Tips on using Ringo's

[markymarkP]

Hi All

i have just bought a ringo to tow the kids behind the boat, summer fun and all.

although i would presume its mostly common sense, i dont want to just charge head long into doing something and someone gets hurt.

so, any main pointers for me?

thanks in advance

[treerat]

Morning

We use a decent PFD with planty of padding, a helmet also gets used for the yongsters.

Apart from that, attach and enjoy -mind you don't wind the badger up to qiuck or you'll just throw them straight off.

[TUFTY]

Keep your speed to a safe level, Ensure someone other than the driver is watching the ringo & Rider from the tow boat, Maintain huge safe distance from other craft especially when turning, try not to allow the line too slacken too much, check your insurance covers you for this activity. Watch the little ones for warmth, they can chill quickly.

Cheers

Paul (Tufty)

[Robbie Diesel]

As the rest have said, its all common sense really. I find 18knots is about fast enough for kids. Anything over 20knots and it can really hurt if you fall out. I usually do a series of left to right turns so the ringo is crossing the wake regular, but dont over do the severity of the turns or the rope can go slack and gives the passenger a fearfull jolt when the rope tightens again!

Its GREAT fun though, i guarantee you's will all be bent double Laughing at each other! Quality..

[SPR]

DON'T use shock cord as the towing line or part off! Although there is a member on here swears by it! the passenger don't!

S.

[PeterM]

All the above while remembering that the ringo on the outside of a turn will be going quicker( sometimes a lot quicker) than the boat . The slingshot effect is a sure way to make anyone in the ringo end up in the water .

I keep trying to make Mrs M understand this .......... usually after I have bounced off the water 3 times.

[willfinch36]

I normally have one person at the front of the boat looking back at the person in the donut, all my friends thought they would never get thrown off, well when your going sideways at 35 knots and clip a way CHERRRRRRRRRRIO!!

[jyasaki]

Shut the motor down when the tuber is ingressing/egressing the water. If you have to reposition the boat near someone in the water, use a paddle (or two), or toss a line to the swimmer and drag them where you want.

Make sure the observer knows their job is observe the towee; not just to warn when they're down, but also to watch where they went down, so you can get back to them straightaway. Make sure the observer meets any age requirement if there is one (pretty common in the US.)

Be really careful if operating around fixed structures (rocks, pilings, barges, piers, etc.) The towed person is ikely to come off at the outside of the turn, and may skip a bit across the water. Keep enough separation so they don't skip into something hard and unyielding.

jky