What Makes a Good Tow Boat?

If your main marine activity is a towing sport like waterskiing or wakeboarding, you want to pick the right vessel for the job. Here’s our expert advice on what qualities to look for when shopping for your new boat for waterskiing or wakeboarding. We have a fantastic selection of inboard tow boats. Come see us any time at Northwest Inboards in Issaquah, where we also serve our neighbors in Seattle, Washington. 

Choose an Inboard Motor

The best water skiing takes place on relatively flat wakes, and inboard motors are the best engine to deliver nice, flat, uniform wakes. Another benefit of an inboard motor is that it’s a lot safer for folks in the water because it’s somewhat protected by the stern. However, it’s still important to take all safety precautions. 

Wake Characteristics

Towing boat hulls are designed specifically to generate the ideal wake. Of course, different watersports call for different types of wakes/waves. Wakeboarding requires a larger, more aggressive wake, while water skiing benefits from a nice flat wake. The best tow boats can generate both types.

Hitch Point

Another consideration is the hitch point. For waterskiing, the hitch point should be the same height as the skier’s hands. However, the hitch point for wakeboarding needs to be positioned higher than the wakeboarder, which is usually accomplished with a wakeboard tower on the boat. 

In other words, it’s important to know what kind of towing sport or sports you want to focus on when you’re boat shopping. It’s also worth noting that these vessels don’t perform as well in the open ocean. 

Ready to boat shop? We’ve got the best brands, the best boats, and the best team around, so come talk to us at Northwest Inboards of Issaquah, Washington. We’ll be happy to get you into just the right tow boat for your needs!