Don['t want to sink

abbysdad24 · Posted: Apr 29, 2003 7:07 am Post subject: Don['t want to sink

I am finally getting my homemade pylon out this weekend, but a few questions have been bothering me. Let me explain how it works because I can't put up a pic for some reason. I doesn't sit where most pylons do. It sits right in front of the back seat. It is a ten foot section of galvanized, steel pipe sitting on 3/4 in. plywood with a base plate bolted to it. It doesn't attach to the boat anywhere. The way I am planning on keeping it stable is with rachets. I have 4 heavy-duty ratchets and I plan on ratcheting it down. There are three eye-bolts in the top, each facing a different direction. The two on the side are going to have ratchets going down to the lifting rings at the back of the boat and two more going to the front of the boat. The ski rope will be hooked up to the third eye-bolt facing the skier. My question is, what is going to happen when I get out past the wake and cut in really hard? Is it possible that this will turn my boat over, because it doesn't have much side-to-side stability? Will weighing it down in the back with sandbags and such help or hurt? And should I run another ratchet from one of the side eye-bolts underneath the boat and up to the other eye-bolt to give it more side-to-side stability? Thanks for the help.

peace
Andy

Leggester · Posted: Apr 29, 2003 7:16 am Post subject:

It won't tip the boat over. You may have a problem with the pole slipping out from under the straps though.

It's an interesting experiment. I'd try a few soft easy runs to see the performance of the pole. Make sure folks in the baot know it's an experiment. That way, if it slips at all, or starts to go crazy, the driver know to shut down, the rider knows to let go, spotters know to cover their heads.

Let us know how it works.

J_DOGG · Posted: Apr 29, 2003 8:46 am Post subject:

Sounds like this could be the makings of a (AFV) America's Funniest Video clip.

Remind me not to be on the lake the day you try it out.....

PEACE

"Everyone wants a bite, it don't happen over night"!

Richie Martin · Posted: Apr 29, 2003 8:49 am Post subject:

no offense but I would not be in the boat with that contraption.

"let the bodies hit the floor"

CheerokeeWake · Criminal Joined: 27 Feb 2003 Posts: 69 City: Nashville

I did something similar to this last year. My pole was only 7 ft. The ratchet straps did not work for me, and the main one that went to the front of the boat broke on the first pull. I went back to the hardware store, and bought steel cable, and large turn buckles. I had one cable to the front, connecting from the top of the pole to the ring on the front. Then i had two cables, connecting from about four feet up on the pole to the rear cleats. This pole did not move the whole summer had no problems at all. Glad to have a tower now. godd luck, let me know how it goes.

Chris

Leggester · Posted: Apr 29, 2003 8:55 am Post subject:

I don't know about that.

If the base board went from one side or the boat to the other, to minimize slippage at the bottom, it may work quite well.

What did folks say about adding tuna towers ( fishing rod holders ) to ski boats at first?

Personally, I would've gone with a 6' pole to start with, but what the heck?

Johnny G · Outlaw Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Posts: 100 City: Orlando

Please get some pics and post (before test & After test)

Good Luck!

mkcarte2 · Outlaw Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 168 City: raliegh, nc

Yeah ten foot is a lot more stress than say seven or six foot. That might be too much height for the straps and ply-wood board too take.

OttoNP · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 848 City: MI

Why don't you try it with the boat out of the water. Just set it up and try pulling slowly from the sides and from the back. This way you can gradually pull harder and see what happens slowly instead of just testing it on the water. That's what I'd do. If the pole comes out with you barely pulling on it then you'd know if would fail on the water. Also, post some pictures

Nick
________
Crf250R

CheerokeeWake · Criminal Joined: 27 Feb 2003 Posts: 69 City: Nashville

They key to my success with my homade pole, was haveing the front cable at the top, and the other two cables lower on the pole. I cut the cable that went to the front, just a litte short, then when i hooked the cable up i leaned the pole forward, just a little. then my back cables pulled the pole back strait. it was very solid.

X-Star · Soul Rider Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 253

CheerokeeWake, and abbysdad24, I gotta see some pictures. That sounds a little sketchy. Towers and Ski Booms take a lot of weight when you are pulling someone. I'd be carefull and put some pictures up before you try it so you can get more opinions.

abbysdad24 · Posted: Apr 29, 2003 5:23 pm Post subject:

I would love to have put up some pics before I tried it, but I just got back from the lake. I read the first post and it convinced me to go ahead with it. We set it all up on the trailer and pulled on it alot and it wouldn't budge. I even climbed it because I forgot to put the ski rope on when I put the ratchets up. IT WORKED GREAT!!! I let my buddy get in the water first and he fell on the first pull, but the second time he got up. We rode for about 2 hours and it was still tight at the end. We had to tighted on eof the ratchets once, but I think it was just out of paranoia. I have pics, but they won't go on the website, I need to make them smaller I guess, but I don't know how to. I will be happy to email anyone who wants one a pic. This sure beats paying $350 for a pylon or more for a tower.

peace
Andy

Richie Martin · Posted: Apr 29, 2003 5:28 pm Post subject:

congrats!
I'm happy to hear no one died

Leggester · Posted: Apr 30, 2003 5:05 am Post subject:

Let the scoffers BEWARE!

Good job. Glad all went well.

PICTURES! PICTURES! PICTURES!
(when you get a chance)