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Author Topic:   Outrage tow tower

gmoulder posted 08-06-2014 11:48 AM ET (US)
The Whaler wants to go wakeboarding. The boat is a 1988 Outrage 18 with twin 70hp Johnsons. Power will not be an issue; believe the boat could pull stumps if I could get close to a stump. Preliminary design is for a 2 1/2" to 3" piece of light gauge stainless quick connect fastened to the strong back which forms the forward portion of the splash well, and extending approximately 6" above the top of the engines. This vertical post would be supported by semi-horizontal legs extending from the post to the intersection of the transom and the side of the hull on each side, also quick connect fastenings. The horizontal supports would connect to the vertical post close to the top of the post to limit the portion of the post in moment. Nothing in the world is new, someone has done this before. Looking for help, comment, critique. Thanks, Glen
jwestwood posted 08-06-2014 12:51 PM ET (US)
Might you have pictures?
andrey320 posted 08-06-2014 01:58 PM ET (US)
That sounds like a lot of work / modification for something that will only be used occasionally. Why not tow from the transom lift eyes? Thats the way I've been wakeboarding behind my Dauntless 15....
Sure it is not a high point (which makes jumping difficult and sometimes burries the roap in swells when wakeboarding in the ocean) but you don't have to make / modify anything!
dfmcintyre posted 08-06-2014 02:18 PM ET (US)
I'd recommend aluminum over stainless, probably costs less. Could the ends of the (semi) horizontal supports be designed to fit into the stern line openings?
Jeff posted 08-06-2014 02:31 PM ET (US)
Sounds like you are thinking of making something like a Stern towing bit found on Gaurdian.
Have you seen the turboswing?
http://www.turboswing.com/usa/products/turboswing+®/
russellbailey posted 08-06-2014 10:27 PM ET (US)
There are other designs out there to consider - google around some. I've seen several that are a hoop which mount on the inside of the transom. Here is one Scout made.
http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/59738-ski-tow-bar-last.html
That being said, unless you or a buddy is doing the labor, I think you'd be hard pressed to beat the Turboswing that Jeff suggested. I've had one for 4 years on our Outrage 25 with twin Optimax 150s, and it works great. I segment it with 3 pulleys and will use the two outer ones to pull two at a time, with the center one for a single pull. The top height is about at the height of the motor cowling top. It works great. It is nearly $1,000 for a twin engine model or at least was when I got mine.
I also have a radar/wakeboard arch that we pull from now for a single rider, but it is a lot more costly and complicated to add. The Turboswing just needs a couple of holes drilled and it is ready to go.
We got some wake-to-wake jumps in today on wakeboards behind our Outrage 25 - that is about as advanced as we get but we are old wakeboarders at 40+. The Outrage 25 makes a great wake for that.
Have fun.
ConB posted 08-07-2014 07:22 AM ET (US)
Look in my profile home page and you can see pictures of the Attwood pro model installed in my Outrage 18.
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/attwood--ski-pylons--P023_692_006_507
Con
russellbailey posted 08-07-2014 04:05 PM ET (US)
Here are some shots from today of our boat pulling my niece with my brother at the wheel and various family riding along.
Even though we are not using it in these kneeboard shots with my niece, you can see some good views of the Turboswing and how it is setup. I have rope wraps on the edges to segment the 3 pulleys.
We are pulling at our typical 15 mph wakeboard/kneeboard speed, with the trim tabs max down and the motors trimmed full in with Doel-fins on the inside of the motors only. We drive for hours like this pulling people on lakes. The boat angle is fairly constant from 12 mph on up.
