tow ring

I

Imback31

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Oct 8, 2007
Messages
39
does anybody have a pic on how to attach a loop to a tow ring so that it won"t fall off when loose, (my tow ring is very short).
 
bjcsc

bjcsc

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Messages
1,805
Re: tow ring

Are y'all talking about a pintle eye?? What is a "tow ring"?
 
bjcsc

bjcsc

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Messages
1,805
Re: tow ring

OK it just dawned on me that you guys might be talking about the tow eye on the boat for skiing, tubing, etc.. I don't have a picture, but basically, standing behind the boat looking at the eye, you take the loop on the end of the ski rope, push the loop through the tow eye with the stub in the middle of the loop. Now pull the tip of the loop down in the back (between the hull and the eye), back towards you, up and through the bit of loop and hook it on the post. Hmmm...I'll go take a picture...:D
 

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Tahoe 55

Tahoe 55

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 15, 2008
Messages
226
Re: tow ring

What's the average weight rating on a tow/ski eye??? I've been told if you are pulling a tube with more than 2 people in it, you need one of those tow harness that hook to your trailer tie down eyes... On my boat this puts the tow rope right on top or just under the water. Riders in the tube complain about water spray in their eyes....
How strong are those ski eyes? My owners manual says nothing about it....
 
O

OhWellcraft

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 22, 2007
Messages
277
Re: tow ring

Most of the tow rings are pretty stout, however if you think you need to bolster it up a bit use a larger backer plate behind it. If its just a large washer now use a 4x4 piece of steel or alum. the more you can spread the load out the stronger it will be for sure. If the transom where its mounted is not flat you could use some good hardwood to spread it out also. Or even glass in some plywood as a backer plate along with washers etc.
 
Tahoe 55

Tahoe 55

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 15, 2008
Messages
226
Re: tow ring

Thanks OhWellcraft, that's a good idea, but does anyone know how much a stock eye is rated for? My dealer said around 300lb he thought..... Is anyone pulling 3 or 4 person tubes with one or do you use the tow harness?
 
C

cmcpherson

Banned
Joined
Jun 11, 2006
Messages
310
Re: tow ring

300 pounds, if that was the rating you would not be pulling anything! I would find another dealer with someone who has any idea what they are talking about. Tow ropes for tubes are rated in thousands of pounds. I have a rope rated for just over 4000 pounds. I have never seen a tow ring pulled out nor have I seen a rating for a tow ring and I seriously doubt if you could pull it out by towing anything like a normal load. Hell, they make 12 person tubes. I would quit worrying about the rating and start using it.
 
tysonnathan

tysonnathan

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 2, 2008
Messages
246
Re: tow ring

I have personally pulled two knee boarders and one tube at the same time with the "tow ring". The weight of the people alone was close to 600 pounds...that does not include the drag when starting to accelerate. But, if it would make you feel better, get the floating bridle that hooks to your tie downs.. they cost 15-20 bucks and might give you a little peace of mind...
 
Tahoe 55

Tahoe 55

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 15, 2008
Messages
226
Re: tow ring

Well, the 300lb rate came from a Sea-ray he had in the show room. It had a big sticker under the Ski eye saying "max load 300lb".... It was a different design than my Tahoe Q8i and looked more like the ones you normally see (like the one pictured above)....

I don't know? Just don't want to mess up my new boat...
 
Tahoe 55

Tahoe 55

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 15, 2008
Messages
226
Re: tow ring

I have the the floating bridle that hooks to your tie downs, but it sits way low and skims the water. The riders on the tube complain about spray in the eyes... My wife is one of those riders and I want to make it as enjoyable for her as possible, if you know what I mean... That's when I switched to the ski eye...
 
tysonnathan

tysonnathan

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 2, 2008
Messages
246
Re: tow ring

If you wanted to spend a heap you could put on a fly high and pull from the top.... Most racks are well over a grand though..
 
Tahoe 55

Tahoe 55

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 15, 2008
Messages
226
Re: tow ring

I was just wanting some practical experience from people using their ski eyes with tubes. Sounds like I got 2 guys that use them with no problems. Anyone else?
 
K

ksubigbuck

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 18, 2006
Messages
180
Re: tow ring

I used the one on my bass boat to yank by buddy's boat off of a sandbar. Put way more than 300lbs on it. I had my 115 hp Johnson at 3000 rpm before his boat even budged.
 
Tahoe 55

Tahoe 55

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 15, 2008
Messages
226
Re: tow ring

That sounds pretty strong to me.
Thanks for the post.
 
C

cmcpherson

Banned
Joined
Jun 11, 2006
Messages
310
Re: tow ring

Tahoe 55 said:
Well, the 300lb rate came from a Sea-ray he had in the show room. It had a big sticker under the Ski eye saying "max load 300lb".... It was a different design than my Tahoe Q8i and looked more like the ones you normally see (like the one pictured above)....

I don't know? Just don't want to mess up my new boat...
Click to expand...

That sounds more like the rating for the swim ladder. I weigh 250, I can't imagine what the force on the tow ring must be when I am being pulled out of the water slalom!!!!!!!
 
Tahoe 55

Tahoe 55

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 15, 2008
Messages
226
Re: tow ring

I don't know? I saw it myself. Big sticker right under the ski eye, nothing else close.... Dealer said that was pretty much the norm, but he didn't have an exact rating for my Q8....
 
a70eliminator

a70eliminator

Captain
Joined
Sep 9, 2007
Messages
3,762
Re: tow ring

Does it take 300 ft.lbs of pull to drag a 300lb body through the water?
I'm thinking no, even if the guy was dead weight. The pulling force applied I think is not proportional to weight of the object being pulled, it would be interesting to apply a pull scale to your ski rope like the ones they use to measure the pull of a bow&arrow in ft.lbs. Heck I can only pull about 75lbs comfortablly and @ 300lbs I wouldn't be able to hold on without my arm sockets seriously injured.
 
O

OhWellcraft

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 22, 2007
Messages
277
Re: tow ring

My crownline has a tow ring, I have had two tubes with two adults on each tube and pulled them around at a good clip with a few whips(at their request) and it hasn't even budged. I havent reinforced it at all like I did on my other boat. I have also had two very experienced slalom skiers at a time hooked to it, both taking hard corners at the same time. I felt the boat start to loose a bit of speed for a second but the ring was fine, It takes a pretty heafty pull to start to drag down a 350 with a high 5 prop on it. I also have a tower on my boat but I wouldn't even consider anything but a wakeboard, kneeboard, or my 7 year old on a pair of skiis to be pulled by the tower.
 
R

RollingWanderer

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 13, 2008
Messages
116
Re: tow ring

We have also been pulling a 2 person tube from the tow ring without any problems...at least so far...:D

-RW
 
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