Towing my 170

[pbustle]

I know this has been debated and that is not what I am here to do.  I am going to start towing our 170 with our sportfish.  I need to reinforce the bow eye so that it can handle the pressures of towing.   There are a few options.  I can go to toweye.com and buy a tow eye, but they are rediculous expensive.  or I can have a aluminum plate put in behind the existing bow eye and reinforce it to handle the strain.  Has anyone ever towed their 170 for a great deal of time?  At what speeds did you tow it?  What did you do to reinforce the tow eye?  Thanks for the help.

Pat Bustle

[RickK]

I don't remember this ever being talked about - trailering, yes but not towing.
And we never debate anything here - we're always nice to each other  

[seabob4]

Pat,
Towing your 170 is not a difficult task, although it is best to tow using a Towing Bridle, as seen in this add.  Do some research on continuous towing as opposed to towing someone in on a temporary basis.  Towing from the bow eye causes the towed vessel to wander all over the place and is not very controllable, without someone being on the towed vessel and using an oar as a rudder.  A bridle will solve that problem for you.  You might have to install a pair of spring-line cleats, but that should do it.

I used to know a captain out of Tampa that ran an 84' Broward that towed a 38' Blackfin all over the Carribbean fishing the Billfish Tournaments.  Obviously, the 170 should be no problem, just do it right.