re-enforce for ski rope

[michael-lagrange]

Hi yall! I have a 84 starcraft 18ft and there is no place on the back to tie a ski rope. so the question is, do i need to re-eforce a place and add a buckel to tie to, or can i use the tie down loops on the back end of the boat without ripping a hole there? Im running a 140 merc. so its not like i have mucho power.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: re-enforce for ski rope

you will be fine using the tie down loops, as the are really tow eyes. search for ski rope in the iboats mega store, you will need a towing harness, that hooks to each tow eye and goes around the motor. i prefer the self centering type, and a must is that it has a float, helps keep rope out of prop. i don't know how experienced you are at towing, but a point is that when the skier is getting ready, position the boat down wind, this helps keep the rope out of the prop. there are a lot of little tricks in handling the rope and the boat. #1 safety item, when approaching a person in the water. always approach with the person on the drivers side of the boat. in other word if your control are on the starboard side of the boat you always make starboard turns to go back to the person.

 

[michael-lagrange]

Re: re-enforce for ski rope

Agree with all that tashasdaddy, thanks for the tips. p.s. nice job on the lonestar, i see your from Florida --stay cool.

 

[billburb]

Re: re-enforce for ski rope

hay mich i also have a 18ft starcraft but it is rated for a 125 and i have a 55 on it also got a 125 force (dont like it much ) but i have a 150 yamaha and i am wanting to put it on there but not sure. how is your 140? is it rated for that or did you go higher? thax

 

[flashback]

Re: re-enforce for ski rope

I would check and see how the loops are backed up. I have seen too many boats that just have a couple of washers and a nut. I don't think that's good enough.. I would use 1/4 inch thick aluminum plate about 4 inches square...

 

[michael-lagrange]

Re: re-enforce for ski rope

I will check that flashback, Hillbilly I mean hey billy, as far as i know the boat is factory, as far as the 140 I havent had a chance to pull a skier yet but it seems to be a nice cruiser, about 37mph at 3800 rpm thats all i want for now.<br />Im learning about IOs quickly with this one, it was lacking about 10 years of maintenance when i got it about 6 weeks ago, i will tell ya this much, if i get my hands on a v6vortech ill concider installing it. come see west point lake.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: re-enforce for ski rope

michael, educate your self about he exhaust problems, of the 96-01 V6 vortec exhaust. one pieceBatwing manifold, conversion to the 2 piece manifold/ riser/elbow situation. i had a 98 4.3L LXGEN+, it is very expensive to convert over to the 2 piece, and the 1 piece is NLA.

 

[michael-lagrange]

Re: re-enforce for ski rope

ah ha, that i will keep in mind but i hope you get an idea of small but torqey power plant that i have in mind. ill do alot of reserch on that.