@HELP Need to use my Yamaha to tow a stranded boat

[Quad]

[USERGROUP=9]@HELP[/USERGROUP] -

I need to go out and tow in a buddy whose engine blew. I've got a 242SE, where should I attach the tow line? Should I make a bridle going to the two stern cleats? Should I use the ski tow point?

THANK YOU!

 

[Julian]

Bridle to the two tie downs on the stern.

 

[anmut]

Ski tow point. Ease into it, go slow.

 

[Quad]

Bridle to the two tie downs on the stern.

Ski tow point. Ease into it, go slow.

Sounds like both are fine?

 

[Theryan]

I would imagine that you would want to use the tie down spot on the transom wouldn't you? I can't imagine a ski tow point would have enough strength to pull THAT much weight (boat).

 

[Julian]

I wouldn't use the ski tow point....pretty sure it has like a 400lb weight limit. The tie downs are far stronger, and when you attach to two of them, your double your capacity.

 

[zipper]

X2 on Tie downs, pay attention to the tow line at all times.

 

[Quad]

Rescue successful! We made a bridle to the stern cleats (instead of tie-downs) and pulled him the 3 miles home - all in the midst of a crazy downpour. Fun day!

 

[BigAbe75]

I wouldn't use the ski tow point....pretty sure it has like a 400lb weight limit. The tie downs are far stronger, and when you attach to two of them, your double your capacity.

I can’t imagine 400lbs is right. Our 3 person tube puts a whole lot more force than that when whipping it around.

 

[BigAbe75]

Rescue successful! We made a bridle to the stern cleats (instead of tie-downs) and pulled him the 3 miles home - all in the midst of a crazy downpour. Fun day!

If you can, try to wiggle those a bit. Occasionally folks will post that the bolts on the back of the cleats will be/get loosened over time. After that kind of force, may need adjusted or tightened.

 

[Joshua Miller]

Rescue successful! We made a bridle to the stern cleats (instead of tie-downs) and pulled him the 3 miles home - all in the midst of a crazy downpour. Fun day!

Good work! I always say pay it forward.. next time it will be you in need of a tow.

 

[Quad]

It was quite the to-do

 

[Shans]

If you can, try to wiggle those a bit. Occasionally folks will post that the bolts on the back of the cleats will be/get loosened over time. After that kind of force, may need adjusted or tightened.

Mine are actually a little loose , how do you tighten the cleats ?

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

Mine are actually a little loose , how do you tighten the cleats ?

For my front ones, I removed the speakers and stuck my hand up there with a wrench.

 

[Nexus]

Funny, I just went through this on Saturday. But the boat in question was a 30' Cruiser Yacht. There was no way I was tying anything that heavy anywhere (cleats, tie downs, or otherwise) so we opted to just hold onto the dock lines:

3347.jpg

• Nexus
• Aug 25, 2020

Tow

Towed it, real slow, for just under a mile. Quite the workout!

 

[Quad]

Funny, I just went through this on Saturday. But the boat in question was a 30' Cruiser Yacht. There was no way I was tying anything that heavy anywhere (cleats, tie downs, or otherwise) so we opted to just hold onto the dock lines:

3347.jpg

• Nexus
• Aug 25, 2020

Tow

Towed it, real slow, for just under a mile. Quite the workout!

Whoa!

I was towing a 1990s Donzi BlackWidow 24'. Heavy boat for its size.

Yea, if we had the time, it might've worked better to tow by hand but we were facing a very small window between two of the largest storm fronts we've seen all season and had to high tail it at a speedy 7mph. Engines were running at ~3600rpm to maintain that.

 

[biffdotorg]

Did the same on Saturday. Boaters code.

The force needed to tow that pontoon was minimal. We took it real slow, there was no hurry.

I tied to the grab handle, as it's stainless and reinforced. Worked just fine. The cleat on our boat was used at one time, and it gave it just enough of a tweak, that it sticks now. I many times have to use a metal object to pop that cleat open. So I don't tow from the cleats anymore. But then again, we don't tow other boats very often either.

 

[Quad]

View attachment 131502
Did the same on Saturday. Boaters code.

The force needed to tow that pontoon was minimal. We took it real slow, there was no hurry.

I tied to the grab handle, as it's stainless and reinforced. Worked just fine. The cleat on our boat was used at one time, and it gave it just enough of a tweak, that it sticks now. I many times have to use a metal object to pop that cleat open. So I don't tow from the cleats anymore. But then again, we don't tow other boats very often either.

Looks like you just brought a party barge along for your day out

 

[biffdotorg]

Ironically, when we got to their lift, the entire area was loaded with surface weeds. Yup, we loaded up the pumps with weeds and overheated.

I untied them, and said, "you have 8 kids on that boat, I would suggest they put on a jacket and swim you into your lift" And then tossed the rope to them. This was after she asks me (lady captain) "can you get us into the lift?" Ya, I will tow you into your lift. Too funny.

Needless to say, I limped my boat out to deeper water and used my cleanout ports for the first time ever to clear weeds. Good thing I rebuilt my cleanout plugs this spring and lube them regularly. I do see the need to inspect these a bit more than just lubing though. There were some weeds wound up in there that may have been causing my cavitation the day before surfing. Hmmm.

 

[dscable]

Towed a 18ft fishing boat a couple of weekends ago from my ski tow point. Just took it slow and had no problems.