Flying tubes

[rottenray6402]

I saw on the news that one manufacturer of the "flying tube" has taken it off the market. Two people have been killed and I think 38 have been seriously injured with them.

 

[Ron G]

Re: Flying tubes

Im out of the times,whats a flying tube?

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Flying tubes

Im out of the times,whats a flying tube?

Sevylor Mantaray, Wego kite tube by Sportsstuff. This is a hot topic on several other boating boards.
Don't get me started.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Flying tubes

We saw a couple of them out on the lake last week - thought they looked really fun, but wondered how they could be on the market in this litigus society. Guess they can't be. :/

 

[tommays]

Re: Flying tubes

Why would anybody sue on a product sold as safe and fun that can take you 20' in the air without warning and drop you on your head

WHEN YOUR USEING IT CORRECTLY


Tommays

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Flying tubes

What ever happened to assumption" of risk"?

They look like fun, but I can see the danger.

Ken

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Flying tubes

I saw a woman at the marina a couple weeks ago.The whole side of her face was purple like she took a bad beating.I heard her telling a guy she took a hard fall from a kite tube..Poor thing..I thought her husband had beat her up..

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: Flying tubes

Some of the falls and crashes they showed on TV were down right scarey! I would think the company is being sued up the ying yang about now. It is a shame people are killed or hurt but you would have to have somebody hold your sign before you got on one of those things to begin with! :^

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Flying tubes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Sportsstuff, Inc., of Omaha, Nebraska is voluntarily recalling about 19,000 Wego Kite Tubes.

CPSC staff is aware of 39 injury incidents with 29 of those resulting in medical treatment. Those injuries include a broken neck, punctured lung, chest and back injuries and facial injuries. Sportsstuff has received reports of two deaths in the United States and a variety of serious injuries. Sportsstuff has been unable to determine the cause of the incidents. Nevertheless, the company has withdrawn the kite tube from the market and is undertaking this voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution.

The Sportsstuff Wego Kite Tube is a 10-foot-wide, circular, yellow inflatable watercraft designed to be towed behind a power boat. A rider in the tube becomes airborne by pulling on handles attached to the floor of the tube. Model 53-5000 is printed on the tube near the product valve. The floor of the tube has black caution warning stripes. The cover for the product bears a skull and crossbones and the statement “Never Kite higher than you are willing to fall.” The tubes were imported and sold through marine distributors, mail order catalogs, and various retailers from approximately October 1, 2005 to July 11, 2006 for about $500 to $600.

Consumers should immediately stop using the kite tubes and contact Sportsstuff at (866) 831-5524 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST Monday through Friday to learn how to obtain free replacement products. Consumers can also visit the firm’s Web site at www.sportsstuff.com for more information

 

[roscoe]

Re: Flying tubes

 

[roscoe]

Re: Flying tubes

Here is a site with several news stories:
http://www.steadywinds.com/

There was a link to a video posted here a while back, can't find it ????


These quotes are from a board that was discussing them.
http://www.steadywinds.com/archives/2006/02/28/kite-tube/

Seems to me there have been more than a couple deaths, and many many serious injuries.


"marc Says:
April 18th, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Hey Chris

I had the same idea about hooking it up to the tower, 3 out 5 guys landed in the ER that night, The air we caught was unreal. Approx 40ft on a 65ft line. If you do hook it their be prepared for a rough fall.

Marc


still recovering Says:
April 20th, 2006 at 12:53 am
Using a 100 foot line or tieing to the tower is just stupid. I did a nose dive at 10? and ended up in the er. If someone does that at 40? or 75? their dead.

adog Says:
April 23rd, 2006 at 3:05 am
we used the 65 ft cord and to the tower on a ski nautique 210 air and got AT LEAST 50 ft before he fell on his neck….knocked him out but us Texas boys dont go to the ER till there are limbs hanging off…..

Meagan Says:
May 2nd, 2006 at 11:10 am
I watched a friend of mine die when he fell off of the wego kite tube, it was the most awful thing I will ever expierence. He broke his neck when he hit the water. Please, please don’t use this tube!!


We finally decided to try the 65? foot length and I am man enough to say that we were not ready (or “I” was not ready). I was the first to try it and wanted to increase the speed to 40-45. During my run, I was easily flying 10-15 feet in the air and it seemed to me that I was getting the hang of it. But then I caught a huge gust of wind that took me to 30 feet in the air instantly and then, even faster, it turned to the left and then whipped to the right and threw me off into the water and I landed right on my back. It knocked the @^%!$@ out of me and I could hardly breathe for a good 5-7 minutes. I thought my neck and back were shattered. I have not gone to the doctor yet but I have eaten two bottles of aspirin since yesterday. It does disturb me that I landed exactly how that 33 year old guy landed in Texas that was killed. AND HE WAS ONLY AT 15 FEET. I was double that.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Flying tubes

As long as death was listed as a possible side affect of using the product, I don't see any problem with it.

I mean really, look at the tobacco industry....

:^:^:^

 

[12Footer]

Re: Flying tubes

.

Sounds like Darwin's "natural selection" rap to me. Sorry, but that is just ate-up stupid.
Stupid like strappin a parachute to yer back, and jumping off a highrise.
.
------------------------------------------------From SW Florida, A proud member of iboats since March 25,2001
The old me

 

[Link]

Re: Flying tubes

As long as death was listed as a possible side affect of using the product, I don't see any problem with it.

I mean really, look at the tobacco industry....

:^:^:^

Agree
Or any other hobby/sport
Sueing is just out of control these days.

I have always thought that rock and mountain climbers get what they deserve! Falling or dieing in the snow hurts!

They could say the same to me. I have kites that take me just as high. Also been known to jump out of perfectly good airplanes..

And YES I've been hurt many times doing these (what some would call Stupid) things.

But it's a risk I'm willing to take for the thrill! Same as Rock Climbers! Even though I think they deserve what they get !
Where is that big green grin when I need it!

But to sue the people who made the toy I wanted to play with?? Thats Stupid. Me thinks anyway!

 

[Kevin70]

Re: Flying tubes

I guess I should sue the Huffy corp. for all the scars on my elbows and knees. Now that I think about it.......my thumbs are always really sore...thanks alot etch-a-scetch.

 

[Mr.Ladyfish]

Re: Flying tubes

LOL @ Kevin

 

[Triton II]

Re: Flying tubes

Hmmm, let's see.

Motorcycle racing injury list:

1 x broken wrist
I x broken thumb
1 x broken collar bone
1 x shortened pinkie
1 x split open forearm
2 x broken legs
Several x shattered ego.

13 years active service as a front line military pilot:

1 x scarred chin through falling off a boarding ladder.
Several x scared sh!tless without injury.

Now, where can I buy one of these flying tubes? 8)

 

[JRJ]

Re: Flying tubes

Hmmm, let's see.

Motorcycle racing injury list:

1 x broken wrist
I x broken thumb
1 x broken collar bone
1 x shortened pinkie
1 x split open forearm
2 x broken legs
Several x shattered ego.

13 years active service as a front line military pilot:

1 x scarred chin through falling off a boarding ladder.
Several x scared sh!tless without injury.

Now, where can I buy one of these flying tubes? 8)

Does look like fun, please take video8)8)

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Flying tubes

I'd love to try it. I hate roller coasters and the like but it looks like a blast!

 

[Mr.Ladyfish]

Re: Flying tubes

Triton, are you related to Evil Knevil?