Ski Tripod Installation

[imported_74baja]

Hey Guys,
I have a 1974 16ft. Baja with a 115 hp johnson outboard. The boat came with a ski tripod made by Swivl-Eze (its about 4ft tall) I dont really trust the guy that had it before me and i want to check that he installed it right before i use it. It has a plate on the floor that it screws into and two braces that go down to the back deck of the boat which is about 3/4 in. of fiberglass.
Thanks,
--Jack

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Ski Tripod Installation

thats the way they install them. should have clevis pins at the rear deck that can be taken out, and the post unscrews for removal, when not in use.

 

[imported_74baja]

Re: Ski Tripod Installation

Thanks, are there any specific things that i should chesc to make sure its sturdy?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Ski Tripod Installation

make sure all the screws are tight, if not, go to a larger size. that combination should make a great ski/tube boat. i've had 3 18' with the 115hp johnson.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Ski Tripod Installation

i don't know if you are a novice skier or not, but i post this occasionally, for newby's and to remind the old ones to be parient

http://forums.iboats.com/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=1;gtid=1119707;gpid=1119707

 

[AguaSki]

Re: Ski Tripod Installation

Be sure the plate of the floor has been bolted all the way through. You don't want to rely on the strength of wood screw threads.

 

[QC]

Re: Ski Tripod Installation

I absolutely 100% agree with what AquaSki posted. I have had one pull out that I mounted myself with screws into the floor. I was younger and dumber and had no kids then, but it could've been VERY ugly. As it turned out it is nothing but a good story now.

I was pulling a friend slalom skiing and my tripod thingy launched out of the boat in the middle of a hard pull. We were in fairly strong river current and it got snagged on something when it sank and caused for a very hectic few moments trying to save the rope, the skier and what was left of the tripod. In the middle of this a female friend yelled "shark" as the rope went tight on the snag as she was holding it. Pretty funny as we were on the Colorado River and she was serious . . . :} := Various pairs of ski gloves were attached to the tripod to dry out and they were floating along with the fingers pointing up filled with air 8) It also took beach chairs with it and other assorted goodies on the floor. I was successful at recovering most of my stuff and remounted a repaired one properly.

Don't assume the rear facing braces alone will prevent the main pole form yanking out. They were basically pretzels and the main pole was all that was usable again. Whatever you do, no body sits "behind" the tripod while towing anything :%

 

[82RAYSONCRAFT]

Re: Ski Tripod Installation

Mine is mounted thru the rear deck in front of the transom. Rear braces are SS as is the rest of pole and hardware.

 

[82RAYSONCRAFT]

Re: Ski Tripod Installation

Forgot the attachment.

 

[82RAYSONCRAFT]

Re: Ski Tripod Installation

Damn again!!!!!

 

[imported_74baja]

Re: Ski Tripod Installation

I feel really dumb now... Just last winter i replaced the transom and part of the floor. It would have been really easy to acess underneath the floor where the bolts would go through to put the nuts on. but now its all back together and i would have to reach in the bilge pump hole and fore about five feet. I dont see how that would be possible. I dont know of any special nuts that could go through the bolt holes (sort of like the winged ones that you use in drywall) that would be sturdy enough. Would it be suffficient to coat the screws and the bottom of the plate with epoxy and put the scews back in? It is onlly a plate, so its not like Im that concerned about getting it off. Any oter ideas?
--Jack

 

[QC]

Re: Ski Tripod Installation

One thing you could do is thru bolt it to a larger mounting plate that could spread the load across more screws. As long as nobody is behind it you're not gonna kill anybody. The toughest load is strong and big slalom skiers. What/who are you planning on pulling?

 

[imported_74baja]

Re: Ski Tripod Installation

Any other ideas? The floor of my boat is small, and i wouldnt have much room ofr a larger plate, but that is still an option.
Thanks
--Jack