Suggestions to tow a PWC?

[Longshanks]

i Just bought my first cruiser (76 Trojan tri bridge) but i want to bring my PWC on trips as well. Does anybody know a way to do that without having to spend thousands on new hydraulic hardware? I contemplated towing with a rigid arm attached to swim platform but i've read some posts that say its hard on the PWC.

[gettaway]

What kind of PWC? do you know if the manufacturer has a recommended method of towing? look in the manual

[bjanakos]

What speed? two lines attached to the aft corners will be fine. If you are planning on getting on plane, thats something completely different.

[LandVF36]

i've used these for years. http://www.towdster.com/ I installed two SS U bolts to the outsiide edges of my swim platform that I clip this thing on to. Simply, works well.
The best part is that if you stop quick, it deflects what you are towing off to the side vs crashing up into the back of your transom.

[prowlersfish]

i've used these for years. http://www.towdster.com/ I installed two SS U bolts to the outsiide edges of my swim platform that I clip this thing on to. Simply, works well.
The best part is that if you stop quick, it deflects what you are towing off to the side vs crashing up into the back of your transom.

Very interesting
Hows it work at speed with a V hull ( they used a pontoon ) ? Rough water ?

[K4282]

I like that towdster!!! but I dont think it would work well on a plane with it that close, i tow my 12ft twender about 20 feet off my swim platform, probably more, it rides in the wake nicely there, bounces around and rolls too close, id have to measure the line i made specifically to tow it to be exact

[ready123]

This is classic whaler behind my F32 @ 20 mph.... line from each aft cleat.

[captainmaniac]

On plane, tender should ride on the back of the second wave back of the transom.

[LandVF36]

Paul, mostly I've been dragging along a jetski or a 15' "dingy". At 6-10 knots, you really don't know its back there regardless of the seas (although I should point out that being trapped on the Mississippi, getting 2-3 footers is even pretty rare. Whats more common is some jack-wagon passing you throwing a single 4' wake and coming in closer than 20' when doing so. In any case, these things are bound together with bungie lines so it gives and returns the boat nicely to center. Just once when pulling the kids Jetski do recall running on plain and as long as you kept the ski "climing" the first wave behind the boat, its fine. If its falling off a wave, it tends to push and ride up and then the sticks will naturally push it to port or starboard.

One other comment, if you are towing a craft with an outboard, lift it out of the water and it tracks easier + its not so hard on the outboard.

[prowlersfish]

I rarely tow the rib and when doing so it seems to get squirrely at or above hull speed I can't even think about planning .It may have to do with being stern heavy ( heavy OB) But that's no big deal if I am going any distance up on the bow it goes .

[mikeandanne]

On plane, tender should ride on the back of the second wave back of the transom.

Yep I agree, thats the rule, been doing it that way for years.......works great and the dinghy or whatever you tow is very stable.........you can get away with the back of the first wave for short calm trips at hull speed.....

[K4282]

26 knots no problem, 12ft Center Console Rib

yellow floating line with a loop to slide between a dock line going between stern cleats

[lawyerdave71]

This is classic whaler behind my F32 @ 20 mph.... line from each aft cleat.

OK I have a stupid question - what do you do with your tender when you are docking? Do you tie it up to a side?

[lawyerdave71]

Also, how long are the lines that all of you are using?

[ready123]

My marina has a dinghy dock. When I visit other places I put it where the setup has space, alongside, bow, stern or it's own slip.

My engine is down when towing because it is a 40 HP and really too heavy for that whaler, so it does not clear the water when lifted and therefore is worse than fully down.
Line lengths are adjusted to suit the second wave and can vary with speed and sea.