Pulling water toys from the lifting ring

[chris196]

If this has been discussed before, I apologize.
I just picked up a 98 ski nautique 196. While I primarily plan on skiing slalom obviously off of the center poll, there are times I would like to use the lifting ring. Mainly to pull kids in tubes or maybe even a wakeboarder or double skier if there are more than 4 people in the boat.
Are people doing this and if so, have there been any problems. That ring seems very solid, but I guess they call it a lifting ring for a reason. It would have been nice if they would have added a ski eye back there.

Thanks,
Chris

[ScarletArrow]

RE: Pulling water toys from the lifting ring

This has been discussed in other parts - the search function will take you there.

In short, it depends on who you ask...I never do it...some will on occasion...very few do it all the time.

Most will concede pulling small children on tubes won't hurt a thing; but skiing shortline, wakeboarding, etc, (anything with a lot of stress) is taking a chance on what it was meant for.

[Osmosis]

I agree with scarlet. I just wouldnt do it.

[surroundsound64]

I used to pull tubes from it all the time. I never really do anymore because I don't pull tubes... *shrug* It's always been rock solid.

[DanielC]

The lifting ring is attached to the bottom half of the hull, and the top end of it is held in position just by the fiberglass of the deck. It is designed for verticle loads. If you want to ski, I would recommend that the two extra people sit on the floor, one behind the driver, and one just aft of the bench seat. One driver, two people on the bench seat, and two on the floor, and the skier, that is your six person capacity limit on a Ski Nautique.
Somebody took the time to teach you to ski. Now is payback time. TEACH THE KIDS TO SKI OR WAKEBOARD! They will remember the first time they got up on a ski or a wakeboard for the rest of thier lives. The adrenalin rush from a tube ride won't even last until that night. Teach a lifelong skill, do not just entertain for a few minutes.

[Quinner]

A tower would also solve your problem, pulling from the tower your passengers can still sit in the back seat.

Towing a light load off the lifting ring probably is not that big of a deal, beginners on wakeboard or ski's should not be a problem. You may want to also see what it would take to add a tow eye to the stern, it may not take much more than some backing on the inside of the hull particularly if that hull is already reinforced in the stern area, check with your local dealer or CC directly.

[chris196]

Thanks for the replys.

Regarding adding a ski tow eye, can you actually access that area in order to install a backing plate. I was under the impression that the fuel tank was back there.

I can't add a tower because of height restrictions where I store the boat.

I'll probably end up pulling tubes only off the ring, everything else off of the pylon.

[ag4ever]

You would be suprised, but tubes actully present some of the highest loading factors on the rope, and as such need the strongest ropes. Hence the reason you might not want to pull tubes from the ring.

[Quinner]

Depending on the location/orientation of the lifting ring on your boat perhaps the rope could be run thru the lifting ring then to the pylon, I would imagine that would greatly reduce the amount of stress on the lifting ring.

[NautiqueJeff]

You would be suprised, but tubes actully present some of the highest loading factors on the rope, and as such need the strongest ropes. Hence the reason you might not want to pull tubes from the ring.

This is true. a submerged tube (which will eventually happen) probably puts more force on the tow point than any slalom skier ever could. I would not recommend pulling anything from the lifting ring. It just wasn't designed for the stress. I'm sure that CC would have a hard time repairing any cracks under warranty if it can be determined that tubes (or anything else) were pulled from the lifting ring.

On another note, pulling tubes from a tower is not suggested either.

[chris196]

I had a look underneath things this weekend. The front lifting ring has a nice big aluminum backing plate on the underside of the deck. It looked really solid. So, I thought if it's that way in the back, I'd be pretty confident it could handle it.
However, the back lifting ring didn't have a backing plate like the front ring. So, I don't think I'll pull off of it. I wonder why the front has a backing plate, but not the back.

[surroundsound64]

I wonder why the front has a backing plate, but not the back.

Maybe it's so people won't say,"hey, there's a backing plate. I think I'll pull from it.
Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

[stevieb]

I'm new here, so I won't say I have much clout...but I noticed in the showroom when I was looking at boats there is a permanent sticker on the back of the 216 that explains that you CAN tow up to two skiers or tubers behind the boat using the rear lifting ring...but that you should not exceed 400 lbs, if I recall right. It's all very clearly spelled out.

[NautiqueJeff]

That's interesting. I have never seen this sticker, and it is not listed in the owner's manual with all of the other stickers. I'm not saying that I don't believe you. I'm just a little surprised.

[Quinner]

I believe he is refering to the "transom warning" however it actually refers to the "Grab Rails" or "Tow Points" and says do not tow from the grab rails, no reference is made to the lifting rings.