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Towing

B

barhopper

Well-known member
What's the best way to tow airboat to airboat? I had my first experience towing one yesterday, I ran across a couple of guys broke down in the back of a bay about five miles from the ramp. They had a big heavy saltwater rig and I had my 16' aluminum with small block and reduction. We tied it to the eye hooks on back of mine evenly in the middle. Needless to say I don't think I could have gotten both up on plane even if I wanted to. The problem I had was trying to steer. It was a pain in the a$$. I had to steer to the right the whole time and sometimes slow down ( from a blinding speed of 4.8 mph) to get a different angle on it to navigate around some oyster bars and sand bars. What was I doing wrong? What should be done in the future to avoid these problems other than not towing? Any help would be appreciated.
 
If your cage is strong enough tie to the top middle. Or make a slide like a ski rope.
 
The best I've seen is to run a line from your bow-eye back under your boat to the other boat.

I've seen a sunk boat raised this way. The lead boat was able to get enough speed (didn't take much) to get the other boat's gunwhales up above the water.
 
I'm with Airduds .... only done it once but it worked great.

Pull alongside, tie bow eye to bow eye and then take them onto your boat. Ease ahead til the line is under your boat and you're all set.

I towed a bass boat a couple years back .... dropped them at the ramp and then pulled their boat up to them. Works great.

I really hesitate to tow anything with the prop cage.

olf
 
BTW .... I knew what to try because of this forum. I'd read an old thread posted by a couple of others and tried it. Thanks, Rick !!

olf
 
I had also read that old post about going under the boat but when I looked at it it seemed to me that it might pull the front of my boat down and I did not want to have a broke down boat and a sunk boat in the same place. How about tow rope length? Any suggestions on how far back the other boat needs to be?
 
Barhopper. it didn't work that way for me ...... with tension (load) on the line my boat tended to dig in and hold the bow up.
Of course you're not gonna try to freakin plane! Nice and easy .... you'll get there.

I'd say at least 30' of line because 15' of it is gonna be under your boat. I think my line is around 50' and it worked great.

olf
 
I usually make the owner stay with his ship for rudder control..take all the food and BEER off the towed vessel, firewall your gas pedal, and look back and enjoy the fact your pulling, not being pulled. Anyway you slice it, towing sux both ways...
 
I gotta tell ya first hand,making them ride the hurricane is funny as hell :lol: Last boat I drug out to the water made my buddy and his dad ride it and he bailed. His dad was in the front seat and had grass and mud where it aint suppose to be :D :lol:
 
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