Is there any good vids or pics showing how to lengthen tubing ropes?

[MidnightRider]

That was going to be my next question... where do you tow from. Do you mean the ski hook on the transom? I have one of those Y things are tow from the lifting hooks. I've heard of tubes digging in a higher speeds and causing all sorts of damage to things like towers and tow hooks.

Who's going to admit they pull tubes from the tower. I've been pulling tubes from towers and sky pylons for almost 20 years but I'm sure not going to admit it.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/tubing-from-the-tower.11853/#post-203542

 

[spatty99]

I use the 5'-10' length extensions that are usually included in ski/wakeboard ropes. No knots required. The different color also makes it easier to quickly find which end is which.

 

[sethman919]

That's not a great location. I'd rather tie in a 500 to 1000lb test "fuse" and tow from the tow point. I've done lots of stupid shit with a tube, but never caused any damage. It's the 10+ foot of slack while getting up to speed that breaks things.

The research I've read is that those transom tie downs are the right place to tow. they are designed to handle extremely heavy loads. the little ski hook looks WAY too weak and ive heard of people damaging the tower towing from it. I've always towed tubes from the transom tie downs.

 

[Jameson Clark]

The research I've read is that those transom tie downs are the right place to tow. they are designed to handle extremely heavy loads. the little ski hook looks WAY too weak and ive heard of people damaging the tower towing from it. I've always towed tubes from the transom tie downs.

The only time I have towed from those points was last year when we pulled up 4 skiers at once (not a Yamaha though.) We put two in the ski eye and one on each tie down. But, I do agree that the tie downs are much more robust than the ski eye. Whenever I have to tow another boat, I tow them from the transom tie downs for this reason!

 

[Jameson Clark]

Who's going to admit they pull tubes from the tower. I've been pulling tubes from towers and sky pylons for almost 20 years but I'm sure not going to admit it.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/tubing-from-the-tower.11853/#post-203542

Yeah, I MAY tow from up there on occasions but have already learned not to admit it on this forum!

 

[MidnightRider]

The research I've read is that those transom tie downs are the right place to tow. they are designed to handle extremely heavy loads. the little ski hook looks WAY too weak and ive heard of people damaging the tower towing from it. I've always towed tubes from the transom tie downs.

Bottom line is you have to do what makes you comfortable. I'd never ridicule or push anyone to do something they don't feel is safe. Having said that, Yamaha suggests tubing from the ski hook so you have to assume those hooks are designed it to take the load of todays large tubes.

 

[RiverRatSx210]

The only problem I have had with the ski eye hook is it’s so small the rope pops off periodically when we are pulling the tube in and coiling the rope for riders to switch. We have pulled quite a bit of weight never had a problem, as long as your not hitting the throttle with slack in the line I don’t see any reason not to tow from that spot.

 

[swatski]

The research I've read is that those transom tie downs are the right place to tow. they are designed to handle extremely heavy loads. the little ski hook looks WAY too weak and ive heard of people damaging the tower towing from it. I've always towed tubes from the transom tie downs.

The only time I have towed from those points was last year when we pulled up 4 skiers at once (not a Yamaha though.) We put two in the ski eye and one on each tie down. But, I do agree that the tie downs are much more robust than the ski eye. Whenever I have to tow another boat, I tow them from the transom tie downs for this reason!

Your boats may be different than mine... But.

Although these U-bolts are technically called tow hooks, they are nothing more than transom tie downs for trailering. Mine are NOT reinforced on the inside, which I believe is true for newer Yamahas out of factory. @Bill D has had his reinforced by PO, different story. Everyone else better check what you are dealing with - before you rip those U-bolts with little chunks of thin FRP hulls/transoms off the boat...

Here is mine, hard to photograph, this is the STRBD side U-bolt. Not reinforced.


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[Jgorm]

The only problem I have had with the ski eye hook is it’s so small the rope pops off periodically when we are pulling the tube in and coiling the rope for riders to switch. We have pulled quite a bit of weight never had a problem, as long as your not hitting the throttle with slack in the line I don’t see any reason not to tow from that spot.

Have you tried hooking a slip knot around the post and looping the rope over the top?

 

[RiverRatSx210]

I have not tried that yet but good idea.

