Rear tow point

[OZDreamer]

Hi, just wondering if you can/should tow skiers from the rear lifting ring on a 2003 Sport 216 DD. We ski socially a lot with a large family and want to be able to use the back seat for a few extras to join the fun; it’s mainly for younger kids and social skiers. The hard-core guys don’t like too many in boat messing up wake so we use center ski pylon and this encourages people not to sit in the back .

If the lifting ring is no good, has anyone fitted a rear tow point to a CC direct drive before, if so what did you do or use?

[DanielC]

You can tow light loads off the rear lifting eye. Do not use it for towing inflatables.

[jmo]

I just switched to a direct drive myself and had the same question. The Nautique dealer I bought my "new to me" 2006 196 from said it's safe to tow from the rear lift ring -BUT, I pulled the plastic shield hiding the lift ring connection point and it's basically a piece of threaded 1/2" steel coming up from the hull and there is nothing to resist the Bending moment created by pulling on it from a tube other than the fiberglass of the transom. Based on this I will never tow anything from the lift ring as I suspect over time you will cause stress cracks in the gelcoat on the transom.

[DanielC]

The fiberglass in the transom is pretty stout. You can tow light stuff. But the lifting rings are definitely designed for a vertical load.

[OZDreamer]

Thanks for the replies; I was worried about the stress on the lifting bolt as well.

I was thinking about removing the lifting ring and replacing it with a stubby pylon fixed properly or just mounting one of these rings on the transom just above the grab handle. Has anyone done this, any thoughts?

[must_dash]

It must be possible, however there would need to be some reinforcement on the transom, especially if using towables.
I plan to do it next year when I take the boat apart for a stringer job.

[Quinner]

Totally agree with Daniel, should not be a problem for a light load. As another option an extended pylon gets the rope up high and over the back seat passengers head(s), you do need to be conscientious when circling / tightening the line for a down skier or whenever the line is not loaded / taught however.

[Quinner]

Thanks for the replies; I was worried about the stress on the lifting bolt as well.

I was thinking about removing the lifting ring and replacing it with a stubby pylon fixed properly or just mounting one of these rings on the transom just above the grab handle. Has anyone done this, any thoughts?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]15175[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]15174[/ATTACH]

Around 84'-86' (iirc) on the 2001 hull, CC added those from the factory, and as I recall with nothing more then a little plywood backing. Neighbors I/O had one that came loose which I helped him tighten up, and again with nothing more then some plywood backing.

[shawnski]

I went through the same thoughts with my 206.

Here's what we do as a reasonable compromise - when using inflatables, we thread the rope THROUGH the rear lift ring and then attach the loop on the ski pylon.
This way, the rear lift ring only keeps the rope in a straight line, people can still sit in the back seats.

[must_dash]

, thats by far the easiest and cheapest way...