eyelet on back of 97 natique

it's the lift ring put it's not an issue to tow skier's or tubes with it. A experinced skier is going to want to use the pylon but for beginers and modirate skiers it doesn't make a difference

It would be a good idea for you to check the jamb nut and load distributing block on the underside of the deck just to make sure it is tight before you start pulling tubers/skiers. If the nut is loose, then I would imagine the lateral force could put abnormal stress on the thru deck hole that the lifting ring threaded rod passes through.

Otherwise, I agree with 79Nautique in that it is a non-issue to use the ring to pull tubers/skiers.

Tim:

That is not the point, it is a horizontal vs vertical load issue. The ring is designed for vertical loads. Some fear gelcoat cracking/damage when applying a horizontal load. But, if everything is tight, the deck is thick enough in the ring area to handle the horizontal load imparted by a tuber or skier. My '93SN has a tow spool on the rear deck (where the ring is on other years). The '93 thru '96 boats were the only years to have this spool. Now my thoughts are that this spool was added by CC because the lifting ring(s) were moved to the transon and below the swim platform. This move obviously rendered the lifting rings unusable for towing...hence the addition of the spool. The spool on my '93 is simply bolted through the deck with one 1/2" bolt with an aluminum load distributing plate on the underside of deck. Since CC thinks this is strong enough, then the lifting rings are certainly strong enough given they are basically handling the horizontal load in exactly the same manner.

Just my $.02.

Another thing I thought about: The lifting rings have two screws that keep the ring from turning on the thread rod and keep the ring oriented properly relative to the deck. Now, if the jamb nut is not tight to the backing block, then when you load the ring (or step on the deck around the ring, the ring will try to pull the two screws out of the deck and thus can crack the gelcoat radiating from the screw holes.

David F wrote: Tim: That is not the point, it is a horizontal vs vertical load issue. The ring is designed for vertical loads. Some fear gelcoat cracking/damage when applying a horizontal load. But, if everything is tight, the deck is thick enough in the ring area to handle the horizontal load imparted by a tuber or skier. My '93SN has a tow spool on the rear deck (where the ring is on other years). The '93 thru '96 boats were the only years to have this spool. Now my thoughts are that this spool was added by CC because the lifting ring(s) were moved to the transon and below the swim platform. This move obviously rendered the lifting rings unusable for towing...hence the addition of the spool. The spool on my '93 is simply bolted through the deck with one 1/2" bolt with an aluminum load distributing plate on the underside of deck. Since CC thinks this is strong enough, then the lifting rings are certainly strong enough given they are basically handling the horizontal load in exactly the same manner. Just my $.02.

I the 90-96 boats all had the spool- I know my 90 had one. What did arrive later was that grab handle on the back- maybe that arrived around 93.

Can you run the rope off pylon then thru lift ring to keep it centered?We used to do this in Dads old century when the boat was full.

good luck Munday

that could create more force than just having it right on the lift ring it's self. It would create mechnical advantage as the skier went outside of the wake to the side. Look it as if you drew a straight line from the skier to the pylon, the rope would be at an obtuse angle as it passes through the lift ring relative to the pylon and skier. Simular to if you used a sinlge puley and where pulling and teathered above the pulley just laying it on it's side in a horizontal plane verse's a vertical plane the advantage is the same.

your right if the pulley is above the load, and both ends of the line are free to move or one end of the line is attached to the load. But if the pulley is attached to the load and one end of the line is tied off above the load and you are pulling from above then you get a 2X mechanical advantage.