DIY SKI - TOW bar INSTALL (2024)

Hi all. I purchased a tow bar for my 2014 Crest II C4. Before I install, I'd like to hear from someone who has personally installed one before. Believe it or not, YouTube is just not that helpful on this topic . My main concern is that there is a 3" empty space between the wood swim deck and a secondary layer of heavy gauge aluminum. Access between the layers to insert some kind of spacer collar is impossible. I don't like the idea of bolting this thing on without a spacer in between. Any thoughts? I'd love to see a pic of how others bolted their tow bars on.

Thanks,

JC

You asked for comments who have done what you are asking and I have NOT, but:

I will caution you to check with the manufacturer(s) about the rating of the tow bar - for the intended use. Pontooning kind of implies tubing and a multiperson tube can exceed the capacity of a tow bar designed for water-skiers and small tubes. Pulling a skier is a different story, so ignore me if that is what you are doing.

We regularly tow 3-4 people on a large couch style tube with my 25' boat and I am amazed at how much I can feel the weight trying to shift the stern when throwing the tube with 500-600 lbs, on it into a good fast slide outside of the wake. And that's only at only 25 MPH forward speed.

Marc

That makes sense. Hopefully, someone with hands-on experience will chime in.

Marc

There are several tubing and tow bar threads here. Do a search and you'll get plenty of info.

Like Mark said, if you have the typical tow bar that looks like this, it's NOT meant to tow tubes.

Can you post pictures or a diagram of the arrangement?

It really wants to be thru bolted to a cross-member, or at least some huge backing plates. Not to any under-skinning.

Thanks Matt,

Here is the link to the tower I purchased. I agree that I'd like to be through a cross-member, but accessibility is the issue

https://www.originwakeboard.com/Installation-Guide/1042

Sorry but my old boat with factory ski/tow bar similar to that is gone so I can't post a pic. I did find an old one and zoomed in but mine was made for the boat so the rear feet attached to the fuel pod/transom but the fronts just went through the floor (no underskinning on that one). I'm sure yours just mounts to the floor using thru bolts and fender washers, or an under plate if it comes with one. As mentioned, NOT for tubing and the website for the one you purchased also states that.

You're just gonna have to possibly drill out a few rivets and pry down the aluminum underskinnig a little so you can use some aviation shears or tin snips to cut out two access points to get the hardware on. It'll hurt I know, but you'll get over it when the kid is having a good time.

You probably already know this, but the bar you bought is designed for skiing only. Says in the description it is not to be used for tubes.

I added a tow bar designed for another manufacturer's boat to my former Bennington. Like Steiner, I drilled through the heavy gauge aluminum of the motor pod. I backed mine with a heavy piece of steel. I believe it was 3/16" plate.