Tubing

[CodyT]

I have a single man tube that I pull around with my 93XP. The machine does very well but the tube yanks on the ski a bit too much. To prevent damage and enhance the allover ride I set it up with shock absorbers.

Picked up two 360lb draw bar springs and linked them side-by-side with a stainless rod. When hitting waves, cornering, and accelerating the springs load and unload which takes a lot of excess pressure off of the ski, tube, and all couplings.

I had a better design but it was more expensive to make than I could afford. I wanted to mount an extension spring damper inside a slightly stretchier spring to give me more travel and a super smooth tow.

Cody

 

[Dr Honda]

Hu? Damage to what? How about some pics?

Also... it's illegal to tow with a 2 place ski. (just an FYI) There are some regional exceptions... but it is a USGC rule.

 

[CodyT]

I broke my original idea yesterday so I've changed it up. There are still two draw bar springs, one attached to the ski and the other to the tube. My worry was that constant yanking from the tube might rip the ring out of the stern. It just didn't look all that strong to me... I'll snap a bunch of pics next time I have everything out since I really have none of my equipment as of yet.

According to information provided by the USCG site at www.uscg.mil there appears to be no federal law governing water skiers (tubers)

The information I obtained can be found here: http://www.uscgboating.org/state_boating_laws.aspx

If there is anything to the contrary please post it! I do my best to operate within the law.

Cody

 

[Dr Honda]

Here ya go. Check your states regs. It's toward the bottom of section 16. The part in bold makes it a 3 passenger or larger ski to tow.


***PWCs may not be used to tow a water skier, aquaboard or other similar device, unless
there is a competent observer in addition to the operator on board and the PWC is
designed by the manufacturer to carry the operator, the observer and the person(s)
being towed. The observer will be deemed competent if he or she is facing the
person(s) being towed.


You can download the PDF here:


http://www.boater101.com/Course/documents/DE/DEstatelaws.pdf

 

[CodyT]

Well Doc your info was mostly correct. I called the Fish&Wildlife Enforcement officer (who was very helpful) he confirmed that the towing craft must be able to hold on board anyone that it may be towing.

Things that were missing were of no concern to anyone not living in this area as they had to do with restricted areas.

Thanks for the info. I'll take some pics of my rig later tonight.

Cody

 

[CodyT]

Pics of tow ring on ski and spring setup.

http://lookpic.com/c1/i2/2632/7N5q5PO3.jpeg
http://lookpic.com/c1/i2/3682/sYEFqwJ9.jpeg

 

[Dr Honda]

Pics of tow ring on ski and spring setup.

http://lookpic.com/c1/i2/2632/7N5q5PO3.jpeg
http://lookpic.com/c1/i2/3682/sYEFqwJ9.jpeg

Says "forbidden"

 

[bigJake]

Well Doc your info was mostly correct. I called the Fish&Wildlife Enforcement officer (who was very helpful) he confirmed that the towing craft must be able to hold on board anyone that it may be towing.

Things that were missing were of no concern to anyone not living in this area as they had to do with restricted areas.

Thanks for the info. I'll take some pics of my rig later tonight.

Cody

Cody, can you clarify why Doc was "mostly correct". I also understand the law to be as Doc stated. Did you mean everything Doc said was correct but there are some additional restrictions the wildlife guy told you about ?

sidenote - I could go on a real rant about a pretty heated discussion I had with a fish and game commisssion guy on the lake last year. I came across a log stuck in the bottom of the lake and sticking up about 6" above the surface. First log I ever saw on this lake. There were several boats towing little kids on tubes, and I was really worried one of these kids was going to get injured or killed so I sat there on my ski and stopped every boat that went by and warned them. Lake is pretty narrow at this point and it was just a matter of time before a tuber hit the log. My wife tracked down the game commsion guy about 2 minutes away and told him i needed help with the log. Instead of coming to assist he just put his binoculars back up scanning the shore looking for anyone without a fishing license. I was really pissed when he finally shows up 45 minutes later and I tore him a new one, which he didn't take kindly to and spent the next 15 minutes trying to prove to me that he was the alpha male on the lake. I was expecting a "thank you" for keeping the other boaters safe and instead he's threatening to write me a ticket to prove he's the boss of the water.

 

[soccerdan90]

That would piss me off so badly! People like you make the lake a better place, you spent a good amount of time just sitting there and I want to thank you for that. I would have reminded him that your tax dollars and registration fees pay him! The way I look at it is that we employ them and they should come help if we have a concern.

 

[bigJake]

thanks Dan. When he finally showed up, and I started on him about taking so long to come he wasn't even interested in the log. He just kept demanding to see my ski registration and you can imagine how it went downhill from there.

 

[soccerdan90]

WOW!!! What a dick!