Tube Tow Rope length

[Lester]

Ok, this is a potentially stupid question but I can't find the answer so I am asking it here.

I am a new boat owner and have never towed a tube. I have read the various forums and seen the debate about towing a tube from the tower vs tow hook. I have seen an almost universal recommendation to have tow ropes longer than 60 feet. I saw on a recent forum that someone has a 60 foot and adds two 10 foot sections.

So the question is how is this done especially since all of the tow ropes I can find are 60 feet in length? If you have to use two ropes, what knots are used to connect the ropes together? I saw one reference where someone used a double sheepbend knot to connect ropes together but I am looking for some additional validation that this is safe/works etc.

I have a new HO Extreme 3 person tube and have bought 2ea. 60 foot 4K tow ropes to use. I am just trying to get prepared for when we're ready to start tubing.

Thanks in advance for helping and feel free to poke fun, I have a good sense of humor and thick skin!

 

[Wayloncle]

https://jetboaters.net/index.php?threads/towable-air-pump-and-rope-length.1094/

Don't feel bad I just asked the same question pretty much. Most answers lean toward 70 foot.
I was just going to tie a loop on both ends of the ropes and loop them together so it'd be easy to take apart.

 

[jetboater4life]

Ok, this is a potentially stupid question but I can't find the answer so I am asking it here.

I am a new boat owner and have never towed a tube. I have read the various forums and seen the debate about towing a tube from the tower vs tow hook. I have seen an almost universal recommendation to have tow ropes longer than 60 feet. I saw on a recent forum that someone has a 60 foot and adds two 10 foot sections.

So the question is how is this done especially since all of the tow ropes I can find are 60 feet in length? If you have to use two ropes, what knots are used to connect the ropes together? I saw one reference where someone used a double sheepbend knot to connect ropes together but I am looking for some additional validation that this is safe/works etc.

I have a new HO Extreme 3 person tube and have bought 2ea. 60 foot 4K tow ropes to use. I am just trying to get prepared for when we're ready to start tubing.

Thanks in advance for helping and feel free to poke fun, I have a good sense of humor and thick skin!

The multi section ropes that are 10 to 15 feet long have a loop woven on each end. Basically you put the short rope through the loop on the end of the long rope and then back through the loop on the other end of the short rope.

 

[Lspeedss]

70 ft. Use a "Cat's paw" knot to connect the lengths together.

 

[KXCam22]

It also depends on how you tube. If you pull small kids with the tube riding mostly behind the boat I found that 70-75' was just out of the jet spray and much easier on the tube riders eyes. If the tube is getting whipped side to side I go back to the shorter 40-60' since the tube is only behind the boat in the spray for seconds at a time. Plus it is far easier to whip the tube with the shorter rope. Cam.

 

[Magic]

Yep, we go 75' but have sections that reduce the length to 60' and 45'.... can really whip that tube around at 45'! lol!

 

[ToddW850]

My tow rope is 60 feet.

Also, it's recommend to tow tubes from the tow hook and not the tower. I think it's because of weight (because you have more people on the tubes generally, which equals more weight).

 

[Magic]

My tow rope is 60 feet.

Also, it's recommend to tow tubes from the tow hook and not the tower. I think it's because of weight (because you have more people on the tubes generally, which equals more weight).

Yep, our tower is rated at 250# max weight....

 

[Mike Rock]

So where do you buy these 4K multi sectional ropes or do you make them???

 

[Wayloncle]

So where do you buy these 4K multi sectional ropes or do you make them???

JetBoatPilot has a few ropes in his store. (scroll alll the way to the bottom if you look at his site)

http://jetboatpilot.com/index.php?id_category=69&controller=category

 

[Mike Rock]

Thanks

 

[MNdrifter]

does anyone know a source for 10' lengths of 4 person tube ropes? I see ropes that come with 10' sections but I already have a 60' 4K rope. I checked JBP and Overtons

 

[jetboater4life]

I have a couple of these wakesurf ropes and add extra length to my tube rope as needed in the method I described above.
http://www.amazon.com/Obrien-Knotted-Wakesurf-Rope-White/dp/B001W4JI3S