http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/russellbailey3/library/ Whaler%20Watersports
gmoulder posted 08-10-2014 03:51 PM ET (US)
Everyone thanks,
I like the Attwood pylon idea the best, and will follow through on purchasing one from Bart's. The Turboswing apparently works, but it appears to me that the tow ropes still slope downwards to the boat. I pulled two experienced wake boarders behind the Whaler once, using the lifting eyes, and it was very difficult for them. Again, thanks. Glen

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Author	Topic: Outrage tow tower
gmoulder	posted 08-06-2014 11:48 AM ET (US) The Whaler wants to go wakeboarding. The boat is a 1988 Outrage 18 with twin 70hp Johnsons. Power will not be an issue; believe the boat could pull stumps if I could get close to a stump. Preliminary design is for a 2 1/2" to 3" piece of light gauge stainless quick connect fastened to the strong back which forms the forward portion of the splash well, and extending approximately 6" above the top of the engines. This vertical post would be supported by semi-horizontal legs extending from the post to the intersection of the transom and the side of the hull on each side, also quick connect fastenings. The horizontal supports would connect to the vertical post close to the top of the post to limit the portion of the post in moment. Nothing in the world is new, someone has done this before. Looking for help, comment, critique. Thanks, Glen
jwestwood	posted 08-06-2014 12:51 PM ET (US) Might you have pictures?
andrey320	posted 08-06-2014 01:58 PM ET (US) That sounds like a lot of work / modification for something that will only be used occasionally. Why not tow from the transom lift eyes? Thats the way I've been wakeboarding behind my Dauntless 15.... Sure it is not a high point (which makes jumping difficult and sometimes burries the roap in swells when wakeboarding in the ocean) but you don't have to make / modify anything!
dfmcintyre	posted 08-06-2014 02:18 PM ET (US) I'd recommend aluminum over stainless, probably costs less. Could the ends of the (semi) horizontal supports be designed to fit into the stern line openings?
Jeff	posted 08-06-2014 02:31 PM ET (US) Sounds like you are thinking of making something like a Stern towing bit found on Gaurdian. Have you seen the turboswing? http://www.turboswing.com/usa/products/turboswing+®/
russellbailey	posted 08-06-2014 10:27 PM ET (US) There are other designs out there to consider - google around some. I've seen several that are a hoop which mount on the inside of the transom. Here is one Scout made. http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/59738-ski-tow-bar-last.html That being said, unless you or a buddy is doing the labor, I think you'd be hard pressed to beat the Turboswing that Jeff suggested. I've had one for 4 years on our Outrage 25 with twin Optimax 150s, and it works great. I segment it with 3 pulleys and will use the two outer ones to pull two at a time, with the center one for a single pull. The top height is about at the height of the motor cowling top. It works great. It is nearly $1,000 for a twin engine model or at least was when I got mine. I also have a radar/wakeboard arch that we pull from now for a single rider, but it is a lot more costly and complicated to add. The Turboswing just needs a couple of holes drilled and it is ready to go. We got some wake-to-wake jumps in today on wakeboards behind our Outrage 25 - that is about as advanced as we get but we are old wakeboarders at 40+. The Outrage 25 makes a great wake for that. Have fun.
ConB	posted 08-07-2014 07:22 AM ET (US) Look in my profile home page and you can see pictures of the Attwood pro model installed in my Outrage 18. http://www.westmarine.com/buy/attwood--ski-pylons--P023_692_006_507 Con
russellbailey	posted 08-07-2014 04:05 PM ET (US) Here are some shots from today of our boat pulling my niece with my brother at the wheel and various family riding along. Even though we are not using it in these kneeboard shots with my niece, you can see some good views of the Turboswing and how it is setup. I have rope wraps on the edges to segment the 3 pulleys. We are pulling at our typical 15 mph wakeboard/kneeboard speed, with the trim tabs max down and the motors trimmed full in with Doel-fins on the inside of the motors only. We drive for hours like this pulling people on lakes. The boat angle is fairly constant from 12 mph on up. http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/russellbailey3/library/ Whaler%20Watersports
gmoulder	posted 08-10-2014 03:51 PM ET (US) Everyone thanks, I like the Attwood pylon idea the best, and will follow through on purchasing one from Bart's. The Turboswing apparently works, but it appears to me that the tow ropes still slope downwards to the boat. I pulled two experienced wake boarders behind the Whaler once, using the lifting eyes, and it was very difficult for them. Again, thanks. Glen