Towable Ski Tubes for Family Fun
How to Begin Tubing and Have a Safe and Fun Ride
Tubing requires little to no skill. Children, teenagers and adults can enjoy this water sport. All it takes is a watercraft, ski rope and a tube to have fun.
Want to spend the day on the boat but have too many guests who have no skill to ski? Grab some ski rope and a towable ski tube and give those guests the boat ride of their lives.
Tube rope lines can be attached to the following:
- Personal water crafts or jet skis
- Pontoon boats
- Ski boats
Water Tubing Requires Little Skill
Water tubing is easy. It doesn’t take much skill, other than hanging on for dear life or moving one’s weight from one side of the tube to the other. However, it can be dangerous. High speeds or poor driving can prove to be disastrous. All passengers of a tube must wear a life jacket that properly fits. Most riders will end up in the water during the ride, and some will do somersaults before they land in the water. Some tube riders are very sore when they get up the next morning.
Ski Rope for Towable Tubes
The ski rope or regular nylon rope can be cut to 50 to 100 feet long. If two tubes are being used, it is best to have the rope exactly the same length. There are special connectors for the tube that tie to the rope, which make switching from skiing to tubing faster.
Note: If driving a jet ski or personal water craft, be extra careful with the rope. It is very easy to suck the rope into the intake of the engine. The driver needs to be aware of where the rope is at all times.
The Intensity of the Ride Depends on the Driving and the Speed of the Boat
Small children and first timers can take a ride directly behind the boat in the boat’s wake at speeds of 10 to 20 miles per hour. For a nice slow ride, tubers can sit in the “hole” of a doughnut shaped tube with feet forward and hold on to the straps. For more adventurous riders, zigzagging and figure eight driving patterns are preferred. A speed of 20 to 35 miles per hour is plenty. Tubers can sit in the hole, lie down flat on their tummies or get up on their knees. The watercraft driver must be totally in control of the craft and be completely aware of others in the vicinity of the boat.
Types of Towable Ski Tubes
There are one, two, three and even 10 person towable ski tubes on the market. Many times tubes will be rated as mild or wild for the ride a person will receive. In addition, tubes come in many shapes:
- Triangles
- Flat wings
- Body encompassing bullets
- Shoes, cars, jet skis, snakes, etc.
Some tubes have cavities to put your body in and others are completely flat. The best tubes have sturdy handles and a heavy PVC liner that won’t bust or leak from a long day of boating.
Nice Towable Ski Tube Accessories to Have on the Watercraft
It is very handy to have an air pump that is powered by a lighter plug-in. Some tubes will lose air during the day from rough riding or from sitting over night.
Tube handlers on the back of a boat are also nice to have if the riders want to tube and ski. The best way is to stow the tubes on a dock while skiing.
Enjoy a Day of Tubing with the Entire Family
An entire family can spend the whole day tubing as long as safety is a number one goal. Always wear a life vest. Moms and dads can put small children on their laps and go for a slow lumbering ride, while teens can ride a two-person tube and have two tubes tied behind the water craft zipping through the water. It is a great way to spend a sunny afternoon together.
