Thanks to the risks and dangers of water, towing a tube rope to a boat has become an extremely important task. A rope not tied securely can loosen anytime, throwing riders in an unexpected direction or leaving them behind the boat.
But how do you put a tube tow rope on a boat? Is it the same as tying your shoes? This post will show you how to properly tie a tube rope to a boat.
How Do You Put A Tube Tow Rope On A Boat?
Find The Right Spot To Attach A Tube Tow Rope
The first step is determining what spot on the boat you want to attach the tow rope.
Tubing can get really fast; and if you don’t tie the rope to the right spot, it can raise the safety risks even higher.
It’s best to use a designated tow bar if there’s one on your boat. On the other hand, you need to inspect it carefully and look for a secure location with appropriate space for the rope.
The eyelets are varied among different boats but you may find two or more on the stern. They are strong enough to hold the tow rope for tubing. If you tow more than one tube, you should attach ropes to different eyelets.
Some boats even have areas specifically designed for towing tubes. For those who do the sports often, it’s an advantage.
It’s worth noting that you should never attach a tube tow rope to a sky eyelet. The reason is that it’s too high, not suitable for tubing.
Attach A Tow Hook To The Boat
A tube tow rope generally features a hook so you can attach it to the boat. Some ropes, however, may come with hoops, or shackles on the ends.
So, how do you attach a tow hook to a boat?
The type with a tow hook is the easiest to attach to the boat, which should take you only two seconds to complete.
These hooks are swivel hooks with safety snaps. All you have to do is pressing the safety snap against a chosen eyelet and it will be locked securely to the boat.
Knot The Tube Tow Rope
If there are no spots on the boat where you can attach a tube tow rope or if you look to pull more than one tube, tying the rope may be the only way.
There are reasons why knots are not generally recommended in most rope attachment processes. For one, if you tie the rope too hard, it may be impossible to undo the knot. Plus, tying knots with a rope can damage the rope, which decreases its overall strength.
However, slip knots are helpful because once you start towing, it only gets stronger.
- Wrap the rope around a bar at least once.
- One hand holds the shorter tail, pinch it with the other hand, come around. Make a loop and bring it through.
- Tighten the knot.
You can see the details of how to tie a slip knot on a bar in this video.
How To Choose The Right Rope For Tubing?
There are several types of tow rope designated for towables, including one specifically constructed to tow tubes, which is the type of rope to choose for tubing.
That said, in a wide selection of tube tow ropes, how do you know which one is the perfect fit and which one will be a waste of money? Here’s how.
Material
Polypropylene is the most widely used material for making tube tow ropes. It’s tough and economical. It also floats by nature, which is a must for tubing.
Dyneema, on the other hand, also floats but offers incredible strength and low stretch. It’s made to handle heavy-duty jobs. However, its price may be eye-watering.
There’s also spectra, officially known as Spectra™ UHMPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene). Tow ropes made of this material are extremely strong, resistant to cuts, and reliable.
Capacity
Based on how many people you want to tow at a time, choose a rope with the proper tensile strength to handle the load.
For loads of 170 lbs, 340 lbs, 510 lbs, 680 lbs, or 850 lbs and higher, look for tensile strengths of 1500 lbs, 2375 lbs, 3350 lbs, 4100 lbs, and 6100 lbs, respectively.
Remember to pick a rope with tensile strength that meets or exceeds the load. Otherwise, the rope can break anytime, causing danger to riders.
Construction
By looking closely, you may notice ropes look a bit different, which can be a single-braided, double-braided, or three-strand twist rope.
In short, never use a single-braided rope for tubing as it’s weak. Opt for a double-braided or three-strand twist rope, they are much stronger and durable.
Length
According to the Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA), a tube tow rope length must be between 50 feet and 65 feet. In particular, 60 feet is the best rope length for towing a tube.
Don’t buy a rope shorter than 50 feet as it likely whips riders violently and causes water to splash on their face. On the other hand, any rope longer than 60 feet makes it harder to control the tubes, especially their speed.
Either way, a rope with an improper length will out riders at risks of accidents and take the fun away from the sport.
Floating design
Some ropes float by nature, but others will sink once they get wet.
If a rope is not made of material lighter than water, you should look for attachments that help it float such as bobbers and boosters.
Attachments
A tow rope can feature a hook, loop, safety snap, or shackle, used for attaching the rope to the boat.
If you want an easy, secure rope attachment, opting for a hook or safety snap is a good idea. If your boat already has eyelets or hooks for watersports, a loop may be more convenient.
Condition
Never use a rope that has knots, suffers or one that’s frayed, damaged by the sun or in any other way.
A tow rope used for tubing must be in good condition to ensure the best performance and safety for riders.
Final Thoughts
All in all, attaching a rope with hooks to a boat is easy. You just need to press the safety snap against an eyelet.
Nevertheless, when your boat doesn’t have a spot for attaching tow ropes, you need to tie it directly to the bar at the stern.
How do you put a tube tow rope on a boat? No matter if you use a hook or make a slip knot, make sure that the rope is properly and securely attached to your boat. This way, your riders will be safer when tubing by avoiding breaking risks.