Importance of tow line, skier’s boat, and tow hitches

The Tow Line

Through trial and error over the years, it has been found that a tow line of 75 feet is best for most water skiing. A shorter line will pull the skier too close to the boat’s spray and back wake, and a longer line will probably drag in the water.

The preferable modern choice of line, polyethelene plastic, has a number of advantages. It does not stretch, it is immune to bacterial and fungus action, it is available in colors, and-most important-it floats on the water. Second choice is treated, twisted Manila hemp, one-quarter inch in diameter. Some skiers prefer a heavier rope, but it has been found that anything over a one-half-inch diameter becomes too bulky for easy handling. A cork or wooden float about 10 feet from the handle is a help in locating and retrieving a dropped line.

The most common handle is a single, smooth wooden bar, about one and a half inches thick and a foot long. For trick riding, a longer handle, about 18 inches in length, is preferred. Some more experienced skiers use the “slalom” or double handles, each about 6 inches long, because they provide more control over the slack in the rope and permit more graceful maneuvers.

The Skier’s Boat

Since the boat provides the motive power, it is an important factor in water skiing. Contrary to some beliefs, the faster the boat, the better and safer it is for the water skier, and skiing behind a slower boat calls for far more skill than following one that is “planing” at a proper speed. Generally, any boat that will do 18-20 miles an hour will pull a skier along, but jumping, slalom skiing and other advanced aspects of the sport call for water speeds of up to 35 miles an hour.

There is some merit to the contention of outboard motor manufacturers that the outboard is better for towing skiers than the inboard, since it throws up less of a wake. An inboard for water-ski use should have about 60 horsepower as a minimum, although a 90- to 125-horsepower craft will provide a smoother and easier tow. Also, a V-bottom boat is generally better for water skiing than the usually faster flat bottom. The weight of the skier and his water drag are a considerable burden on a small boat, and the V bottom is less likely to be pulled off course by the skier or skiers. Also, the V bottoms are usually more stable in rough water.

While a 10-horsepower outboard will pull a light person along, the best results are achieved with a 40-horsepower or heavier motor. The hull, whether inboard or outboard, should be in the 16-20-foot-length range, and “beamy” or wide enough to carry 2 or 3 passengers. If there is just one person operating the boat, it should be equipped with a rear-vision mirror, similar to the type used on automobiles, so that the boat operator can watch the skier at all times.

Tow Hitches

The attachment of the tow line to the boat is most important, especially in outboards, where the rope must be hitched so that on swings and turns it will clear the motor, which is usually the highest point on the stern of the boat. There are a number of different types of tow bars and brackets on the market. The rope should be attached to the boat fairly high, so that there will be less chance of its fouling the propeller when it is dropped by the skier. Also, for any trick skiing, the rope should be high enough to keep it from dragging in the water when a bit of slack develops in the line.

Many outboards are equipped with 2 lifting handles on the transom, but there are several reasons why they should not be used to hold the ski line. They are usually too low and are seldom strong enough to stand the steady strain of pulling a skier. Likewise, mooring cleats on the stern deck are not too satisfactory for this purpose. Some types of tow bars attach to the transom, pass around outside the motor, and have a pulley follower that rides around the bar, but they should be arranged to allow sufficient room for the motor to tilt if it strikes an underwater obstruction. The preferred types are those which carry the line over the top of the motor. With inboards, perhaps the best arrangement is a pylon or post, bolted to the beams of the boat, set on the centerline somewhere between the middle of the boat and the transom; and it should be at least 3 feet high. With this type of hitch, care should be taken to remove any stern fittings, cleats, or other fixtures which could snag the line. As to windshields, some operators keep them on; others prefer to remove them when pulling skiers, since they may become covered with spray, which reduces visibility. Another helpful accessory for water-ski pulling is a boarding ladder, or thick, knotted rope to facilitate getting aboard.

In most inboards, the standard propeller will serve well for towing skiers. For most outboards, lower-pitch propellers specially designed for towing skiers are available, although these should not be used at full throttle when not pulling skiers-to avoid overspeeding the engine with the possibility of permanent injury to the motor.

Tags: water sports

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