Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

im faster

Cadet
Joined
May 24, 2013
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8
looking for a good place to keep it and easiest way to tie it down when cruising the lake.


1993 Astro s18fs
merc 115
 

BonairII

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Jun 7, 2011
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2,727
Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

If you have a good air pump....just deflate it and pump it up when needed.

Post a pic of your boat....it'll give us a better idea of what your working with.
 

tpenfield

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Jul 18, 2011
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Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

Unless I am going to be using it throughout the day, I knock the air out of it and stow it in the cuddy.

Having an electric inflation pump makes the process of inflating/deflating much easier to stow & go.
 

BonairII

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Jun 7, 2011
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Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

There are also "high volume" manual pumps that are cheap and work well. I picked up mine at Walmart for like $20 bucks.
 

littlerayray

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Feb 17, 2013
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Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

i got a 30$ airhead 12v pump i keep in the boat takes less then a minute to inflate keeps the room free in the boat
 

jkust

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Aug 2, 2008
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Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

I always see people cruising around with their tubes inflated and attached to the sunpad. I simply deflate it and lay it on the floor of the bow. The high volume pump that you plug into the 12 volt outlet takes a minute to inflate it. We end up bringing it and hardly ever use it so it just becomes a one more thing in the boat.
 

UncleWillie

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Oct 18, 2011
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3,995
Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

Ditto!

It goes in the Ski Locker along with the Booster Ball.
A 12v Inflation Pump does the hard work.
It only takes a few minutes to inflate it once we get to the Tubing area.
 

bishopcherrycoke

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Mar 11, 2011
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42
Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

I have 2 16 foot closed bow fiberglass boats. I use dock lines to attach the tube to the bow. The only thing is it can somewhat get in the way of your vision if youre not on plane. Both my boats have a gas tank in the bow so It will need to be moved in order to fill up your boat. If you have a 12v plug and air pump you can deflate it store it under a seat and fill it up when you need it. But thats too much work for me lol. Put it on the bow. Theres not much else room anywhere else on a 16 or 18 foot closed bow outboard boat.
 

rallyart

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Jun 7, 2008
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1,181
Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

On the dock. We use a Big Mable, and before that a Sea-Doo 3 seater, and they can tie on the swim deck and sun pad if necessary but it's much more pleasant to go tubing, and then go do something else.
 

spoilsofwar

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Jun 29, 2011
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1,124
Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

Deflated, and stored in the engine bay. I have a 12v air pump onboard.
 

oldjeep

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May 17, 2010
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Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

In the garage - tubing sucks, teach them to ski ;)
 

oregoncruiser

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Oct 1, 2010
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Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

Mine rides in the truckto the lake, on the swimdeck until launched, then is tethered on a line about 7-10 feet behind the boat if not being used.There is a sweet spot that it will not fly around,and will not catch all the spray fromthe boat.

With all due respect, the one place it would never be is inflated, and strapped in the bow. Just a safety issue there
 

jkust

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Aug 2, 2008
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Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

In the garage - tubing sucks, teach them to ski ;)

We've got two big tubes. A couple rides around and both deflate while you ride. I for the life of me can't find any leaks. I've spent hours trying to find any leaks with soapy water in order to patch since I don't want to buy more tubes. Both of the tubes have me beat. Tubing is extra challenging when it's half deflated and you get whipped outside the wake and it wants to submarine on you.
 

LippCJ7

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Sep 20, 2010
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5,431
Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

I went the 12v pump route and was not satisfied with the performance so I installed a 110VAC inverter and a 110VAC Pump and have never been happier, inflate and deflate as needed very fast and keeps the cockpit clutter free.
 

Badfish95

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Jun 30, 2012
Messages
118
Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

With an outboard the pump is your best bet. With an I/O I've always tied the tubes tow loop throughout the rear tow eye and let it ride on the swim deck. Once we get to the swimming area we either float on it, let it float behind the boat of put it on top of the Bimini out of the way. Seems easier than inflating and deflating.
 

aharper00

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Joined
May 29, 2012
Messages
42
Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

I use this tube keeper thing... Kwik Tek TB-101 Tube Keeper : Amazon.com : Sports & Outdoors

I can leave the tube inflated and run across the lake at high speeds or leave everything tied up like this at the dock. I live about 10 minutes from the launch and even use this when driving down the road. To keep it from getting air underneath it I use the rope on front of the tube and tie it to the cleat on the front of the boat and then just close my windshield. Simple, easy to use and does what it is supposed to.
 

haulnazz15

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Mar 9, 2009
Messages
3,720
Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

Deflated, and stored in the engine bay. I have a 12v air pump onboard.

That's what we do now, but I use a cordless rechargeable Coleman air pump. Fills the tube up in less than a minute, no cords to string out. We roll ours up and lay it on the back of the swim deck.
 

aldena

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Joined
Jul 1, 2010
Messages
22
Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

I run a couple of straps from the handles of the tube to the rear cletes. Pulled up tight to the stern, the front of the tube tucks in nicely under the integrated swimstep, and the tube rides flat behind the boat.
 

Toddavid

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Sep 8, 2012
Messages
183
Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

Deflated. I installed a 1000watt inverter and use a 2hp shop vac to inflate/deflate. Takes less than 2 minutes each direction with a massive 3 person Supermable tube.

Plus, I can do quick cleanups of my carpets with the shop vac (when I am not sitting on my sofa, in the words of Home Cookin').
 

h2odick

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Jun 11, 2012
Messages
194
Re: Where do you store your tube while on the lake.?

We also store ours deflated in the ski locker, and blow up/deflate before and after use, or I'll pull it behind the boat (tied up right behind swim platform) if we're planning on doing some additional tubing later. Airhead has a 12v high pressure air pump, it will blow up my huge 4 man tube in only a couple of minutes, has alligator clips to hook directly to the battery posts - ~$50. That Tube keeper thing aharper mentioned is pretty cool, and I see a lot of people with these.. Just worries me I'd have a tube blow off the boat @ WOT.
 
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