Towing two tubes question

[SeaNile]

How do you guys pull multiple tubes with your boat? Specifically how do you attach the tube ropes to the boat? Do you attach both tube ropes to the ski eye hook on the stern? I'm wondering if both ropes will fit on the ski eye.

 

[CliffA]

How do you guys pull multiple tubes with your boat? Specifically how do you attach the tube ropes to the boat? Do you attach both tube ropes to the ski eye hook on the stern? I'm wondering if both ropes will fit on the ski eye.

i have not personally done this but i think you would want to use the hooks in the rear corners of the hull instead of the ski rope eye....this way the two tube ropes would stay separated thus allowing the tubes to stay separated as well....

cliff

 

[Smile Maker]

I quit pulling two tubes two years ago, after a rope got some slack and nearly wrapped around the neck of my friend's kid.

:wow:

The tubes and ropes were identical, but the weight of kids on the tubes was disparate.

The kids aren't happy about it, but not worth the risk to me.

edited to add: I had both ropes hooked to the eye.

 

[robbo8199]

I have not attached 2 tubes at a time before but I agree with Cliff that I would use the hooks in the rear corners. I have what I believe is called a Ski Bridle that I attach to those hooks when I pull anything instead of using the ski rope eye.

 

[Dave 205]

My newb year we pulled two tubes using the stern eyes (tie down eyes at the corners) without incident. But, I think somebody on this forum embedded a You Tube video showing a tube collision where the riders ended up neatly transferring tubes after a hard collision with bodies flying. Cool, but lucky nobody was hurt.

Two tubes with no helmets is a nasty head collision waiting to happen. Risky enough with multiple riders on one tube. We don't do two tubes anymore.

 

[SeaNile]

I hear you guys about the dangers involved with pulling two tubes. When we pull 2 it'll be kids and we will be going slow and no zig-zags for crazy rides.

 

[chuck1]

not the eye hook but one to the starboard and one to the port hooks when i did it.

 

[wish2fish]

Are you sure you can tow more than one tube at a time? :huh:

 

[beernutz]

Just get a bigger tube

 

[dutchman]

There's nothing wrong with pulling multiple tubes, you just have to use some common sense and drive accordingly, keeping everyone safe.
I pull 2 tubes using the eye. There are pros and cons on both options.
Using the eye, the tubes bump together which is part of the fun.
If the tubes are attached at the corners, it will keep them apart when running in a straight line. But when zig zagging, one tube will be 5 ft ahead of the other and ropes become more dangerous.

 

[Dave S]

I have pulled two tubes from the center tow eye just fine when I had both my 210SD and then later my 240SD. You do need to make sure that both of your tow ropes are the same length and I would also have two identical tubes if at all possible. I would also restrict each tube to a single person of similar weight if possible. Pulling anyone on a towable is a serious responsibility for the boat operator and pulling two tubes (should) put an even greater concern on the part of the operator. If you are going to be pulling them thru turns just be aware they will move at different speeds and can easily crash into one another. You just to need to be extra careful when you do this so no one gets hurt.

Dave

 

[ThorSen]

This thread contains some good input from y’all so, hope no one minds, I’m resurrecting this thread rather than starting a new one ...

Question: is anyone aware of a pre-rigged “Y”-configured tow rope system, in order to more safely pull 2 separate tubes off one connection point at the rear of the boat?

Or, has anyone rigged something similar, yourself?

(Imagine a tow rope which, 60’ out from back of the boat “splits” into two 15’ lengths — allows the tubes to “bump” alongside each other at low speeds, while preventing either tube from getting out in front of the other ... it works.)

Learning from the mistakes, err, experiences of others, we’re not at all keen on any more than one rope connected to the back of our boat when pulling two towable tubes (two separate ropes off back of boat sets the stage for excesssive staggering of towables when turning, not to mention the possibility of someone getting clotheslined (ouch!)

I imagine it’ll be easy enough to buy an extra length of tow rope and make our own “Y”-configured rope system; however; out of curiosity, I have been looking to see if anyone (like Airhead or O'Brien, etc.) manufactures one, ready-made; and, I’m coming up completely empty searching the internet so, just thought I’d ask here.

(We are REALLY getting excited about the grandkids’ next summer visit and we’re doing a lot of online “window shopping” of towables, ropes, harnesses, etc. now ha-ha !

 

[searay205]

Pulling two tubes sounds fun, or two kneeboards. Its all fun and games until the skulls crack together. Water is not predictable, you don't know when a wake is coming or going, what direction tubers are looking or holding. Recipe for disaster. I used to do that stupid shit. As a result my friends and I suffered 3 pinched nerves in kneck, 1 cracked vertebrae, lasting damage including kneck surgery. Tubes are the most dangerous items on the water, riders have zero control, they are at the mercy of the driver and everything else. Looking back now that I am older I wished I would have never gotten one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh forgot multiple teeth knocked out and stiches. Didn't happen at the same time but over a 3 year span. If you have to pull a tube stay under 15 mph.

