Abstract

A multiple-spool waterski tow rope retriever for reeling in a plurality of waterski tow ropes either together or independently. The device may include a housing for outboard mounting on the back of a ski boat, or it may be mounted inboard whereby the tow ropes would extend through holes in the transom of the boat. A motor drives a driveshaft inside a plurality of tow rope spools. The motor may drive the shaft directly or indirectly via a gear, chain, or belt apparatus. The driveshaft transfers rotational power to each spool through a fluid drive apparatus. For each spool, a sleeve is immovably mounted around the shaft within the center section of the spool. The spools rotate around the sleeve and shaft on bearings and are held in place longitudinally by thrust washers. A sealed void surrounding the sleeve within the center of the spool is filled with a high viscosity oil or other high viscosity fluid. When the shaft rotates at high RPM's, the high viscosity oil transfers the rotational force to the spool. Only enough force is transferred to the spool to reel in an unattended tow rope, not a water-skier; therefore, only the spool or spools that are not towing skiers will be turned. This prevents unattended ropes from trailing behind the boat when a skier is still skiing. A locking device may also be included to lock one or all of the spools in place to allow less than a full length of a tow rope to be used by a waterskier. When the motor is not rotating, very minimal effort is required to unreel the tow rope from its spool, thereby enabling easy use by beginning waterskiers.