Where to attach tow rope for towable tube?

[mike]

I just picked up one of those "blaster" towables from West Marine, and am wondering where I will attach the rope. I was just going to hook it onto one of the aft cleats, but I'm realizing that the rudders will be in the way. Do I have to install some sort of towing eye on the transom? If so, what's the best spot for it?

Is there a viable alternative to installing an eye?

--Mike

[Mark Prouty]

Ahh, gotta take credit for doing good. That guest was me.

[mike]

Thanks, Mark. Looks like I've got yet another project to do!

--Mike

[mike]

By the way, I assume you need to cut some sort of access hole to be be able to bolt the towing eye through the transom... if so, I might do something like this:



This is a photo I took of a 26x for sale in my area... a good place for an additional fire extinguisher (I've got one in the cabin, but would like to have one in the cockpit area too), and will provide access for mounting the towing eye.

--Mike

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I don't know if I'd want a fire extinquisher there, seems like one of the most likely places to have a fire is the engine and you might not be able to reach that if the engine is on fire.

[mike]

I don't know if I'd want a fire extinquisher there, seems like one of the most likely places to have a fire is the engine and you might not be able to reach that if the engine is on fire.

My thinking was to have a cabin fire extinguisher for cockpit/engine fires, and cockpit extinguisher for cabin fires. In other words, if an engine/fuel tank fire did happen, I would go for the extinguisher mounted in the cabin.

--Mike

[dclark]

Back to the tow question...I've never towed anything...

The Shipshape cable TV show had an episode on this yesteday. They basically did what Tony did in the link above but but one on each side. They rigged up a bridle (piece of rope with some funky plastic looking thing that the bridle rope feeds thru and you can attach the tow line to) and attaced each end to pad eye. The whol thing got tossed out behind the motor and allowed plenty of room for that funky plastic piece to swing out on either side.

[kmclemore]

"My thinking was to have a cabin fire extinguisher for cockpit/engine fires, and cockpit extinguisher for cabin fires. In other words, if an engine/fuel tank fire did happen, I would go for the extinguisher mounted in the cabin."

Good idea! Where did you get the nifty insert to hold the extinguisher?

Oh, and what is that nylock nut in the bottom of the insert alcove? Where does it go?

[mike]

"My thinking was to have a cabin fire extinguisher for cockpit/engine fires, and cockpit extinguisher for cabin fires. In other words, if an engine/fuel tank fire did happen, I would go for the extinguisher mounted in the cabin."

Good idea! Where did you get the nifty insert to hold the extinguisher?

Oh, and what is that nylock nut in the bottom of the insert alcove? Where does it go?

This is not my boat... I saw it for sale on the side of the road, and snapped a few pictures. I think I've seen the extinguisher mounting insert at West Marine.

--Mike

[dclark]

I got one of the fire exinguisher boxes at Boat US. Comes with a metal snap bracket thing to hold it in. I put one in the cabin. I cut into the upright part of the seat opposite the dinette (as forward as it would comfortably go).

[Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL]

The "Fire Extinguisher Box" is made by, or is very similar to one made by SSI Custom Plastics ( www.ssicustomplastics.com ), in Maryland. They recently moved, however, and their web site is still under construction. I believe they sell retail as well as wholesale.
I've used their Coaming Boxes in the past. I cut an appropriately sized hole on each side of the cockpit seat backs, mounted swivel cam-cleats on the coaming top to bring the sheets back to the helm, and then covered the hole with the Coaming Box.