 

[dutchman]

Thorsen.............that's an interesting idea. Haven't seen that set up before, but would be easy to make something up. Not sure how it would work since the tubes would pretty much be touching each other all the time.

We always pull 2 tubes from the center ski eye. Regardless of tube position, it's tough to get one in front of the other. I drive with a "nice" zigzag pattern and get the tubes back an forth over the wake, without any problem, and without any concern of getting hurt. Believe me, I have strict instructions when pulling the wives around.
The driver is the one that controls the tube movement and with proper driving (which includes speed), it's perfectly safe. When us adult kids get on, we still use a safe speed, "bump" into each other, and that's part of the fun. Heck, many times I've jumped from my tube onto the other one, always good for a surprising good laugh.

As for getting hurt, like the post above, that is not the tubes fault. Sorry to say, but if you sustained those injuries while tubing, you guys were the problem. There's always one boat doing donuts, high speeds, and all we see is arms and legs flying around. Driving like an idiot, whipping people around at mach2, will usually not end well. I agree that is a recipe for disaster. However, there is a perfectly safe way to use a tube.

 

[Stingrayaxe]

Have been pulling two tubes for years. No injuries stitches or missing teeth. Just lots of fun. Stupid luck I guess. Maybe some common sense thrown in.

 

[searay205]

I totally agree it was mine and all our own faults. I don't blame the tube or boat. I just say you own the people you are pulling and if they get hurt YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE. People on the tube can't go faster it is the driver which does that....

 

[ThorSen]

I talked to my neighbor who confirms he did not make the “Y”-system tow rope he allowed us to enjoy last season but, having acquired it some years ago, he can’t remember where he picked it.

dutchman, I agree it shouldn’t be too hard to devise my own and I am up for it (it’s just it seems I am buried by fabrication projects already (most non-marine related)

so, my “hunt” for a retail available “Y”-tow rope continues

 

[Espos4]

If you have 3 strand rope, you could splice in a piece to make the “Y”

If it’s braided rope, a sheetbend knot at the split for the “Y” could do it.

 

[tizzy]

I tubed from 1978 - 2006. My husband towed me and my sister on 2 tubes, used 2 ropes same length hooked to starboard and & port eyes. We went pretty fast 22 - 30 doing a zigzag pattern down the lake banging against each other, laughing till could not get our breath, most fun I ever had in my life. Flying over the wakes, banging and falling off too. My only injury was caused by a guest who had a tube that had rotten cover the hookup came loose and hit me in the face. Big bruise under my eye but not serious. Never pull a towable that is not in good condition. Being careful is the key factor, but lots of fun done properly.

 

[ThorSen]

Welcome to CSR, tizzy!


Gosh, I clean forgot about this thread and am using this oppty to circle back and report back on the alternative I came up with.

I took two commercial tow ropes rated for way more weight than we’d ever be pulling (the only way I seem to buy ropes, ) and then I tied them into a knot using, iirc, a “HUNTER’s BEND” (https://www.animatedknots.com/hunters-bend-knot)

I had my 10yoa granddaughter assist me in researching and then tieing the knot so we both got quite a bit out of it (I imagine my Pop was smiling down as I remember his utter frustration in trying to show me - a direct descendant of a 18th Century Norwegian sailor (as in when no self-respecting sailor would ever be caught on a boat with any kind of motor!) - how to tie anything besides a Granny knot (iirc it was something, along with skirts, that kept me from making Eagle Scout!

Anyhoo, we tied each of the two ends of the “X” to one of the transom corners and it works like gangbusters with the Airhead “donuts” especially.

I acknowledge (and respect) both perspectives regarding towing two towables behind a boat.

It only involved one rope and one tube but, I am still upset about not forseeing the utter stupidity of myself, my 14yo grandson weighed in at ~150 and my 10yo granddaughter who probably weighed 50 or 60 all on the same Big Bertha. (An excellent and otherwise great bang for the buck towable known for being difficult to flip, mind you.)

The 15yo is a good boy but terribly impetuous (the result of piss poor role modeling on part of a male parent ) and he leaned in the exact direction I told him not to and my g’daughter’s cheek impacted my knee bone whilst we were all in the air. I surfaced totally expecting to see her cheek bone sticking out through her flesh. I still Thank God she is okay.

Where I am going with this saga is somewhere I hope may help anyone else and that is:

We Failed To Recognize that our grandkids had reached the point of no longer being excited, impressed or “scared” by anything we could throw at them with the boat (while still using common sense) and we kept going faster and taking ziggier zags in order to keep them smiling. (He’s jumping dirt bikes and she’s 75lbs and jumping horses - bare back - now to give you an idea of what we’re dealing with )

This summer they expressed no interest in doing anything behind the boat. From here on out it’s all about jumping off the nearby cliffs and the ……



…. jet skis!!!!!