Pulling tubers, kneeboarders or skiers with wakeboard tower

[dougshepard]

Has anyone ever pulled tubers or kneeboarders with a wakeboard tower?

I have a Sugar Sand Mirage with a hook on the back for pulling, but it's too low, even for tubing. We do wakeboard, ski and kneeboard also, so I want to be able to do all 4 activities. A tripod would fine (we don't need anything too high) but there is no place to mount one. So we are considering a wakeboard tower but are afraid it might pull the tubers (and kneeboards and maybe even skiers) out of the water too much. Any advice?

Thanks!

Doug

[Ian_82]

weve done the tubing on the tower, its good if your tubers like to catch air.

[matt1808]

dougshepard, a tower is as much needed for a kneeboarder as it is for a wakeboarder. I would not use it for skiing though, depending on what level you are skiing at. And tubes have a lot of drag, so I wouldn't use it for that because of the stress on the fiberglass at the mounts. If your hook on the back is above the swim platform on the transom there should be no problem with using it for tubers or skiers (if you are just a recreational skier).

[dougshepard]

A ton more air than say a tri-pod (one that clears an outboard motor)?

Thanks

Doug

[dougshepard]

The hook on the back is below the swim platform and the rope drags in the water (through the wake) and sprays the tubers in the face. I could mount a hook up higher but then it'd be on the engine cover (the entire swim platform is a hinged engine cover) and I'm not sure if that would be a good idea or not...

I see what you mean about kneeboarding and the tower... we just aren't that advanced yet, but it certainly couldn't hurt to use the tower.

Thanks

Doug

[matt1808]

I just googled it and saw a picture, that is a tough one. A tri-pod pylon should work though. If you want a tower for wakeboarding though I would also get the pylon for tubing and skiing. You might be able to get away with just the tower, but I would be afraid the stress from a tube would crack the gel coat.

[gilby00]

tubing with the tower works fine. I put way more stress on the tower when I board than a tuber will ever do.

[Chad H]

I think Gilby is Correct, but another thing you could do is get this
http://www.buywake.com/catalog/detail.lasso?cat=9&man=skylon&sku=SK_6602

And then they have Ski Rings that you can adjust on the pole that you can buy. Then you could just put them on low for the tubers..

Oh an just wondering, I have never had a tuber pull the boat away, but i have had a wakeboarder.. So who is making more stress on the tower?

[finkle]

gilby00, Wakeboarddrumma, what you two don't understand is the way it is pulling. Sure a rider may have more tension, but it is gradual. Whereas with a tube, the way a tube jerks on the tow point is more stressful on the mounting points. Make sense?

[dougshepard]

My brother-in-law has that exact Skylon pylon. I just don't want a pole in my seating area (I think between the pole and the two legs going back, I'd lose my entire bench seat).

A different brother-in-law has a short tripod mounted right in front of his outboard on a Skeeter boat. He pulls 4 tubes without any problems with the tripod or his fiberglass. It's a factory tripod though. I just don't have a place to mount something like that.

I think I am going to go with a tower (I'll just make my kid's friends and my nieces and nephews sign a waiver before tubing behind my boat... j/k).

Any advice on a tower? I am thinking maybe a Monster Tower. Is the Monster Tower good? I want something under $1500 (preferably) and something that folds down quickly and easily.

kswiss, I hope you are wrong! If you are right, I guess I can always get it repaired and then ban tubing (which I should do anyway, but it can be fun I guess).

Thanks for all of the advice!!

Doug

[ProPayne]

monster is good.

[Chad H]

MonsterTower is a member on here, and he might be able to solve the everlasting tube debate. I really hope he chimes in. And i have only heard good things about those towers.

[matt1808]

dougshepard, monster and titan are the best in your price range.

[joe navy]

dougshepard,
Go with the Monster!!!!
I tube behind mine and I am a big guy 245 or so and have no problems at all.
You will tend to get more air on the tube but only if you are really slinging pretty hard.. If it is a deck style tube, you are gonna be getting some hang time.
Monster is THE BEST product for the money. I am on my 3rd season with mine and our whole group is "Large" if you know what I mean. We board,ski,tube,and kneeboard behind it.
Good luck and enjoy whatever you decide on.
Joe

[dougshepard]

Thanks for all the advice.

Joe, I think you sold me. I'm ordering one this week.

[KooJo_MoFo]

not to brag too much... but I'm the best tube puller

I'll make the rider continuously catch air, while having fun

Unlike the people who drive straight, or simply swing the rider in circles.

If you want a tip, message me

-Emron

[410fortune]

I bet your inbox is full, people looking for tubing tow tips, right? MUAHAHAHA

Whenever somone says:

"Not to brag or anything"

it is always followed by bragging.

It is not difficult to give a tuber a good ride, it just takes practice.

Now lets hear your tips, or are they too good to post for the masses, lord knows we cant have more then 1 good tube puller guy out there

(and yes I am being sarcastic, making light of your post, etc)

[matt1808]

here is my tip for pulling tubers- make it as unenjoyable as possible so they wont want to tube again. this will give you more time for wakeboarding, and hopefully lead to less tubers on the water.

[Johny_WA]

s-turn about 10mph to u-turn hold for 3 and u-turn again 20 mph gets that tuber about 10ft in the air if they don't skip over it.

[skibrd010]

i ski and wakeboard on my tower