

Thanks for the pictures. The img codes didn't link correctly but copy/pasting them worked great. I reposted your images in this reply.

Your setup is basically what I've been planning in my mind. Great to see pictures of it in action!

Doug & Angie

p.s. The link has a folder named "Allon-y2" Is this a second Mac named Allons-y? (Doctor Who Rocks!)