Rain & Stormy Weekend

StirCrazy · **Posted:** Sat Jul 23, 2011 8:23 am

I know we needed some rain up here, but not on a weekend!

We're having our first Adult Only weekend with friends and the storms are keeping us at bay.

Currently spending our time saturating the fruit in the rum!

aguyindallas · **Posted:** Sat Jul 23, 2011 9:22 am

Well....if it ends up being a dock party....thats not the end of the world!

StirCrazy · **Posted:** Sun Jul 24, 2011 7:57 am

It did clear up nicely around 11am and we took the boat out. We anchored over at the beach and hung out for a good 5 hours. Our friends had their waverunner and we all took turns having fun.

The clouds began to turn thick and we raced in just beating another storm. Really glad to be off the water when it hit.

97_245_sd · **Posted:** Sun Jul 24, 2011 8:02 am

Rainy morning but beautiful afternoon and evening here in West Michigan.

acguy · **Posted:** Sun Jul 24, 2011 8:20 am

We have not had rain in well over a month up here. It has been so HOT, I love it but would welcome the rain!!

Jeffski · **Joined:** Thu May 18, 2006 10:39 am **Posts:** 35

We were worried about rain and stormy weather yesterday and it turned out to be one of the most beautiful days of the summer. We rafted in Spring Lake for about 5 hours with some friends. One of them just purchased a 2005 348 Vista. Absolutely beautiful boat.

Forecast for today is the same.....rain possible, heavy storms possible, severe weather possible....I think we are going out anyway:)

StirCrazy · **Posted:** Sun Jul 24, 2011 9:11 am

Sounds like our forecast/day. Heading out to boat now and we're going to try tubing behind the 298 for our first time.

Flying Sushi · **Posted:** Sun Jul 24, 2011 9:26 am

Ah.... Sorry to hear that... We are having a beautiful day today and we are heading out now...

Tomorrow might be a different story...

aguyindallas · **Posted:** Sun Jul 24, 2011 6:30 pm

StirCrazy wrote:

Sounds like our forecast/day. Heading out to boat now and we're going to try tubing behind the 298 for our first time.

Rich, tell me how you are hooking up your tube and how it worked...my kids want to tube behind ours.

StirCrazy · **Posted:** Sun Jul 24, 2011 7:32 pm

Hey Steve, I think our test worked out great. It's hard to see the setup in these pics, but I'll try and get some better ones next week.

I bought a 15' Master Lock cable from Home Depot and the largest stainless caribiners that would fit over the cleats on the stern.

You can see the cable on the swim platform and barely see the caribiner on the cleat here:

I just slip the tow rope thru the cable and it slides around perfectly. I went with the 2 person tube with seats so the kids don't fly off. Here you can see the tow rope on cable pretty well.

I could easily run 12-15 mph, but that was pretty lame. Had the girls up to 30mph and that was too fast. 20-26 was a really fun speed for the adults. Really no way to dump them, they just sit back in your wash. Definitely do the tube!

powellcrazy · **Posted:** Sun Jul 24, 2011 9:20 pm

Our weekend was clear and calm. perfect boating weekend. Hope most got to enjoy theres.

Here are links to past threads on subject.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5675&p=56270#p56270

viewtopic.php?f=22&t=5626

I personally use a bridal attached to transom tie down hooks. I too purchased our boat used, previous owner added tow eye to swim deck, I refuse to use this or tie down cleats, but that just me.

You can find bridal from air head for $14, or make your own as I did out of very heavy tow rope and 3 caribiners. I do recommend using transom hooks vs. cleats. Much stronger.

StirCrazy · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:21 am

Our hooks on the 298 seem to be pretty far under the swim platform and I'm not real comfortable with the lines being near the engines.

Do other people feel that way too? Or am I being too paranoid?

With the tube not going side-to-side and sitting right in the middle of my wash, I'm not worried about using the cleats.

aguyindallas · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:22 am

StirCrazy wrote:

Our hooks on the 298 seem to be pretty far under the swim platform and I'm not real comfortable with the lines being near the engines.

Do other people feel that way too? Or am I being too paranoid?

With the tube not going side-to-side and sitting right in the middle of my wash, I'm not worried about using the cleats.

Thats my concern too.

wkearney99 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 4:21 pm

Towing bridles are usually made out of material that floats, and often have a float on the line itself. This serves to help keep it up out of the props. That and the the rope is designed to give with the loads/shock put on it.

I would not use a lock cable. They're just not designed for the push/pull lashing motion that happens during towing something. God forbid something broke, people have been maimed or even killed by improper materials being used for towing. The amount of tension on the lines is tremendous. When something gives the force unleashed can be deadly.

NEVER pull towable toys without using products specifically cited as intended for the purpose. Do not half-ass it here.

StirCrazy · **Posted:** Mon Jul 25, 2011 9:52 pm

Never thought of it that way, but the safety of my children and friends is my main concern. The part about snapping loose and maiming or killing someone completely freaks me out. I definitely don't want that to happen.

I had bought the Airhead Tow Demon 8' and it wasn't long enough to stretch from cleat-to-cleat. The quick locks (carabiners) also weren't large enough to fit over my cleats.

The Airhead cable does not seem as "Heavy Duty" as the MasterLock cable I used. Now I'll be staying awake wondering what I should do? I will never cut corners when it comes to my family, and I quite frankly thought I was doing better with my setup. I'm going to start looking into something better and rated to be used for this purpose. Thanks for making me think better.

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Rain & Stormy Weekend

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