Best way to tow a ski boat with a house boat

[bspeth]

Looking for some ideas.Tow directly behind or tie it to the side? What have you done and how did it work.I would prefer the side method because I like to troll from the back of the houseboat but don't want to beat up my ski boat.Thanks

 

[kjsAZ]

Tie to the side is a bit risky if you get some waves. I only did that when in close quarters in the harbor. If/when you tow behind use a rope which stretches well and floats. You have to go bigger in size as these PP-ropes have less strength and you have to watch out as they deteriorate faster in the sun. I would recommend at least 100ft of rope if not longer. Attach to the towing boat with a bridle.

 

[oldjeep]

A real ski boat - I personally wouldn't. too easy to unintentionally put the bow into the water.

Assuming I would do it, I'd be looking for a very ridged length of PVC to run a line through and use that as the buffer/tow line.

 

[Chris1956]

Tow it behind the boat at fast idle speed, no faster. Use a bridle on the houseboat, and tie it to the boweye of the skiboat. You can tow it far enough back, where you should be able to fish under it. I presume this is on a lake?

 

[midcarolina]

I tell you one thing...... there are some horror stories on the net about this very subject.

Check out this tow device, seems to work great.

 

[BRICH1260]

I`ve done both at one time or another. If the ski boat is nice, I would not tow it tied to the side of the houseboat as it will get beat up. Tow it behind with as long a rope as you can find, say at least 100`. Be prepared to keep it from rear endeding the houseboat when you stop the houseboat.

 

[rbh]

Tow it but I would keep the rope length under 50 feet as you will need to flag the rope so no one hopefully will get in between the house boat and ski boat.
Tow off to one side and lock the steering wheel down with the drive straight so it does not veer out into oncoming traffic.
As your house boat is not hopefully going to go extremely fast remember slow starts and even slower stops,the ski boat will catch up to the house boat in a blink of an eye. Remember to put all of your bumpers out at the right height if they collide, this is why we pull from the side and not the middle.

And keep the recovery pole at the ready.

 

[bspeth]

Sorry,but what is a bridle?

 

[kjsAZ]

 

[redneck joe]

Tie to the side is a bit risky if you get some waves. I only did that when in close quarters in the harbor. If/when you tow behind use a rope which stretches well and floats. You have to go bigger in size as these PP-ropes have less strength and you have to watch out as they deteriorate faster in the sun. I would recommend at least 100ft of rope if not longer. Attach to the towing boat with a bridle.

this has worked for me m any times