Pulling tubers/boards/ski(s) with bimini up

[mkcawcutt]

Hey All - I've got a 2018 LTDS - do you all tow/pull people with the bimini up? If so - do you run the tow rope through the zippable hatch onto the tower? - OR -

Do you run the tow tope on top of the bimini? Curious as I've experienced rubbing or the tow rope hitting the bimini in both situations. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks all!

Wake-surfing isn't an issue as the rope is obviously shorter - but for tubing especially - wondering what the proper setup is while running with the bimini up.

Cheers!

M

 

[Nick Aulakh]

Don't use the Tower tow point for tubing. For that you should use the grab handle on the swim platform. You will quickly develop stress cracks in your hull if you continue to pull tubes with the tower.

 

[mkcawcutt]

Good to know! TY! Should I assume the same to be true with water skiers then, too? Only use the tower for wake boarding / wake surfing?

Thanks!

 

[Nick Aulakh]

Water ski is fine with the tower. Tubing has a MUCH larger surface area in contact with the water which results in a large coefficient of friction when in motion. The tower joints at the hull are not designed for that much stress.

 

[Nick Aulakh]

And as far as the rope rubbing on the bimini, that's an ongoing issue several people face. I believe it is not possible to avoid this without shortening the bimini poles. Yes it is very surprising that this is an issue in new boats. I just keep the bimini down when towing with the tower. Some folks have cut the front support legs an inch of two and used the shorter positions of the bimini and some have waited long enough that their bimini fabric stretched/loosened with time. But I don't think there is a permanent good solution to this issue yet. If you search for "rope rubbing" you will see a thread and several people talking about the same issue. Either way, dont use the tower for tubing.

 

[mkcawcutt]

Good to know I'm not alone. Thanks again for your feedback and help!

M

 

[MidnightRider]

Just for another perspective.... If you do a search on this forum about pulling tubes with the tower you will quickly see that this is a mixed bag. The Yamaha lawyers have said don't do it (and who am I to disagree) but I've been pulling tubes from towers and sky pylons for 20 years, I like that tow point better for tubes, and not about to stop now. Take it for what it is but I'm definitely not alone. (https://jetboaters.net/threads/tubing-from-the-tower.11853/#post-203542) In fact one member came up with a Yamaha promo video where they show pulling a tube from the tower. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
So on to the bimini. I never liked the position of the bimini. The documentation says to set the back poles of the bimini on the lowest setting which to me is an impossibility cause its too tight. Here is a thread with some links on doing a mod to get the bimini to set at the lowest setting (https://jetboaters.net/threads/bimini-top-wakeboard-position.18531/) - after this the rope works great on top of the bimini. Before I did this mod the rope seemed to rub less for me under but would hit the bimini poles when swinging out. I cut down the middle poles by 2-1/4" and couldn't be happier with the results. Oh, and to cover myself..... DON'T pull tubes from the tower.

 

[biffdotorg]

Anyone been able to install a Bimini Saver? Big Air Wake towers makes one, but I think it requires one of their tow points as they screw off.

I think I would want one just to keep the rope out of the folded bimini, let alone the extended bimini, when towing tubes..... err wakeboarders.