Help me choose a tube!

[haulnazz15]

Re: Help me choose a tube!

I'm looking for a beginner tube. Something stable and safer for "older" riders maybe? Want something easy to use.

Also, where can I get some basic info on using one? Are they attached to tie-down eyes? How much tow rope and what kind? How fast or slow do I go? etc.

Do y'all pump them up on board with portable compressor or bring 'em to the lake filled?

Thanks.

I don't know what a "beginner" tube is, but perhaps something that has a seated position as opposed to being on your knees or stomach. Most tubes are stable until you start whipping people around. Get a rope rated to pull tubers, usually 750-1000 pound break point. They are usually a standard length like 50 or 60ft long. Attach to the transom eyes or a ski tow ring. Do not attach to ski poles. Speeds can vary with different water conditions and rider age/experience but generally not faster than 30mph.

Just remember when you whip someone around the side of the wake (i.e. you turn the boat hard and the tube goes flying to the outside of the turn) the tube is doing approximately twice the speed of the boat. So 30mph turns mean 60mph crashes for the tube riders if they bite it!

 

[bds85466]

Re: Help me choose a tube!

A few personal guidelines, nothing official here --

Typical length is 50-60 feet for a tow rope, but you can go shorter. I would never go any longer than 65 feet or shorter than 20 feet -- keep that tuber out of spray and exhaust fumes.

If your boat has built in harware such as a ski tow eye http://www.iboats.com/Seadog_Transo...gory.ski tow eye--store_id.100--view_id.39715 in the center or two tow eyelets on the port and starboard sides of the stern, you're all set.

If you have the center eyelet, you couple your rope directly to that -- depending on the actual hardware, that may differ. Check around these forums and you'll find great advice for your specific one. If you have the two eyelets, invest in a tow rope bridle...after all this, I came across this:

http://www.skitube.com/ski-tubes/towropeguidelinesarticle.cfm

I think very importantly, the following for rope strength:

1 rider or 170 lbs.: 1500 lbs. tensile strength
2 riders or 340 lbs.: 2375 lbs. tensile strength
3 riders or 510 lbs.: 3350 lbs. tensile strength
4 riders or 680 lbs.: 4100 lbs. tensile strength

 

[bds85466]

Re: Help me choose a tube!

and another note, those portable 12V compressors work great -- most of them are bidirectional so you can use them to deflate quickly as well -- fold up and store.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Help me choose a tube!

i just picked up a Sportsstuff Super Mable today.....its a big, 3 seater that can be towed 2 directions. i figure with the 3-seater and 2 towpoint options, it should be versatile for a good amount of fun to come.....i got a smokin deal on it from someone that bought it and sold his boat before he had a chance to use it.

 

[bryanj23]

Re: Help me choose a tube!

I bought an Aquaglide Kona 3 for $100 this spring (and it's still on sale). It's a 3 person tube, completely covered. It's a flat style tube that has handles for laying prone or sitting up. It's been a lot of fun. We also have a bungee rope. The nice thing about the bungee is that it is always smooth on take off for the kids. There's no jerk to throw them before they even get going!