BEFORE YOU GO

ON THE DOCK:
BEFORE PULLING A RIDER ON A WATER TUBE, IT IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE THAT PERSON BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE TUBE ON DRY LAND, OR EVEN BETTER, IN A SWIMMING POOL. RIDERS SHOULD EXPERIMENT WITH GETTING ON AND OFF THE TUBE, HOW TO SIT ON THE TUBE, AND HOW THE TUBE FEELS TO THE RIDER. BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH HOW TO CLIMB ONTO THE TUBE AFTER IT HAS TIPPED OVER CAN BE ESPECIALLY VALUABLE SINCE IT WILL SAVE YOU VALUABLE TIME ON THE WATER IF THE INFLATABLE IS PARTICULARLY DIFFICUALT TO BOARD.

BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY TOWING OF A RIDER ON AN INFLATABLE WATER SKI TUBE, ALWAYS THOROUGHLY EXAMINE YOUR BOAT'S ENGINE, PROPELLER, FLUID LEVELS, TOWING CLEATS, TRANSOM EYES, REAR VIEW MIRRORS, AND ALL OTHER PARTS OF THE BOAT FOR SAFETY AND FUNCTIONALITY. ALWAYS BE SURE TO TAKE PLENTY OF GAS WHEN TOWING A SKI TUBE, AS THE ADDED DRAG AND WEIGHT WILL OFTEN DEPLETE THE FUEL MUCH FASTER THAN PEOPLE REALIZE. CARRY ENOUGH LIFE PRESERVERS FOR EVERYONE ONBOARD AND BE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE ALL EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT (FLARES, FIRE EXTINGUISHER, FIRST AID KIT, AND SKIER SAFETY FLAG) IS LOCATED. ADDITIONALLY, ALWAYS CARRY ONBOARD A MARINE VHF RADIO, CELL PHONE OR BOTH IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO CHECK YOUR INFLATABLE WATER TUBE AND ITS HARDWARE (SUCH AS A TOWING HARNESS) FOR PROPER INFLATAION AND ANY SIGNS OF DAMAGE OR STRESS. DO NOT RIDE IF YOU DETECT ANY TEARS, FRAYING, HOLES, LEAKS, DISCOLORATION, RUST, OR OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH MIGHT AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE RIDER.

ALWAYS CHECK WEATHER CONDITIONS BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE DOCK AND CONTINUE MONITORING THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WEATHER CAN DETERIORATE QUICKLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THEREFORE, IT IS ALWAYS HELPFUL TO USE A RADIO THAT IS TUNED TO THE LOCAL WEATHER INFORMATION. INFLATABLE TUBING CAN BE DANGEROUS IN OVERLY WINDY, RAINY, OR CHOPPY CONDITIONS. ABSOLUTELY NEVER ATTEMPT BOATING OR TUBING IF LIGHTNING AND THUNDER CAN BE SEEN OR HEARD.

INFLATING YOUR TUBE:
WHEN INFLATING A WATER SKI TUBE, YOU WILL FIRST WANT TO DETERMINE IF YOUR TUBE IS EQUIPPED WITH A SAFETY CHAMBER. A SAFETY CHAMBER IS NOTHING MORE THAN A LOW VOLUME CAVITY WITHIN THE TUBE THAT IS MEANT TO KEEP THE TUBE FROM SINKING IF IT IS PUNCTURED. OFTEN TIMES THIS CHAMBER MUST BE INFLATED USING A SPECIAL CONE SHAPED ADAPTER THAT COMES WITH THE TUBE. WITH THIS INFLATED, PLACE THE PVC INNER TUBE BLADDER INSIDE THE TUBE'S NYLON COVER (IF IT HAS ONE), TAKING CARE TO LINE UP THE INFLATABLE'S VALVES WITH THE OPENINGS IN THE NYLON COVER. NEXT, USING AN INFLATOR OR YOUR MOUTH, INFLATE THE TUBE UNTIL THE INNER TUBE IS FIRM AND THE NYLON COVER IS TAUT. YOU WILL KNOW YOUR TUBE IS CORRECTLY INFLATED WHEN THE INNER TUBE IS FIRM TO THE TOUCH AND THE OUTER NYLON COVER FITS IT LIKE A GLOVE.

WHEN INFLATING, TAKE CARE NOT TO OVER-INFLATE THE TUBE AS THIS CAN OFTEN CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE PVC BLADDER AND CAN CAUSE IT TO BURST OR TEAR THE NYLON COVER. JUST AS IMPORTANT AS TAKING CARE TO NOT OVER-INFLATE THE SKI TUBE, YOU WILL WANT TO BE CERTAIN THAT YOU DO NOT UNDER-INFLATE. YOU WILL KNOW THAT YOUR TUBE DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH AIR IF IT APPEARS TO BE DRAGGING THROUGH THE WATER AND NOT SKIMMING ALONG THE TOP OF IT. IT WILL SIT LOW IN THE WATER AND BE "MUSHY" TO THE TOUCH. DRAGGING AN UNDER-INFLATED TUBE CAN CAUSE IT TO STRETCH, LOSE SHAPE, AND TEAR THE NYLON COVER.

INFLATABLE WATER TUBES OFTEN REQUIRE TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF AIR TO BE PROPERLY INFLATED. THE EASIEST WAY OF ACHIEVING THIS IS TO USE AN AIR PUMP BUILT SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PURPOSE. GENERALLY THESE PUMPS WILL COME WITH A NUMBER OF FITTINGS TO MATCH THE DIFFERENT VALVES THAT CAN BE FOUND ON INFLATABLES. NEVER USE A HAIR DRYER OR ANY OTHER DEVICE WHICH WAS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED AS AN INFLATOR AS THIS CAN DAMAGE THE TUBE.

AFTER INFLATING, IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO PERIODICALLY ADD OR REMOVE SMALL AMOUNTS OF AIR. THE EXPANSION OF THE AIR INSIDE THE TUBE DUE TO A VERY HOT DAY CAN STRAIN THE INFLATABLE. ALSO, TUBES THAT ARE OLDER AND RIDDEN MORE FREQUENTLY MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL AIR AFTER EACH RIDER. REMEMBER: THE EASIEST WAY TO ENSURE A LONG LIFE FOR YOUR TUBE AND A SAFE EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY IS TO ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT IT IS PROPERLY INFLATED.