Advice on how to tow 2 people at the same time?

[Familyman]

Any advice on how to do this or if it should even be done. I have 2 sons (12&14)

[Nates78Ski]

RE: Advice on how to tow 2 people at the same time?

not really much to it i guess, though i dont know how youre pulling them doubles (skis, wakeboards, kneeboards, etc.) just make sure the lines are the same length so noone gets their heads lopped off, & make sure the kids have good control of their boards/skis/etc. so they dont go plowing into eachother... unless that's what they're trying to do Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

Nate

[882001]

RE: Advice on how to tow 2 people at the same time?

we ride at different lengths so we can get by one another. if you have a wrap handle that may help, if you wanna ride at the same length

[j2nh]

Unless you have the ropes on a trick release you should absolutely have them on the same length rope. With unequal length ropes if the long rope skier falls their is a danger of the short rope skier getting caught, wrapped up, in the long rope.

[Quinner]

Ropes should absolutely be the exact same length, it's also a good idea to have the second skier immediately let go when the first one falls, this way it makes getting back to the first skier much easier and safer.

[Familyman]

Thanks for the advice everyone.. Much appreciated!

[AirTool]

I've not tried towing doubles yet...my kids can barely sit next to each other in the car....and their bolted in w/5-point harnesses.

We do have a pair of obrien fun boards. They might be a good start. Rider is not strapped, booted, or connected and can let go at any time. Might try next year.

[speck]

the prob is not that the kid it attached to a board, it is if they get a limb or neck caught in a dangling line and can't let go. the body damage is instant and severe, with the line cutting through flesh and yanking off bones if there is enough speed involved. make sure the riders are experienced and in control. if it were my kids, i would wait, and take separate turns.

[CradGen2]

Familyman - thanks for asking the questions. I wish more boaters cared. Based on what I've seem over the last couple years we are doing more dangerous water sports. When towing 2 or more poeple caution should be taken. I think speck comments are a bit extreme, but could happen. Have a plan. When one falls the other lets go. I would make sure there are not a lot of other boats around. Most drivers watch skiers, so if they see one is up they might be looking in the water for the other. JMO

[BigBald]

I Totally agree with equal rope length.

A couple more tips would be to start the "newbies" with another person that is experienced before putting them together. Also I might suggest that when they fall.....just go ahead and have a couple folks pull in the ropes (separately).....so that you can then throw them back out when you are at the skiers. I don't know why, but I can only get the double ropes put back on the skiers about once every 4 or 5 times. So, bringing them into the boat, and then throwing them back out, seems the easist for me...this also is the best approach when you get more than just two skiers.....just seems to save time.

[DanielC]

I do not know where you are located, but if you are in the midwest, there are show ski teams in just about every little, and large town. Show skiers have been rumored to pull more that the two adults recommended by the decal by your pylon. Do not tow two or more skiers off anything but the pylon. it is the strongest tow point on the boat.
Pay attention to this:
Most other boaters are not used to multiple skiers behind one boat. If they see you with one skier, they might assume the area behind your boat is clear, and not notice that one of your multiple skiers has fallen. I have had to put my boat in between a fallen first skier, to prevent another boat from running over them. When the driver started swearing at me for cutting him off, I pointed to the skier I had just prevented him from running over. One second, the guy was swearing, the next he was speechless.

[Kristof]

As DanielC is an experienced showteam driver , I for one value his comments... For showteams the prime concern is the safety of the multiple skiers they're pulling (hence the need of a good co-pilot as well).
For that matter we always have "surveillance" boats. Their job is to keep an eye on approaching boats when we are training our showacts (and pick up fallen skiers and thrown off ski's).

A question for you Daniel: do you use a piece of thick weaved rope on your handles for the people that have to climb to make a pyramid? Or do you have different rope lenghts?
We have a thick rope attached to the releaser on the pylon with hooks on different lenghts to wich we attach our skiropes...
The co-pilot has a big responsability as you can imagine...

[DanielC]

Pyramid ropes

This is how our teams pyramid ropes are set up. Sorry, I am going to give lengths in our silly American system of feet and inches. Our main pyramid ropes are 90 feet long, for the first tier. The handles are about 12 inches wide. Second tier ropes are 18 inches longer, with a narrow handle, about a six inch handle, and they also have a braid by the handle. We also have one wide second tier rode handle, used for second tier of a four tier pyramid, also with a braid. Our third tier ropes are 18 inches longer than our second tier ropes, mainly just braided, with no handles. We do have one or two third tier ropes with short handles. Our fourth tier ropes are another 18 inches longer than our third tier ropes, and have only braided ends.
Our ropes are marked, or numbered, like this. First tier ropes are marked with numbers less than 19, or ropes 1 through 9 and ropes 10 through 19 are first tier. Second tier ropes are numbered 20 through 29. Third tier ropes with handles are numbered 30 through 39, if they have handles. Our third tier ropes have a blue and white braid, if they have only a braid. Our fourth tier ropes are blue braide only.
Thank you for your comments on my driving experience. I consider myself a rookie in this sport. There are many other drivers from teams in the Midwest United States with much more experience and knowledge than I have. I feel pretty good driving my single engine Nautique, but our team's twin rig, I am very respectful of.
Build pyramids on dryland with the ropes until everyone in the pyramid is very comfortable climbing up and down before you put it on water. Use spotters in front and back of the pyramid when you dryland it.

[Kristof]

RE: Pyramid ropes

We have "winter trainings" until the season starts.
We try out new acts and train pyraimds in a hall of sports nearby. As you mentionned, we have spotters. We also use safety cussions around the pyramid, just in case someone falls off.
Like your way of marking the ropes. One of our sponsors has a ski-shop, so I'll ask him for ropes in different colours, and mark them with numbers. I'm responsible for the material at our club, so that will be a job for the new season. Thanks for the help.
We are a small club, so we do not have the luxury of a twin rig... So our pyramids are not more than three tiers. But we have lightweight skiers and climbers and the Nautiques perform very well.

[FatBoy]

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