Towing a Waverunner

carterchapman

carterchapman

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TECHNICAL Contributor
Mar 25, 2008
5,539
Lake Chickamauga/Marietta, GA/Ft. Myers, FL
Boat Info
2006 Sea Ray 58 DB
Engines
MAN CRM V8-900s, Twin Disc Drives; Onan 21.5 Generator
I have a 340, and am wondering if anyone tows a waverunner.

We're looking at buying a Yamaha and wondering if towing is the best option to get it from the marina to the anchorage 30 minutes away (inland lake). Our youngest is under the legal Georgia driving age (16), so that eliminates him from driving it "alongside". We are thinking it might make a good substitute for a dingy when we need an ice run, etc.

Any thoughts on tow line length, etc.?
 
Just be aware, I'm not sure what type of cooling system you have on your waverunner, but some waverunners run the risk of sucking water into the engine via the venturi effect while in tow. Some waverunners have valves you can shut when you're towing, while others don't. If you have a closed cooling system you probably don't have an issue.

DOug
 
We used to tow our vx110 with our old Monterey all of the time. Here is what you need:

1. Get a shut off valve from home depot. cut the intake hose and install the shut off valve. We use one of the T types that is made of brass. You need this to shut off the water as towing at high speed will force water into your cylinders. douglee25 is correct. When we first started, we used a pair of vice grips. This is too difficult.
2. Create a bridle with rope that is weaker than your tow rope. The bridle should extend beyond the swim platform. Weaker than the tow rope because if something is going to break, you want it to break first so that a flying line does not hurt pasengers on the boat.
3. Use a 100 foot tow line to keep the waverunner far enough behind you that it will not cross the wake. Use two figure eight knots on the bridle and the front of the tow line. Use a bowline to attach the tow line to the waverunner so that you can remove it easily when you arrive at your destination.

This process worked great for us for over three years. Never a problem with the waverunner, and never a broken line.

Ken
 
Check out www.towdster.com It looks like a very workable solution. I researching the same idea as you. I also have exactly the same boat as you, a 2005 340DA with 8.1s.
Any chance you can give me an idea of what you think the best rpm is for fuel economy?
Thanks
 
BahamasBlair said:
Check out www.towdster.com It looks like a very workable solution. I researching the same idea as you. I also have exactly the same boat as you, a 2005 340DA with 8.1s.
Any chance you can give me an idea of what you think the best rpm is for fuel economy?
Thanks
Click to expand...

That looks like a pretty interesting solution. I wonder what the cost is?

Doug
 
Hey Carter, I was told that they have to be in your plain sight like following behind your boat. Then they are legal to drive.
 
I use the Towdster. It works. See my posts in the thread that Larry&Leisa referenced.

Best regards,
Frank
 
Thanks Marvin and Jim,

Grant (age 13) took his online test yesterday and got a 91 - so I took it and got a 91 also! Good for him! He will get his license mailed to him in a couple of weeks and can operate within 400' with "adult supervision"!

Frank,

I'm going to try to rig a cheaper alternative to the Towdster (sheez - almost a boat $ at $600) using noodles, spring line, and PVC pipe. I'll post pictures.
 
carterchapman said:
Thanks Marvin and Jim,

Grant (age 13) took his online test yesterday and got a 91 - so I took it and got a 91 also! Good for him! He will get his license mailed to him in a couple of weeks and can operate within 400' with "adult supervision"!

Frank,

I'm going to try to rig a cheaper alternative to the Towdster (sheez - almost a boat $ at $600) using noodles, spring line, and PVC pipe. I'll post pictures.
Click to expand...

Don't get the tri! It won't work with a boat of your size. The wake before the hulls planes off will flip the PWC before you even hit 10 knots. If you run out 50 or 60 feet of line in addition to the tri, then you might be able to hit 22-24 knots before the wake reaches the PWC and flips it. Of course, if you run out that much line without having someone watch it and reel in the excess at low speeds, the line will probably wrap around the props. Cutting line off the props is not fun.

Get the single ($180) and the PWC will tuck in 8 feet aft of the boat between the wake off centerline and the chines where the water is pretty smooth. You can run any speed that the conditions dictate, from idle to WOT without problems. The only thing you must watch is to slow gradually.

I bought the tri and have two segments that I don't use. Might consider selling one as I don't use it. It's yellow, same color as the single on the prices page.

Best regards,
Frank
 
Last edited:
Frank,

Thanks for the advice! I was going to go with the "Y" tri.

Do you hook your single to one of the towing loops on the side of the swim platform?
 
Yes, I use the U bolts on the corners of the stern. I found that using the port corner is easier for me to watch than the starboard corner.

Best regards,
Frank
 
Hey Frank,

I was looking at a 10' piece of 3" diameter sch 40 PVC - it's a lot heavier than I thought.

Is your Towdster basically an 8' piece of that with foam inside and a spring line running through it?
 
It's an 8" piece of 2" schedule 80 pipe. 80 is stronger than 40. The foam is outside with the shock cord running inside. A cloth jacket covers the foam floatation. I think the shock cord would tear up the foam if both were inside the tube.

Best regards,
Frank
 
Is this usually an either or situation ( I have no experience with this ) between towing a PWC or carrying a dinghy? Is there a way to do both?
 
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