Towables come in all shapes and sizes — from skis and wakeboards to the eight-person party loungers. Each type of water sport has its own precautions and necessary equipment to consider. Bass boats are excellent fishing boats and may need a little tweaking depending on your water sport preference. Here are some of the most popular towable options for fun in the sun out on the water.

Guide to Attaching Towables to Your Bass Boat

1. Tubes

Tubes are excellent to ride around in, and they require no experience to operate. However, they also create the most drag of the towables, so keep pressure maximized. If the tube submerges for even a moment, the force can rip a ski pole off the boat. Do not attach the rope to a tower; the extra height increases the chance of flipping, so connect it to a harness or bridle. The bridle or harness then connects to the transom tow hooks. Tube ropes are between 50 and 60 feet in length, and the rope’s weight rating must coincide with the tube’s weight capacity.

2.  Skis

Water-ski ropes attach to pylons, which are bolted to the center of the bass boat. Standard pylons are 43 to 45 inches, but there are adjustable pylons that range from 32 to 58 inches. These ropes are around 75 feet long and have a little stretch to them to reduce impact on the torso. Handles are a bit smaller than wakeboard ropes to prevent entanglement during a fall. To attach the rope to the pylon, you take the rope and pass it through the loop at the end of the rope, then slide your new loop and tie it to the pylon. Pull hard to tighten the rope.

3. Wakeboards

A wakeboard rope connects like a water-ski rope; but, to get the lift from the wake, you need to connect it to a tower. If your bass boat doesn’t have a tower, then you’ll have to install one. The ropes are 60 to 70 feet long and have larger handles than water-ski ropes to accommodate the tricks that wakeboarders perform. The rope should not have any stretch to them because it may cause the wakeboarder to slingshot forward during maneuvers.

If you’re looking for a new or used bass boat in Pickens County, AL, then Pickensville Marine & Sports Shop is the place to go. If you are happy with your current boat but need a little maintenance done, then bring it in. Their on-site professionals will diagnose, repair, and test your boat before returning it. Take a look at their inventory online, or call them at (205) 373-6372.