 

[Jameson Clark]

Your boats may be different than mine... But.

Although these U-bolts are technically called tow hooks, they are nothing more than transom tie downs for trailering. Mine are NOT reinforced on the inside, which I believe is true for newer Yamahas out of factory. @Bill D has had his reinforced by PO, different story. Everyone else better check what you are dealing with - before you rip those U-bolts with little chunks of thin FRP hulls/transoms off the boat...

Here is mine, hard to photograph, this is the STRBD side U-bolt. Not reinforced.
View attachment 77750

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That is terrible to see!

I have not looked at this boat yet and have not towed with them thankfully. On my last Monterey they were reinforced with wood (same as the ski eye.) Thanks for the heads up!

 

[sethman919]

Your boats may be different than mine... But.

Although these U-bolts are technically called tow hooks, they are nothing more than transom tie downs for trailering. Mine are NOT reinforced on the inside, which I believe is true for newer Yamahas out of factory. @Bill D has had his reinforced by PO, different story. Everyone else better check what you are dealing with - before you rip those U-bolts with little chunks of thin FRP hulls/transoms off the boat...

Here is mine, hard to photograph, this is the STRBD side U-bolt. Not reinforced.
View attachment 77750

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While they are not reinforced like you would see a bump where there is added piece of wood fiberglassed in like the tower attach points, the transom of the boat is typically significantly thicker than any other place on the boat. May be different for yamahas, but on stern drives you wont see a bump but those eyes are through the transom which is typically 2+" thick because this is where all the stress of pushing the boat is. I would suspect the area where the tiedowns are attached is a bit thicker.

 

[swatski]

While they are not reinforced like you would see a bump where there is added piece of wood fiberglassed in like the tower attach points, the transom of the boat is typically significantly thicker than any other place on the boat. May be different for yamahas, but on stern drives you wont see a bump but those eyes are through the transom which is typically 2+" thick because this is where all the stress of pushing the boat is. I would suspect the area where the tiedowns are attached is a bit thicker.

Not in the new boats.
230s had that.
I can not rule out there is something embedded in the hull/transum part where the U-bolts come through, but it is unlikely. Having drilled a few (20+?) holes/openings in my transom area between trim tabs, ballast intakes etc. I find the FRP shell to be pretty consistently ~1/4" thick. Hard to believe, I know.
The only exception are parts of the cap, especially around the tower mounts, where the FRP is reinforced to 2" thickness in some places.


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[sethman919]

Not in the new boats.
230s had that.
I can not rule out there is something embedded in the hull/transum part where the U-bolts come through, but it is unlikely. Having drilled a few (20+?) holes/openings in my transom area between trim tabs, ballast intakes etc. I find the FRP shell to be pretty consistently ~1/4" thick. Hard to believe, I know.
The only exception are parts of the cap, especially around the tower mounts, where the FRP is reinforced to 2" thickness in some places.
View attachment 78019

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Wow... They have got to be reinforced some how. When the boat is strapped to the trailer pretty tight there has got to be a ton of stress on those things. I tried calling yamaha... they were no use. the lady could do nothing but search the owners manual. I tried to see if I could get someone who knew the technical ins and outs of the boat a bit better but got shut down in a hurry. I looked in the 230 manual and a 240 manual and found no recommendation about towing tubes just skiers. I did find this about the tower. I know I've violated that weight limit towing 2 full grown men one on a wakeboard and the other on a kneeboard at the same time.

 

[swatski]

Wow... They have got to be reinforced some how. When the boat is strapped to the trailer pretty tight there has got to be a ton of stress on those things. I tried calling yamaha... they were no use. the lady could do nothing but search the owners manual. I tried to see if I could get someone who knew the technical ins and outs of the boat a bit better but got shut down in a hurry. I looked in the 230 manual and a 240 manual and found no recommendation about towing tubes just skiers. I did find this about the tower. I know I've violated that weight limit towing 2 full grown men one on a wakeboard and the other on a kneeboard at the same time.

View attachment 78024

I'm not surprised, lol.

I would guess there may be a similar bar/strip on the inside, and the grey goo is some kind of epoxy - so yes, technically would be reinforced. But I would be careful with those U-bolt, even as tie downs.


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