Who pulls a tube behind a bass boat?

[=Matt 5.0=]

This boat is a Stratos 186XT with 115 ETEC. It's going to be multi purpose. Fishing vessel, picnic lunch platform for the fam, and mid day fun for the kids.

Wanting to know if anyone pulls their kids behind a bass boat in a tube. Looking at the Airhead tow harness.  8-)

[bassdocktor]

Hey Matt we did this last year with our Triton TR186. My mom wanted to try it and it didn't last long but that's another story.

I have very little experience wtih tubing but the setup the guy sold us didn't seem to be the best. It attached to where the tie downs on the trailer go. It had a float on it to keep it from going into the prop. Even if the boat was on plane the rope was in the water.

If you could get one of the ski poles they sell I think you'd be so much better off. Basically the person on the tube is at the drivers mercy because they can't move it. I'm pretty strong and with so much rope in the water I could get the tube to move at all.

If it were on the cleats that might not be bad. Just try to get it higher than I had it.

Any more questions and I'll try to help or ask one of my friends that tubes more regularly.

[=Matt 5.0=]

Thank you bass! I was imagining a setup consisting of the removal of the stern fishing seat, and replacing it (temporarily) with a pole. I have a feeling that the weight of two kids under the age of 6, plus the tube, and the water resistance might rip it right out of the floor.

Or, phase two: make a "V" shaped bridal to go out and around the outboard on either side of it (attached to the transom at the trailer tie downs) Is this what you experienced? My problem is that my brain never shuts off.

[bassdocktor]

They sell a pole for alot of boats especially bass boats. I would imagine the Trackers too. 99% sure the pole is an option if you go Triton's website.

Since I am at work with nothing to do I'll take a look for the setup we have and will post a link to it as soon as I find it. It was actually a Y shape. Like I said it connected to where the tie downs go. It actually joined in the middle with a float to keep it out of the prop and the you attached your rope to the little tag end the had.

[bassdocktor]

This is actually the exact one I have.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_52629_200006002_200000000_200006000_200-6-2

Like I said it just seems to sit too low. But that could be that where it connects is kinda low too. Anything else just let me know.

[=Matt 5.0=]

Awesome, thanx for the link. I was imagining something similar made of nylon rope with a buoy instead of the red piece. I'm sure I can tie one up... I'll investigate that pole deal too! You the man!  

[surfer]

I grew up water skiing, tubing, slalom, knee boarding, wake boarding, bare footing, skurfing, and have even ridden a piece of ply wood with wax on it behind a boat, among other things.  Now that my credentials are out of the way on to the question.

The bridle that BassDocktor linked you too is going to be your easiest set up.  It is very strong and has few safety concerns.

Next, you are right to be concerned that a pole will rip out of you bass chair pedestal.  It will.  It would need reinforcing at the top of the pole to eliminate the torque created at the base. Take a look at this design.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&partNumber=32844&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults

As this one is designed you will only need to reinforce the base plate of your bass seat to prevent it from lifting up.  This is much easier than trying to prevent torque.

Now on to the benefits of the pole.  Being that your rope it attached to something in the boat you can connect, disconnect, retie much quicker and easier. The elevated position of the rope is easier for skiing.  The few degrees of up angle actually help pull the skier up out of the water.  This became very apparent when I built an 11 ft pole for wakeboarding.  I could jump much higher.

If you are only occasionally going to pull behind the boat and just tubing I would get the bridle.  If you are going to get into slalom and wakeboard for 4 hours a week I might consider the pole.

Ps tubing is the most stress I have ever seen put on a boat.  It is substantially heavier than a pair of skiers. I have seen two ropes break in 10 years from tubing and zero from anything else.  Boats always take longer to get on plane with tubers than any other tow behinds. Check the instructions on that or any other pole to see that it was designed for tubing.  

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

The one toy not allowed behind my boat is a tube.  It's one thing if you intend to "tote" around the kids but another if it is being used as an excitement ride.  I was educated young when it comes to these.  I lost a close friend in High school, broken neck from being spit off a tube.  The thing that makes a tube different from the other toys, i.e. wakeboard, kneeboard, skis, is that it is an UN-controlled fall as opposed to the others, where you see it coming and can either tuck and roll or at least duck your shoulder.

With a tube, when you get flung off, you skip across the water like a stone and God forbid if an arm is facing the wrong way or even worse, your head.

[Hoover]

I use my bass boat (Tracker 190 TX with a 90 hp) to pull the kids on an inflatable.  I concur with LBH's concerns and do not go too fast with the kids.  The float never gets airborne.  I use a harness attached to the transom rings on either side of the motor with a float attached.  Then the ski rope is attached to the harness.  It works very well and is safe.  The only other thing I had to get (to be legal) was the rear view mirror which attaches to the windshied and is easily removable when using the boat as a fishing platform.  I hope this helps.

Tom

[Hoover]

Also, as a multi-purpose boat, I added a bimini top for some shade on those hot humid afternoons.  It helps alot.

Tom

[surfer]

LBH's comments are absolutely correct.   Although over time my friends have racked up more injuries on wake boarding than tubing simply do to more time doing it than tubing.  Including serious injuries.

Always wear a life vest.

[Wilson]

to make a long storey short all thing on water is as safe as you make it. watch out for docks rocks other boats and such and make sure you know that body of water really well before attepmting anything.

