Faster way to tow ski? (on water)

[Mr_Bucket]

Is there anything available that would make it possible to tow faster? Something like a rescue sled that you could put the ski on then hook up to another ski or boat.

There are a lot of people selling little 15 HP RIBs in my area for 1-2 grand. If I could tow the ski at 15-20 MPH behind one of those, it'd be the perfect way to get out to the surf and bring some extra gas/supplies... not to mention the peace of mind in case of a break down.

I can't launch from the beach since it's off limits to vehicles all summer.

 

[Jhucke]

I don't think it's a good thing to be towing that fast because the prop will spin and you'll be risking water in your motor. So maybe a small boat and an easy way for you to block off your water lines?

 

[whitca]

Just need to valve out or block water lines and you can tow as fast as you want.

 

[Freakie]

I have always wanted to test my own solution to this problem but its still in my head. (I will it explain lower down).

Blocking the water lines is just way too tedious imo if you are towing the ski fairly often behind a ski boat to get an upriver /down river camp.

Towing does not cause the prop to spin...it simply puts a higher water pressure into the pump and that causes the water to flow into the motor through the cooling lines, which eventually comes out of the carbs and floods your engine bay and sinks your ski....yes I have done this..found out the hard way.

Heres my theory.....first you want to prevent water from getting into the pump tunnel no matter how fast you tow......so why not make a custom "sock" from PVC (the same material they use for bouncy castles....its very tough material) which you simply fit over the nose of the ski, it then runs the whole length under the ski and covers the pump tunnel completely, the sides of the sock are pulled up on each side of the ski and brap-strapped together over the tray and probably also over just over the handlebars ....it cant go anywhere.....the rear part of the PVC sock is left open....less than 20 dollars material and a wee bit of sowing get the best snuggest shape...can slip it on and take off in 1 minute, and easily folded to store on the boat.

Second....you will need to tow the ski fairly close to the rear of your boat, with the tow rope running to the highest feasible towing point on the boat...in order to get an upward pulling action which will ensure the ski does not sub once towing starts. AM and rockered hulls have tow hooks quite low down and are much easier to avoid the subbing problem....so even a RN or SN can get a lower tow hook fitted if the towing point on the skiboat is not high enough.

crap idea or not so crap

 

[Vumad]

Needle nose vice grips for a temp solution or a brass ball valve for a permanent solution. Otherwise you risk filling your exhaust and subsequently your cylinders with water. Water through the pump is a good thing if the stock siphon is hooked up.

Best way to tow a standup is for someone to lay in the tray to keep the nose up. We tow each other in at 10+ mph, just have to respect the risks.

Could make a tow craft out of an old sit down that tows better, but if you have a situation where you're going to drag it around because you could break down, you should probably fix whatever it is that makes you think you are going to break down that often.

 

[Mr_Bucket]

I have always wanted to test my own solution to this problem but its still in my head. (I will it explain lower down).

...snip...

That's kind of what I had in mind. Something to put the ski on (or in). Taking the hood off in surf is tough.

Someone else on here was talking about chopping the transom off a small foam-filled boat then putting some bunks in it. Not sure if they ended up doing it but that would be a nice solution: http://www.x-h2o.com/index.php?threads/towing-2001-superjet-behind-boat.128358/page-2#post-1424451

With all the PWC fisherman, I find it hard to believe there isn't already some kind of tow sled out there that could easily support a stand-up ski. My searches haven't turned up anything good though. The rescue sleds I've found are almost as expensive as a used RIB with a 15 HP motor.

Could make a tow craft out of an old sit down that tows better, but if you have a situation where you're going to drag it around because you could break down, you should probably fix whatever it is that makes you think you are going to break down that often.

Even without having to worry about break downs, it'd be nice to have for people who can't launch from the beach and need to ride a long way to the surf. If I ride my ski there, I have no way to bring anything and I've already used a chunk of my gas. If I could tow my ski behind a little RIB, I could bring extra gas, water, phone, etc.

And who can build a ski that will never break down? Give me their number because I'd like to buy two

 

[McDog]

How does water get into carbs? The water jacket in the engine is a closed system with an opening in the pump and the other at the pissers. The exhaust will have a stinger outlet if it's a wetpipe that will possibly fill the pipe and head back to the engine, but not the carbs. What am I not seeing here?

 

[linkman]

Best way to tow a standup is for someone to lay in the tray to keep the nose up. We tow each other in at 10+ mph, just have to respect the risks.

Wouldn't the water still have the potential to backup up through the cooling system? The pump is still in the water.

 

[McDog]

The engine water jacket is closed, otherwise water could enter the cylinder at anytime. The only way in is the stinger inside the exhaust. Usually the exhaust blows it out instead if it coming back to the cylinder when the engine is running.

 

[JT_Freeride]

We tow our skis in as fast as the tow vehicle can go. Plug the exhaust outlet with a glove or a ball and you will have zero water in your engine. Have you ever seen water coming out of your head pissers when being towed? Cause I have not. We have tried pulling the cooling lines off and still had the engine fill up. But no one has had water after plugging the exhaust.

 

[bored&stroked]

I've towed alot of ski's. Standups get towed fast enough for the rider to stand up like they were under their own power. Never had water in engine nor coming out the pissers. Not saying it can't happen but thats how its worked for me. My problem like the op's is the nose diving if nobody is in the tray. Should we just rachet strap a cooler into the tray for towing from now on? Or get a dummy like buster on myth busters?

 

[JT_Freeride]

Put a D ring in the bow and you can tow it with out anyone on it.

 

[JMew03]

I've always shoved a sock or shirt in the exhaust outlet and in the pump.

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