Adding Tow Point to 1992 Sundancer 270

sdrevik

sdrevik

New Member
Jul 9, 2007
86
Knoxville, TN
Boat Info
1992 SR Sundancer 270DA
Engines
454/B3
Just buying a 270 cruiser from an owner that only used it for cruising, but I'd like to tow a tube, maybe skiiers and beginning wakeboarders. Should I install a tow point (and if so, how)? Perhaps just mount a pully between the two rear cleats?
 
Um, no. Please don't use the cleats for towing a tube. They are really not meant for the type of forces generated by a pulling a tube. It's one thing to risk damage to the boat, but another to risk it pulling our and hurting a tube rider.

Do you have your owner's manual? If so you might be able to look up where it might mount. If not you may be able to download one from the Sea Ray website.
 
b_arrington said:
Um, no. Please don't use the cleats for towing a tube. They are really not meant for the type of forces generated by a pulling a tube. It's one thing to risk damage to the boat, but another to risk it pulling our and hurting a tube rider.

Do you have your owner's manual? If so you might be able to look up where it might mount. If not you may be able to download one from the Sea Ray website.
Click to expand...

You're kidding right?? :lol: If those cleats don't hold pulling a measely tube, you are in deep trouble with whatever your boating in. OEM marine cleats, even though not designed for towing, should be holding many times the load a tube could impose on them. Just think that they are desigend to hold the pulling and tugging of your boat when moored in storm force winds. The trouble with using cleats is that they might make your tow rope cross the swim platform and that could be a safety risk if someone stumbles over it. We have a towing eye installed in the back of our swim platform with a backplate and it is working fine.
 
Good point...

Good point on the safety/tripping issue.

What are the issues in installing a tow point on the hull? How would the stress be spread out- with some kind of metal backing plate? Can I even get to the other side of the rear "wall"? (I haven't taken posession of the boat yet).
 
oh wait...

oh wait... I see you mention installing it on the swim platform.... just drill all the way through that, install a backing plate/block on the water side, and epoxy around the holes? Hmm....
 
I agree that there shouldn't be any concern about the holding strength of the cleats. I wouldn't use them for that (for other reasons). I'm sure you could mount a tow hook on your transom, but without looking at the boat I can't give specfics.

However, another option to consider is a tow harness. These hook to your stern tiedown eyes so its out of the way and very strong. Plus, they float so they won't get caught in the prop.

10421_L1.jpg
 
Re: Good point...

sdrevik said:
Good point on the safety/tripping issue.

What are the issues in installing a tow point on the hull? How would the stress be spread out- with some kind of metal backing plate? Can I even get to the other side of the rear "wall"? (I haven't taken posession of the boat yet).
Click to expand...

depending on the configuration of your transom, if you can drill throught the transom, use a good sized backing plate and bed the tow eye in with 4200, you should be fine. that is how most OEM tow eyes are mounted. You still have the rope crossing the swim paltform though. Check with the manufacturer and ask where they recommend installing the eye. I personally liked the platform mount, but it is a low position and not so good to pull anyone on a knee board, let alone skis or wake board.
 
We tow tubes and skiers behind our 250 DA. The tow hook is too low, in my opinion, especially for tubing. The tow line gets caught in the wake quite often, and that limits the side to side movement of the tube. That reduces the riding excitement.

I have been contemplating raising the tow point up higher. I guess a pylon is the only good way to do that, given the design of the hull and aft seating.
 
Sea Ray said, of course "we can't recommend anything, but sounds reasonable..."

How high up are the eyes? Are they at the level of the swim platform? A picture I saw of another similar boat shows them under the swim deck. Hmm....
 
sdrevik,

The tow eyes on my '94 are well below the swim platform. We've tried to use a tow harness with a travelling pulley connected to the tow eyes - it doesn't work! I should mention, however, that our boat has the extended swim platform http://www.swimplatforms.com/ which causes the tow harness to hang up. We've used the rear cleats several times without any noticable issues. In general, we don't tow much with our boat as we have enough boating friend with ski boats.
 
Thanks everyone- I'll try a pulley from the cleats and see how that goes. I don't have a swim platform, but I know I'll want one!
 
No problemo

No problemo, the pulley worked great, and was high enough above the water that it didn't drag in the wake. I suppose enough was said to confirm it, but just wanted to close out the thread for anyone in the future- stern cleats are A-OK.
 
Not Knowing what year the 270 you're are considering is, I would think is a mid to late 90's
1232029_3.jpeg

This is a 92 which does show a small round tow eye with the typical inverted hook. Take a close look at the one you are considering, you may be happily surprised.
If there is not one and you can void the swimstep I would install on like seen below on my boat. These bars with the tow-eye integrated in the bar, make a nice holding point, tow eye and location to tie-down anything.
P1010030.jpg
 
1992 inconsistent

Funny, mine's a 1992 as well, no tow point. Must have been an option. I like how using the cleats puts it up higher.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,118
Messages
1,426,531
Members
61,035
Latest member
Lukerney
Back
Top