Towing Jet Ski?

[Bill Saint]

I have a friend who will be chartering soon and they want to tow a jet ski while they sail. I have never seen this happen and would think it would not work well. Anyone with experiences?

 

[Kevin Whalen]

Better than a sea anchor

BillI've tried to tow mine several times and they nose dive regularly, acting as sea anchors. The three seat Sea Doo is better than the two seat Polaris. Each seems to tow differently but all seem tow badly with out some one sitting on them. I'd give it a test tow before I planned to tow it very far or very long.Kevin Whalens/v Katawa Cay

 

[Barry]

I Have Towed my Seadoo Explorer

I have a Seadoo Explorer which is an inflatable boat (that weighs 600 lbs) seats 5 with a jet drive. It tows ok but has a ton of drag and takes over one knot off the hull speed. When moving five knots I cannot pull slack in the tow line by hand. Hasn't cause any problems but I don't like towing it long distances.Barry

 

[Paul Akers]

In BVI's? - Caution.

Don't even try it. They are outlawed in the islands.

 

[Mike Webster]

Should tow ok

I have seen many jet skiis towed by power boats without a problem, so I don't see why you couldn't tow one as well. You may have to play with the towing line length, or the hookup to the jet ski, to get it to follow ok, but should be possible.I've towed an Achilles inflatable for years without any problems, but they are only a hundred pounds. If I don't remove the motor, I'm afraid I'll pull the tow patches off the inflatable.For the last few years, we've purchased a 14' Sea Ray jet boat for fun during the dog days of summer here in Georgia. Its 900#, but I can tow it. However, as Berry said, it takes at least a knot off the speed of the boat, and is noisy to tow. You definitely know its there.The main caution in towing the jet ski is weather. If the weather turns bad and you can't get to a safe harbor, you could loose it or have to cut it loose. Something to think about.