Towing Towables

[Marshall]

I have a SX. 232 limited, I want to tow a 3 person towable.
Where would I hook the tow line? I can't believe you can use the single
skier tow hook in the middle of the swim platform seats. So where do you secure
the line for these bigger items? thanks

 

[Andy S]

The skier tow hook is more than strong enough to tow a multiperson tube. I have towed boats from the ski tow hook without issue.

 

[JC6275]

Agree with @andy07sx230ho , I have never heard of anyone having a problem with the platform hook.

 

[jdiaz78]

I tow a 4 person tube from the ski hook and have never had a problem.

 

[OCMD]

The hook works great, pulled a few 300 pounders in my day no problem for the hook. They did, however, destroy the tube.

 

[Marshall]

Thanks for the info, I feel a lot
better now about using the tow hook.
That's what I'll use.

 

[Zarrella]

Welcome @Marshall !
I have the 232 Limited and also tow from the hook. I have never had any problems towing that way.

 

[Topper232]

 

[rkluck]

Agree, I have pulled three tubes with no problem.

 

[Yamborghini]

Is there a difference in tow quality without the tower?

 

[jdiaz78]

Is there a difference in tow quality without the tower?

You aren't supposed to tow tubes from the tower.

 

[jonw9]

You are supposed to tow from the tower, but many do. I tried as I an not excited about my lower hook. I see boats on my lake towing 2 tube from a ski pylon, so I figured the tower could handle it.

The issues were that the rope was essentially shorter, so the riders were more in the jet spray. I did not get the "snap" that I do towing from the stern.

I will likely stick with the rear tow point a majority of the time.

 

[sysinu]

In my last boat I towed tubes from the tower and the pop of the tube off a steep wake was insane... I had people 8+' off the water while still on the tube. With the fwd sweeping tower on my 242 I haven't done that yet. I imagine it's good since the tower is that much higher than my last boat, but I haven't gotten around to extending the rope or getting a specifically long float line. On my last boat the tow point for the tower was about 4' from the stern, completely different story on the 242.

I'll still tow from the stern tow point, but if I want to give someone the (tube) ride of their lifetime, then I'll use the tower unless they are a 500# anchor like one of the chicks in the picture in that co-captain thread.

 

[96Pirate]

Hmm..I've only used the tower and have not had any issues. Mostly younger kid riders so far so I control how high they fly by the speed and wake size. I have a 4 person tube and have noticed even from the tower point if the kids scoot too far forward, they nose dive under low speed. They need to scoot back further to keep this from happening. Using the rear tow point might be worse because of the non-upward angle. Might give it a shot just to see the difference.

 

[maboat]

Hmm..I've only used the tower and have not had any issues. Mostly younger kid riders so far so I control how high they fly by the speed and wake size. I have a 4 person tube and have noticed even from the tower point if the kids scoot too far forward, they nose dive under low speed. They need to scoot back further to keep this from happening. Using the rear tow point might be worse because of the non-upward angle. Might give it a shot just to see the difference.

Ditto. I got the tower for pulling people.

I have the same problem with tubes submarining when the riders are sitting forward at low speed. Tower definitely helps reduce that problem.

 

[4x15mph]

My tower came with a warning that it is not to be used with towables. If the tower comes down because of any stress point, it could be a disaster for anyone on the boat. If the boats that come equipped with a tower have any cautions, I would pay some attention to that.

 

[maboat]

I removed all the warning stickers from my boat so now its safer than ever!

 

[sysinu]

I removed all the warning stickers from my boat so now its safer than ever!

LOL! maybe this will be a quote in my next "what did you do to your boat today" thread.

 

[Woodr35]

We only use the tow hook because....we don't have a tower. I know a lot of people complain about the spray but the solution is easy - push the tube over the wake and go straight (younger kids) or just never have the tube straight behind the boat! The only time I have 'em straight behind the boat is when they look thirsty, when I give them a gazillion gallon water drink

 

[Marvin willis]

Nobody likes tubing behind the boat because the wake is too big so I have jet ski for pulling tubes and I use the boat for skiing and wake boarding