How do you secure a large towable (Warbird)

[a70eliminator]

Hi guy's, I'm about to put down for one of them large 2 person towables, it's the 2 person warbird from sportstuff. I've been reading the reviews on this model and it seems like the best choice for my family, although none of the reviews cover hauling the thing around unoccupied. are you expected to deflate and re-inflate it everytime you use it, can you tow with a short rope when not in use, looking at dimentions this thing is BIG, I have a molded swim platform 20' bowrider I/O so I should be able to cinch it right up, but the rear view may be too obstructed and possibley illegal too? Can anyone offer any insight as to the handleing and stowage of a big tube? Am I going to have to buy a 12v pump for it, I have a compressor at home and would like to inflate it beforehand and tie it down inside the boat to transport to the lake, is that reasonable, then just tow it around on a leash when not in use? Thanks for reading.

 

[rocky100]

Re: How do you secure a large towable (Warbird)

I just throw my in the back of the boat and secure it with some bungee cords-it has worked so far.

 

[45Auto]

Re: How do you secure a large towable (Warbird)

We've been using the big 3 person (90" - 100" diameter) tubes since 2000 (18' then 22' bowrider). I've always put the bimini up and strapped them to the top of the bimini with motorcycle straps (quick-release, not ratchet) and never had any problems. 1 strap from the front tow ring to the windshield bracing for the walk-thru, and 1 on each side at the rear from the rearmost tube handles to the bimini frame. I put them on at the house, and tow the boat for 4 or 5 miles at 60 mph to the river. Usually keep the speed on the water below 40 when I've got the tube on top.

I tried strapping them to the back of the boat over the sunpad and swim platform but then they get in the way if you want to ski or kneeboard or wakeboard.

Too much trouble to inflate/deflate. Mine gets inflated at the beginning of the summer and hasn't been deflated yet - supposed to be almost 80 here this weekend.

Just make sure to let the bimini dry out before you roll it up and put the cover on it. Put a tent away damp one time and next time I went to use it it had rotted away to scraps!

If I remember right, if you try to tow it around loose with no weight on it they would fly up and do all kinds of interesting stuff!

I'll try to find some pics with the tubes on the boat.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: How do you secure a large towable (Warbird)

Now that I would like to see! Does sound good. When I mentioned dragging it with a short leash, I mean really short like mostly in the boat but partially dragging the water.

 

[204 Escape]

Re: How do you secure a large towable (Warbird)

We have a tie down rope thing, with some suction cups, that attatch to the inside of the boat, called Tube Keeper.

We haven't got to use them yet, but we will.

We bought two of those rechargeable air pumps too. Name brand is O'Brien.

If I remember right the brand called Air Head had a flaw/recall on them.

These pumps air the tubes up really well, and quickly.

I suggest you giving them consideration.

 

[bigbenrusky]

Re: How do you secure a large towable (Warbird)

We have a tie down rope thing, with some suction cups, that attatch to the inside of the boat, called Tube Keeper.

We haven't got to use them yet, but we will.

We bought two of those rechargeable air pumps too. Name brand is O'Brien.

If I remember right the brand called Air Head had a flaw/recall on them.

These pumps air the tubes up really well, and quickly.

I suggest you giving them consideration.

you can buy the tube keeper on ebay for something like $10 or $15.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: How do you secure a large towable (Warbird)

What exactly do the suction cups do just provide a point of tie down? My swim platform is slip resistant and suction cup won't stick to it.
I've got the tube new in box and have not yet inflated it but it sure seems heavy @ 45lbs. I really don't want to be deflating it after each use, I can suspend it from the ceiling in my garage for storage.

 

[guy74]

Re: How do you secure a large towable (Warbird)

I just deflate ours and store it under one of the bow seats. We use a 12volt inflator to air it up on board the boat when we want to use it. It works really good. There is no other good option on a 15ft boat.

 

[hibbert6]

Re: How do you secure a large towable (Warbird)

I have a 15' trihull and I strap my tube to the Bimini. Well, actually, I place it up there and tie it to cleats front and rear. It's not REAL secure, but it works. The trick is to tie it down snug enough to compress the bimini a bit, (but not so much as to bend anything). Then, underway, the wind lifts the tube up just enough to unstress the bimini.

Dave