Guide of buying inflatable towable tube

When we make inflatable towable tubes or ski tubes, actually we have two types for choices. One is partially covered ski tubes, the other is fully covered towables. Regarding to size, various size for choice, from one person to multiple persons. Boat tubes are rated as 1 rider, 2 rider, 3 rider, 4 rider and 5+ riders towables. The rider rating means maximum number of adults persons. Some tubes can handle more persons. But for safety reasons, on 3+ person ski tubes, it always have one adult rider on the tube with the kids. Because when a kid get trapped under the tube, that adult can assist quickly.

When you choosing towable tube, another thing you should consider is the bottle shape surface of tube. When tube skim faster on the water at high speeds, the tube has a shape to reduce surface area contact with the water.

Before using towable tube, read on proper inflation for best performance, selecting suitable ski rope, using inflator for towables.

Key important for best performance on towable tube is proper inflation.

If you properly inflated, ski tube shapes have been designed well. It means if you properly inflated, it will expand to fill the cover without distorting the intended shapes. Thus, to know when is “enough” become important, especially there is no gauge to show that tube has been filled to optimum level. One question, what is proper level for performance of inflation? The answer is inflated ski tubes glide over the water with the least amount of resistance. Under inflated towables plow through the water, creating drag, which in turn puts undue strain on the tube’s tow point and towing rope. What is more, the cover on an under inflated tube can quickly distort, fill with water and become damaged. Supporting over inflation, it will put stress on the cover seams and PVC inner bladder welds.

In hot weather, if over inflation, dramatic effect will appear. The air inside a tube that is over filled would soon expand to almost double its size were it not for the cover containing further growth. Generally, you will fill your tube until the nylon cover is fairly wrinkle-free. The tubes are constructed from 30 gauge PVC material with good elasticity, which allows the tube expand unti it fills the nylon protective cover.

How to fill covered towable tube or smaller tube

Open tubes such as Jumbo, Wing, it is a simple matter of placing the PVC bladder inside the cover and aligning the molded boston valve with the corresponding opening in the nylon cover. If you haven’t done so already, unfold the PVC bladder and lay it out to roughly match the outline of the nylon cover. Always try to find a clean, debris free area to inflate your tube.

How to Buy the right Tube Rope

I have a water ski rope. Can I use it to pull a towable tube? The answer is NO.

Ski ropes usually have a handle that must be taken off to use it on a tube. In addition, a ski rope was never designed to pull a towable, especially if there are 2 or more riders on the tube. Tubes often go slack and then get pulled tight while the boat is moving causing a lot of stress on the rope. A used slalom ski rope usually has some fraying or wear near the bridle that can further weaken it. An un-unsafe rope or an un-safe method to tie a ski rope to a tube can cause it to break. Depending on where it breaks, the rope will snap straight back and hit the kids riding in the tube, or snap back the other way and hit somebody in the boat.

To avoid this problem, buy a good tube rope that meets WSIA standards for the number of riders you are pulling. Tube ropes already have the rope eyelet weaved into each end of the rope to make the connection strong between the tube and boat so that the rope does not come off the tube.

Dreamer Inflatables 4K Towing Rope Test Data