Towing Nautique behind houseboat???

[wake_fun]

How long of a rope should I use to tow my boat behind a houseboat? I'm thinking a clasp on the boat eye and then just tie the end of the rope to the houseboat cleat. How does that sound?
If I'm towing two boats is it better to have them each on their own line? If so, what lengths for each one? OR do I chain the two boats together in-line with each other?
Any help would be great!
Thanks.

[Housers99]

RE: Towing Nautique behind houseboat???

Careful with this. My old college ski team managed to sink a MasterCraft behind a houseboat last year (I swear we never screwed up when we were there). Long story short - the water was rough, they weren't paying attention and the boat got swamped. May never happen in your situation but it may also be worth having someone drive your boat behind/beside the houseboat.

[wake_fun]

Re: Towing Nautique behind houseboat???

do I chain the two boats together in-line with each other?

I don't mean to use a chain, just in line with each other using rope.......

[Rick]

RE: Re: Towing Nautique behind houseboat???

You need to search this site for houseboat and towing. There are several horror stories. Here is the link http://www.planetnautique.com/index....ghlight=towing

[wake_fun]

RE: Re: Towing Nautique behind houseboat???

Doesn't anyone go on houseboat trips on this forum out of 1,600 members??????? How do you do it if you go houseboating????? Leaving Sunday. Thanks.

[wake_fun]

Re: RE: Re: Towing Nautique behind houseboat???

Yeah, I read that one awhile ago. That is crazy!

You need to search this site for houseboat and towing. There are several horror stories. Here is the link http://www.planetnautique.com/index....ghlight=towing

[actiondcpd]

RE: Re: RE: Re: Towing Nautique behind houseboat???

wake_fun,

I've towed my SAN multiple times behind a houseboat. I usually use a 50' line I'd say. I do not tow it in chop or wind simply because I'm paranoid. I also keep a close eye on it when we hit rollers or stop or turn. I have not towed multiple boats but i've seen done with multiple lines at various lengths. If you daisy chained the boats together I don't think that would be that big of a problem but I haven't done it. In any case be careful and keep and eye on your boat! Have fun houseboating. Where are you going??

[BozBoarder]

RE: Re: RE: Re: Towing Nautique behind houseboat???

We live close to Lake Powell, I haven't witnessed any mishaps but it is a pretty common problem with boats getting swamped. The best thing to do is drive with the houseboat, it may even save you fuel since those things are fuel hogs! In fact you may consider towing the houseboat with your Nautique, it is definitely more dependable!

[wake_fun]

Towing Nautique behind houseboat???

Thanks for the posts so far.

[79skn]

RE: Towing Nautique behind houseboat???

I have a 79 Ski Nautique and tow it behind my Houseboat quite often. I use a rope 50-60 ft long and just tie off to a cleat on the back of the HB and to the bow eye. Never had a problem even in choppy water. To me the key is to tow far enough behind the HB to have clearance for maneuvering but not so far as to be affected by every other boats wakes.

[bkhallpass]

Just put it back far enough that it doesn't nose dive in the rooster
or wake, Far enough that momentum wont carry it into the houseboat
when you slow the houseboat (account for wakes, wind and current
increasing or retarding momentum), but not so far that you
can't negotiate turns. Works best when out on open water with few
turns. Unhook it when you negotiate small channels.

I've seen the staggered approach above work well, have also
seen daisy chained. Again, you need to allow sufficient space that
momentum won't run the boats together.

Better yet, take turns skiing the whole way out!

BKH

[wake_fun]

Thanks again!!!!!!

[indo]

thanks for the post we are headed to powell from va in a few weeks and im glad i read this first

[BozBoarder]

Indo, be sure not to shower or wash with any water near the shores. There is a nasty fungi now that the water is rising after a long drought. It is stewing up human waste and such, as it rises. We have neighbors that got a bad fungal infection that they haven't been able to get rid of without constantly taking medication.

[indo]

is only close to shores or is it all over the lake? thanks for the tip