Jump to content

Welcome to TheMalibuCrew!

As a guest, you are welcome to poke around and view the majority of the content that we have to offer, but in order to post, search, contact members, and get full use out of the website you will need to Register for an Account. It's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the TheMalibuCrew Family today!

Towing a VTX behind a houseboat


IJM

Recommended Posts

Has anyone towed a 2009 or similar era VTX behind a houseboat? Headed to Lake Powell in a few weeks. Planning to tow ours behind a houseboat for a long distance up the lake. I’m curious if the bow will raise enough at around 8 to 10 mph to prevent the waves from splashing over the bow.

Link to comment

It might take a hard search but several years ago this was a big topic. I'm pretty sure all that is still available on the forum. Seems like there were a few boats that took on water and sunk at a specific location on Powell.

Link to comment

We tow our LSV every year at Powell. Will be there in a few weeks. 
 

Watch out for the waves the cruisers put out. Slow the houseboat down when you come up on them. And if the tour boat is running and you see it, I’d hail it on the marine radio and ask them to come to wakeless, or that will swamp you. 
 

I would also suggest a 100’ floating rope. Longer than what I have in the photo so you can get your boat out of the prop wash. Floating so you don’t have to worry about it getting caught in the propellers. 

40FEFDF1-1102-444A-AEFD-2E99CED3E2C6.jpeg

Link to comment

Thanks. I’ll see if I can find that thread.

RyanB-Appreciate the advice. Good to know it can be done. I’ll certainly get a floating tow rope. Hopefully the channel won’t be too choppy on the days we tow. As you know it can get pretty rough sometimes. Hope your trip goes well. Maybe we will cross paths. We’ll be there June 20th to the 26th. Launching from the Wahweap Marina. I’ll keep an eye out for your boat.

Link to comment

@IJM If you are on instagram check out the "Powellheadz" page.  About 6 weeks ago he did a post highlighting one of the monsoon-like storms and scrolling through the comments there was a lot of good information there about how best to tow your surf boat in general and in freakish weather that pops up there from time to time.  I have never been there but have followed that page for years and scrolled the comments and found lots of good information there.

Link to comment

Unfortunately not on instagram but my wife is so I’ll browse on hers. Speaking of those winds and weather this spring. The houseboat we are going on broke free of it’s buoy during those. Blew it ashore and swamped the engine compartments. Luckily we are the 4th week out so all the repair kinks should be worked out by then.

Link to comment
  • 1 month later...

I have a 2010 LSV I have towed behind a larger power boat.  It is fine at those speeds with no wakes or waves.  If a larger power boat puts off a 2' or larger wake that is going to come at the front of the boat you will want to slow to neutral so the boat is just floating when the wave hits it.  It might still take on a wave under the bow but if you are under power you will risk pulling the bow under the water.  My boat has twin diesels so a lot more torque than a house boat.  I had slowed to a very slow speed but the bow still tried to burry when the wave hit it.  Probably a good thing I was using an old innertube rope that broke when the bow went under or it could have taken on a lot more water.  Took on quite a bit of water and took a while for the bilge pump to pump out.  I could see it getting really ugly if going faster or if the rope did not break.  I used an innertube rope to tow the boat as it floats and I don't have to worry about getting caught in the props.

Link to comment

Ugh sounds like you got lucky it broke. We didn’t seem to have a problem at all. I filled the aft two ballast tanks and used a tube rope to pull it. Houseboat was doing about 9kts. I watched it for quite awhile and even thru some big waves no bow dip. Finally was convinced it would be okay and left it alone.

A96D86D4-E5E3-426C-9B88-72B72FC60053.jpeg

0270809E-FB41-47B5-B2C3-04DFBBA78B6C.jpeg

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...