[thetr20one]

I use a harness with a float pulled behind a Triton tr-20. Tubing is fun and dangerous. You have to keep the speeds low. 25-30 is plenty fast for tubing. On a flat lake with no other boats I pulled my dummy 230 lb. cousin over 60 mph strait down the lake on his request. I have a 7 year old daughter that loves boating but has no want to tube, she has seen our bruises and complaints of muscle pain. What has to be remembered is turning with a tube. At 30 mph when it swings out it keeps accelerating and gets into water that hasn't been flattened by your boat, that is a real danger zone. To wakeboard and ski you would problably have to get the tower. We have tried it and the angle of the rope seems to want to drag you through the water with the harness. Also use a tow rope with a 15,000 pound+ break rating. I got one from a marina here for about $30. Just be careful PLEASE!!!!

[=Matt 5.0=]

The one toy not allowed behind my boat is a tube.

Didn't know that Jon would pull a tube. ;D

Thanx for the responses.

[NOVAbasskid]

bringing back an old thread here... i know the pole is preferable but i don't feel like putting any holes in my boat (which I believe is necessary for it's installation). So I'm going to try the trailer rings first, I don't have to worry about ripping these out? Or causing stress fractures in my boat from pulling a tube or do I? Thanks everyone.

[fishfordollars]

Once or twice a year for the kids.

[Way2slow]

I've used something like this the drag just about anything one could want behind a bass boat.  http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_100250_225016000_225000000_225016000_225-16-0

Just make sure you check your state laws.  In GA, you have to have a rear view mirror or and observer sitting sitting in the boat.  You also have to have a life jacket in the boat for the person you a towing around.

[cart7t]

I've pulled tubers behind my previous Champion many, many times.  A standard ski bridal with the float attached to the transom tie downs worked fine.  Had no problem whipping people from one side to the other.  The rope only sort of drags through the wake but not bad enough to upset the enjoyment of a ride.

Knee boarding is another story.  If you have a rider that wants to cut across the wake he/she will probably complain of the rope being to low.  You'll need a ski pole for that.

[BassThumb]

bringing back an old thread here... i know the pole is preferable but i don't feel like putting any holes in my boat (which I believe is necessary for it's installation). So I'm going to try the trailer rings first, I don't have to worry about ripping these out? Or causing stress fractures in my boat from pulling a tube or do I? Thanks everyone.

I made a thread on another site a while back asking people if they had ever fashioned a rope ladder to hang on their boat's cleats, and if they were worried that doing so might rip the cleats from the boat.

They said that I shouldn't worry, that the force of the boat thats tied to a dock on a windy day puts more force on the cleats than a 200 lb person would. One guy said he had dragged a 30 ft tree into his lake by one cleat. If the cleats are that strong, then I don't see why the rear tie-down eyes wouldn't be.

I haven't tried it yet, so I can't personally vouch for it.

[donmac]

Assuming it is a boat of reasonable size and horsepower, those U-bolts on your transom are designed to pull stuff - as well help tie the boat down while trailering.  Most standard bridals are designed to  attach to those hooks - that's what most boaters use - bass boat or not. 

It's only ski, or fish and ski, boats that have ski poles.  Do not use the seat hole.  If you want to add a pole than get a pole that requires another hole in the rear deck and mounts through to a plate on the bottom of the boat - but you really don't need this unless you are accomplished skiers/boarders and are trying to get some air (wake boards like air.)  But starting out with a standard bridal that most of the boats out there use is fine - there's no magic here. 

I brought my kids up tubing/skiing/boarding behind all sorts of boats.  Of course accidents can happen, but tubing is great fun for kids.

[cart7t]

Assuming it is a boat of reasonable size and horsepower, those U-bolts on your transom are designed to pull stuff - as well help tie the boat down while trailering. Most standard bridals are designed to attach to those hooks - that's what most boaters use - bass boat or not.

It's only ski, or fish and ski, boats that have ski poles. Do not use the seat hole. If you want to add a pole than get a pole that requires another hole in the rear deck and mounts through to a plate on the bottom of the boat - but you really don't need this unless you are accomplished skiers/boarders and are trying to get some air (wake boards like air.) But starting out with a standard bridal that most of the boats out there use is fine - there's no magic here.

I brought my kids up tubing/skiing/boarding behind all sorts of boats. Of course accidents can happen, but tubing is great fun for kids.

The biggest difference is that the transom tie down hooks are usually sitting much higher out of the water on a typical ski/runabout boat vs. a bass boat which sits very stern deep in the water. 

[StatosDadRI]

I have this on a  18' Stratos and works great. It floats. You have to be aware not to trim your motor up .

[=Matt 5.0=]

I have this on a 18' Stratos and works great. It floats. You have to be aware not to trim your motor up .

Thanks Mike, I was looking at that one at BPS.

[NOVAbasskid]

OK I'm looking at two different harnesses to create a tow attachment point behind my outboard, here are the options both have been mentioned here was hoping someone may have experience with both.

Airhead Heavy Duty Tow Harness

OR

Airhead Tow Demon Ski Tow Harness

Any advice would be appreciated, Thanks!

[scrutch]

bringing back an old thread here... i know the pole is preferable but i don't feel like putting any holes in my boat (which I believe is necessary for it's installation). So I'm going to try the trailer rings first, I don't have to worry about ripping these out? Or causing stress fractures in my boat from pulling a tube or do I? Thanks everyone.

This is what I pull my kids on using my bass boat. I go very slow (just fast enough to stay on plane). I stay far away from any traffic, and only go in calmer ends of the lake. My kids are all under 8 years old and they love it.

I use this tow harness connected to the transom hold-down eyes.

This setup works really good for me.