WARNING:

BOATING AND BOAT-TOWED WATER SPORTS, INCLUDING TUBING, WAKEBOARDING, WATER SKIING, WAKESKATING, AND BARE-FOOTING IS DANGEROUS. THERE IS A RISK OF DROWNING, COLLISION, INJURY FROM THE TOW LINE, AND CONTACT WITH THE MOTOR'S PROPELLER WHICH CAN CAUSE BODILY HARM OR POSSIBLY DEATH. IT IS ALWAYS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE AWARE OF THESE RISKS AND TAKE ALL PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY TO ENSURE SAFE, HAPPY BOATING.

THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY. ALWAYS BE AWARE OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY YOUR BOAT'S MANUFACTURER AS WELL AS ANY SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING THE USE OF YOUR INFLATABLE TUBE, WAKEBOARD, WATERSKI, TOW LINE, AND ALL SAFETY EQUIPMENT. WATERLINE PRODUCTS, WATERLINE MARKETING, AND BOATWATERSPORTS.COM ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS INFORMATION REGARDING ITS ACCURACY, APPLICABILITY, OR SUITABILITY FOR ANY SPECIFIC PURPOSE.

BOAT-TOWED INFLATABLE WATER SKI TUBE BASICS

BOAT-TOWED INFLATABLE WATER SKI TUBING IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO ENJOY YOUR POWER BOAT WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. TUBING IS GREAT BECAUSE IT ALLOWS EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF ABILITY OR AGE, THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THE FUN OF MORE DIFFICULT WATER SPORTS SUCH AS WATER SKIING AND WAKEBOARDING. WHEN DONE PROPERLY, TUBING CAN BE ONE OF THE FUNNEST THINGS YOU CAN DO ON THE WATER.

TUBE CONSTRUCTION:

AN INFLATABLE WATER TUBE IS GENERALLY CONSTRUCTED FROM AN ENCLOSED FLEXIBLE PVC RUBBER BLADDER AND SURROUNDED BY A NYLON FABRIC COVER. MOST TUBES CONTAIN A VALVE THAT ALLOWS THE RIDER TO INFLATE THE TUBE MANUALLY OR BY WAY OF AN AIR PUMP. RIDERS SHOULD LOOK FOR TUBES THAT HAVE ENOUGH HANDLES TO ALLOW THE RIDERS TO SAFELY AND COMFORTABLEY RIDE. TUBES COME IN VIRTUALLY ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN SELECTING AN INFLATABLE BOAT TUBE IS HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU WANT TO TOW AT ONCE, WHAT ARE THE ABILITIES OF THOSE RIDERS, AND WHAT KINDS OF TUBE IS YOUR BOAT CAPABLE OF PULLING?

TYPES & SIZES OF TUBES:

THE "DOUGHNUT":
THE MOST STANDARD TUBE DESIGN IS THE "DOUGHNUT" DESIGN WHICH, AS ITS NAME IMPLIES, IS ROUND WITH A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE. THESE TUBES ARE USUALLY ONLY BUILT FOR ONE OR TWO RIDERS AND ALLOW THE PERSON TO LAY FLAT ACCROSS THE TUBE WITH THEIR STOMACHS FACING DOWNWARD, OR TO SIT IN THE MIDDLE OF TUBE WITH THEIR BOTTOM IN THE "DOUGHNUT" HOLE.

DECK TUBES:
A SLIGHT VARIATION ON THE STANDARD "DOUGHNUT" TUBE IS THE DECK TUBE. THE DECK TUBE IS SIMLAR TO THE STANDARD IN THAT IT IS USUALLY ROUND IN SHAPE BUT WHAT SETS IT APART IS THE LACK OF A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE. DECK TUBES COME IN ALL SIZES AND ARE USUALLY RIDEN WITH THE RIDER FACING DOWNWARD ACCROSS THE TUBE. DECK TUBES ARE USUALLY DESIGNED WITH HIGH PERFORMANCE RIDERS IN MIND WHO SEEK SPEED AND THE ABILITY TO PERFORM TRICKS WITH THE INFLATABLE.

ENCLOSED TUBES:
ENCLOSED TUBES ARE NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHERS EXCEPT THAT THEY ENCLOSE THE RIDER WITHIN THE TUBE AND GENERALLY DON'T ALLOW AS MUCH VERSATILITY ON HOW TO RIDE. ENCLOSED TUBES CAN BE GREAT FOR FAIMILIES WITH YOUNGER KIDS OR FOR PEOPLE WHO PREFER A MORE STABLE, DRY RIDE.

CONCEPT TUBES:
THERE ARE OF COURSE AS MANY OTHER DESIGNS OF INFLATABLES AS THERE ARE PEOPLE WILLING TO RIDE THEM. OTHER POPULAR "CONCEPT" DESIGNS INCLUDE TUBES SHAPED LIKE SNOW SLEDS, SPACE SHIPS, AND HOT DOGS!

SINGLE RIDER TUBES:
SINGLE RIDER TUBES ARE SO NAMED BECAUSE THEY ACCOMIDATE ONLY ONE RIDER. BECAUSE OF THIS, SINGLE RIDER TUBES TEND TO BE SMALLER AND LIGHTER THAN OTHER TUBES. THIS MAKES THEM GREAT FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE TUBING INVOLVING JUMPS, TRICKS, AND HIGHER SPEEDS. ANOTHER BENEFIT OF SINGLE RIDER TUBES IS THAT DUE TO THEIR SMALLER SIZE, THEY ARE GREAT FOR JET SKIS AND SMALLER, LIGHTER BOATS WITH LESS HORSEPOWER.

DOUBLE RIDER AND MULTI RIDER TUBES:
DOUBLE RIDER AND MULTI RIDER TUBES ARE DESIGNED TO CARRY MORE THAN ONE RIDER AT A TIME AND WILL TEND TO BE SLOWER, HEAVIER, AND LARGER THAN THEIR SINGLE RIDER COUNTERPARTS. WHEN TOWING A DOUBLE OR MULTI RIDER TUBE, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO USE A STRONGER, HEAVY DUTY TOW ROPE AND TOW HARNESS TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THE INCREASED WEIGHT. BECAUSE OF THEIR LARGER SIZE, THESE TUBES ARE GREAT FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN OR REALLY ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT LIKE BOATING AND WATER SPORTS. MULTI RIDER TUBING IS ALSO A GREAT WAY TO MAKE SOMEONE COMFORTABLE WITH TUBING IF IT'S THEIR FIRST TIME ON THE WATER.