towing with lifting ring

[FUN-9C1]

How do you guys feel about towing with that? Sure it's made to lift the boat, but it's also made to be used vertically, not horizontally. That'd be like saying since your hitch is rated for 3500 lbs, you can put 3500 lbs on the tongue. Strong one way, not nearly as strong the other. My dad keeps trying to talk me into using it so more people can go in the boat but I won't do it. Am I being overprotective?

[skinautique]

the back one or the front one?

[NautiqueJeff]

I have seen a good number of people use the rear lifting ring as a tow point before. I'm not sure that I would do it, especially for a larger person or someone who is going to be doing hardcore turns behind the boat. You might look at adding a tow eye on the transom. They can be reinforced during installation, and might better suit your needs.

[BigBald]

Maybe look at a Fly High when people setting in back seat of boat?

[882001]

i use mine for towing other boats, and to get up wake surfing. no problem so far. adding a tow eye requires pulling gas tank.

[FUN-9C1]

Ha ha SN, back one!
Bigbald, not sure what a fly high is, is that a tower?
I'm not to keen on adding a tower or drilling holes in the boat or having extra people in the boat when I ski. I was thinking if the tow ring is plenty strong enough, I might use it on occasion, but unless somebody says they've used it to pull a 200 lb slalom skier carving up the lake for years, I'll just keep the boat empty when I ski. Any other opinions?

[M3Fan]

It is not designed for lateral force. HOWEVER, I use my front eye as a clip point for my fly high pole. This is a no-no, but I risk it for the convenience. I have pulled single trick (which takes a huge amount of power to get me up on), longline barefoot, wake board, air chair, etc with the fly high and it pulls almost completely sideways on the front ring- the angle is very accute, probably less than 45 degrees. It has held steady just fine, although it puts stress on the surrounding fiberglass. It is your call. I would only pull recreational skiers from there.

[AbunDiga909]

We would never use it, but we have used it for very very lightwieght tubers in the past. Lightweight as in no more than 100 lbs...

[Hollywood]

We use ours, pulling double tubers (even up to 200lbs each). Haven't had a problem so far, and have never heard of one ripping out or damaging the boat even.

[tryan]

most older model (mine anyway) rear eyes have a 3/4 " chunk-o-wood from the lower transom chine to the top of the deck. there is a piece of angle iron stock attached to this that the eye is bolted to.

if everything is tight and the angle is not rusty, the rear eye will handle a load acting towards the transom without fear of cracking at the eye. it will put a strain on the interior corners of the 'cockpit'. this is where i would suspect to see damage.

[Alibuma]

I think Hollywood hit it on the head... Ever heard of one ripping out? Anyone? M3Fan, I never thought about the stress on the gelcoat while using the FlyHigh on the front lift ring. That is and Excellent point... but, what about the stress on the gelcoat when lifting a boat with the lift rings on the back of the boat? That puts stress agains the gelcoat too. Hope that makes you feel more comfortable about doint it with your flyhigh.

[AbunDiga909]

I think there is always gonna be some strees on the gelcoat when using a lifting ring. However, when i went to the factory, i saw the lifting rings being put in and it was one of the frst things done, oppose to MCs last thing done and screwed in with a couple of screws, which is why the DON'T RECCOMEND hanging their boats. CC makes thier lifting rings built right into the bottom of the hull in a way so the weight is distributed very evenly. I actually dont think that the gelcoat will take most of the pressure and "harsh-ness" when lifting because of the way it is built. You are lifting the boat straight up so the thing that takes the most stress is probably the hull, because that is where the lifting rings are built into, the whole boat. On the other hand, when you use it for your extended pylon, the strees you are putting on the ring is not going straight up, it is on a relativly tight angle, which the ring is not designed for. In that case i would assume that the gelcoat right behind the ring takes a crap load of stress. Thats my "theory."

[M3Fan]

On the other hand, when you use it for your extended pylon, the strees you are putting on the ring is not going straight up, it is on a relativly tight angle, which the ring is not designed for. In that case i would assume that the gelcoat right behind the ring takes a crap load of stress. Thats my "theory."

Exactly what I was trying to say. The fiberglass deck takes the force exerted sideways by the fly high. There is only a 1/2" (approx) metal rod that actually connects to the hull from the ring for hanging the boat. Strong up and down, but flimsy sideways.

[Alibuma]

But the lifting rings on the back of most boats do not point straight up, they point towards the back of the boat... so when you lift from these points, you are lifting against the fiberglass... does this clarify what iw as saying... i will draw a picture in paint. :)

[AbunDiga909]

I agree, but i dont think it is like that for CC, iv'e only seen it like that on MC, who says not to lift it.

[Hollywood]

Oh yeah, we also hook the skylon up to the front lifting ring. The huge strap distorts the rub rail and looks goofy. It's an old boat, as much as we try to baby it, we're still going to have our fun with it.

[Onthewater]

We attach our Skylon to the front ring and pull wakeboard/trick ski(sometimes doubles) and dual barefooters as well. We tow tubers and the occasional recreational skier from the rear ring(when the boat is jammed full-o-people). Haven't seen any stress or cracks in the gel coat at all. I feel they are definitely strong enough for this.

edit...didn't see holly's last post before i did this.

[Alibuma]

Some manu's have had cases reported where hanging the boats by the eyes of the boat distorts the hull. The area of the boat directly under the engine is not supported very well and thus causes a hook after long periods of time. I was told this by my local CC dealer. Anyways, thought I would add this pic of a Malibu (with hooks coming out the back, not the top of the boat) hanging. This pic was taken at the factory when the boat was water tested.