How strong is the Tow Eye

D

dutchman

Member
Aug 26, 2009
169
Alberta
Boat Info
2016 GTS185
Engines
Merc 4.5L MPI 200
I thought this would be easy, but I can't find this info anywhere. :huh:
What is that little toweye designed for???
How many tubes or skiers can I attach?
Looking through the engine compartment,, It's just 2 bolts throught the fibreglass.
 
It's a good thought, but you won't be able to attach enough skiers or tubers to worry about it. Tow who, and how many, you want and don't even give it a second thought.:smt001
 
thanks for that quick reply. We've had a couple single tubes and a skier without even looking. But yesterday we tried a multi person tube. Boat pulled it no problem, but with the tension on the rope, you could have played a tune on it. I was assuming this was all good, but it don't hurt to ask.:thumbsup:
 
That actually is a good question. There is an open bow boat on the dock next to ours with the back completely torn out at the ski tow. It is pretty obvious that they pulled more than the recommended load...whatever the heck that is. I trust Dennis implicitly, but I have a sneaking suspicion that boat wasn't hauling an ore barge when his got ripped out. Any chance of asking Searay? They actually have proven to be pretty quick to answer my questions.
 
I'd also be curious to see what Sea Ray says. Although, I bet we can all guess what their official response will be... the term "C.Y.A." comes to mind.

Jedi - do you remember what model boat it was? If you find out what happened, please let us know. I think you're right, though, there was probably something "a little out of the ordinary" going on...:smt101

Dutch - in case you didn't know, you can get tube ropes in different weight/strength ratings.
 
I would look at the backing plate, if there is one. If it just has a couple of fender washers then I would get a piece of stainless and make a larger backing plate and install it on the backside of the transom. Your transom should take plenty of weight with the proper backing plate to spread the load. The other boat with the damage may have had a rot issue.
 
The MM dealer in my area uses the three loops (2 in back one in front) to lift the boat off the trailer. He said the factory uses them for even larger boats, possibly up to 31' boats but can't remember how long. Point being, if you can lift the boat from these, I don't think you will be able to overload a tube.
 
Same here. I seen Skipper Buds pick many off the transport trailer that way. I will lift my boat off this winter by suspending the two stern eyes and the bow eye from the floor joist in the garage under my kitchen. Since the joist are 16' on center I will use a 1" steel bar to span 2 joist on either side at the stern and attach a come-a-long to each. The bow is no problem using center of the joist. 3 - 2K cable come-a-longs and off she comes. While she's suspended I'll roll the bottom.
 
When shopping I saw a boat with a pulled ski anchor. The story was that it happened pulling only a single skiier. The man was huge, however, and the boat probably had some rot issues.

How hard can your boat pull? I expect those of us with 4 and 6 cylinder motors have less to fear. The dual-prop Bravo drives with the larger engines should probably think twice about tow rope tension, especially if it is an older boat..
 
JediJD said:
There is an open bow boat on the dock next to ours with the back completely torn out at the ski tow. It is pretty obvious that they pulled more than the recommended load...whatever the heck that is.
Click to expand...

That guy was dating my sister.... Towed her one time....
 
kevinmc said:
The MM dealer in my area uses the three loops (2 in back one in front) to lift the boat off the trailer. He said the factory uses them for even larger boats, possibly up to 31' boats but can't remember how long. Point being, if you can lift the boat from these, I don't think you will be able to overload a tube.
Click to expand...

I am not sure of the load rating of the ski eye, but it is different from the two stern mounted lifting eyes.
 
Thanks for all the replies but, see what I mean, it sounds like an easy question yet, I still don't have a "real" answer. I did email SR to see if they can supply a technical answer, but no response yet.
But here are a couple answers I received from Boat dealerships, the TOW EYE (not the lifting eyes on the 2 back corners).
1.....non SR dealer, oh yah no problem, a 4 man tube is no big deal. We use 500# dry weight as a rule. :huh:
2.....SR dealer, The toweye is not designed for tubes. We tell our customers to tie off on the lifting eyes. Or the best option to pull tubes is a tower..:smt021

Ha, and you wonder why people get confused :smt101
 
dutchman said:
2.....SR dealer, The toweye is not designed for tubes. We tell our customers to tie off on the lifting eyes. Or the best option to pull tubes is a tower..:smt021
Click to expand...

I've never heard anyone say the best option is to pull a tube from a tower... That's a new one.

We tell all of our customers to use the ski toweye. Whether it's for skiers or for a (4) person tube. You'll be fine - don't overthink it - just get out there and have fun!
 
Some third party tower companies warn AGAINST towing tubes from your tower. The reason is that non-factory towers do not necessarily attach to reinforced areas of the hull. A Factory Tower (in theory) would be designed to tie into "hard points" in the hull that were prepared for tower mounts.

Rather than one hole in the transom, you could end up with one or more holes on the top somewhere!
 
Anyone who says the tower is the best option is sadly mistaken, even if it is factory installed.

I routinely tow two - 2 man tubes with a total dry weight between between 720 and 900 #'s, depending on if I am pulling 4 or 5 kids. My son and his friends are big boys! I have had no problems with the tow eye, and there is no sign of fautige in the surrounding glass. Your mileage may vary.
 
dutchman said:
thanks for that quick reply. We've had a couple single tubes and a skier without even looking. But yesterday we tried a multi person tube. Boat pulled it no problem, but with the tension on the rope, you could have played a tune on it. I was assuming this was all good, but it don't hurt to ask.:thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Dutch, what prop are you using for all that pulling? I am still conflicted there and so for now I just cruise around on the 19P aluminum Black Max.
 
It has the stock prop the dealership installed, 14-1/2 x 19, three blade aluminum.
The engine now has 24 hours and it's noticeablly different than when it was brand new. It feels better every time I go out.
With that prop the WOT is at 4800 rpm.
 
I went by my dock today to see the culprit...a 232 Chapparal Sunesta.

005-9.jpg

002-14.jpg

003-15.jpg


Not sure what he was towing...but to my untrained (but raised by a professor of thermodynamics and mechanical engineering from GT) eye, it appears fully possible to exceed design specifications.
 
Looks like the hook was stronger than the transom. A backing plate probably would have prevented the pullout.
 
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