Homade ski tripod

[bretto]

Making a homade tripod, it consists of a 4' 1/8 wall tube. It sits and in is bolted at the bottom to a swivel-eze type seat floor mount which is bolted to 1.5' of floor plywood. Then it has 2 arms that go to the top of the rear deck just in front of the transom. Using some mounts that are 3"x4" base that will be bolted thru 1/4" fiberglass and maybe 1/2" to 3/4" plywood then metal plates that match the footprint of the bases. The arms connect at the pole with 3/8" heim or rod bearing ends. Then I'm using a 2" hitch ball on top of pole to hook the rope to. Sound good and strong enough? My only hesitation is the heim joints, they are at their fullest flex if you will. Are they still strong enough at that angle?
Thanks,
Brett

 

[tommays]

Re: Homade ski tripod

The 4' tube is going to want to go UP when it is pulled toward the stern and pushes on the struts

So depending on what your pulling it will try to come out of the floor

I can not really tell how your holding it toghter or how strong its through bolted to the deck ? Screws do not cut it


tommays

 

[bretto]

Re: Homade ski tripod

There are no screws. All mounts are bolted on with steel backing plates. The pole has a 5/8" bolt at its end that gets tightened into the mount with a nut (it cant come up)

 

[tommays]

Re: Homade ski tripod

If it can not pull UP and the struts will not bend under the load then you should be OK

Its pretty common to get hit in the boat with a tow handle the tension is so high on the line when a skier lets go

Just want to be sure you now how BIG of a tug a line can put on a tri-pod

Tommays

 

[bretto]

Re: Homade ski tripod

I can see how tension is there but can't see a nylon tow line being able to store enough energy to sling it back to the boat. If that's the case, dont peeps with towers or other ski poles get hit all the time? Doesn't seem that towing stuff would be a good idea at all if that were the case. Thanks for the inputd
Brett

 

[bretto]

Re: Homade ski tripod

Took it out for a test this last weekend and it worked great! Pulled the tube, skis and wakeboard. It was real nice for tubing with the rope out of the water and not splashing you in the face. And the hitch ball allowed the rope to swivel side to side so smoothly. Cost:about $50

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Homade ski tripod

glad to hear ... not bad .....

 

[JustMrWill]

Re: Homade ski tripod

We need pictures

-JMW

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Homade ski tripod

Its pretty common to get hit in the boat with a tow handle the tension is so high on the line when a skier lets go

I would say that would be a good reason to use a kill lanyard while pulling skiers! If it misses the stern and heads for the captain!​