Best Boat for Tubing

[solarant]

I am researching on starting a commercial water tubing business.
Can anyone out there give me their opinion on the best boat type and engine size to pull a 10 person side by side water tube.

 

[impatico]

Re: Best Boat for Tubing

anything with a big block!

looking for brand new?? look into Baja boats, tubing is the hardest on the boat try to find something with a 496/502 and watch the fuel gauge go down! a MPI 350 would do it, but in the long run with the boat pulling that kinda tube most it's life get a bigger engine so it doesn't have to work too hard. Be prepared for 60,000+ though

Just my $0.02

 

[Philster]

Re: Best Boat for Tubing

You need twin outboards of 250hp x 2 or 300hp x 2 or a 496 or 502 Big Block (430 HP) and the hull you run is dictated by the waters in question. You'll need someone to set the boat up (dial it in) for the given load, which means a smaller 4-blade prop than other boats of the same model will run. You don't want to be lugging the engine, so without the tube load, she'll actually be under-propped and prone to over-revving. You'll want hydraulic trim tabs, too.

Where will this be? In a quiet sound? Then it lessens the need for a deep V and the hull can help save you some money on fuel.

Ski boat is possible if this is strictly a lake boat, but I have salt water in my blood, so I picture coastal boating first -- an internal flaw.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Best Boat for Tubing

Look at tow-boats like MasterCrafts, Malibu, Natique, etc. They are designed for pulling. What budget range are you looking at?

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Best Boat for Tubing

Look at tow-boats like MasterCrafts, Malibu, Natique, etc. They are designed for pulling. What budget range are you looking at?

But not for towing anywhere close to that type of load, especially for extended times for commercial usage. You need a big engine that can run at high output for an extended time, it needs to be a big block, or multiple outboards.

The other consideration is that if you have 10 people on a tube behind you, you need room for 10 people in the boat, as well as a captains license to haul 10 people around commercially.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Best Boat for Tubing

Are there really people out there that will pay you $300-$400-$500 an hour to pull them around?


Give us the details, and show us the plan.

Maybe we can help you avoid some pitfalls.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Best Boat for Tubing

Like it was said--if you're carrying 10 people on a tube, you've got to have a boat that can carry them. There are few inboard ski boats that would carry that many people comfortably.

Go for a 24'-25' high performance tri toon boat with lifting strakes and a 250 hp motor with a hydraulic jack plate. Their performance is incredible, and they will pull a big tube.

And, getting 10 people on a bobbing tube is possible off a pontoon/tritoon boat.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Best Boat for Tubing

Are there really people out there that will pay you $300-$400-$500 an hour to pull them around?

Whoops, missed the 10 person part! SO ... now my focus totally switches to Roscoe's: really?!?

I'm interested to see your plan and market research too.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Best Boat for Tubing

10 people could be 2000 lbs to tow around, more if they are all shaped like aunt Bertha - as everyone said, that would be a considerable load on not only the motor, but the boat as well. I would think what ever you settle on, you'd want to look into beefing up the tow attachment points. Can't say I know 10 people well enought that I would want to get dragged around with them, but I'm sure there are those that do!

 

[Philster]

Re: Best Boat for Tubing

I've seen large groups on these banana-type pull-behinds. They skim across the water like a cat, which might reduce overall drag vs a tube that is loaded down with a lot of people. Still, the tube is supposed to skim, too. The whole shot has to hurt though. That's literally a ton of weight.

Now, check out the little outboard used to pull this group (see link) and then look at all the videos of large groups getting towed behind different boats!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUaewLO3uEg

Look at the videos on the right, too!

How about a dozen people behind a PWC? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yppT5fdoiKk&feature=related

 

[Tahorover]

Re: Best Boat for Tubing

With ten people on board your going to need a LIMITED SCOPE MASTER captains license from the Coast Guard. You could keep it to six and get your six pack license.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Best Boat for Tubing

I have a 25' Crownline with a 454 MPI, I have pulled 6 adults on 3 two person tubes at one time, 5 people on a 12' rotating disk type inflatable and I have pulled 6 people on a banana like Philster posted, I have the biggest motor in my "clique" so it seems I always get elected to pull the bigger loads which is fine by me since well if you like carnage the recipe seems to be warm weather, water, Inflatables, Horsepower and a shot of alcohol. You just can't pay for comedy like this!

However...

the biggest problem with more then 6 is you have alot of 100LB-250LB bodies flying around, ask anyone who has ridden a Banana, the poor person on the front gets the best view but also gets all 5 of the passengers behind them stacking up on them when the banana flips over!! Just something to think about if your looking at a business, your going to want insurance. You will have those that like to get bounced around and your done, then there are those (like me) where its a personal challenge to toss the guy on the tube OR be tossed by the driver, the bigger the better! As a driver of a bigger boat pulling a tube, seeing 4' waves is like walking through the pearly gates, add a little horsepower and a bit of steering and you have the perfect recipe to send your tuber into orbit, but as a business owner your setting yourself up for an insurance claim.

But to answer your question, pretty simple, a big block and I would prefer a Duo Prop(I have a Bravo III but a Volvo is just as good). A bow rider I would think would be best so that you have room for spectators as well as room to shift weight(important for getting that many tubers on top of the water). With ten tubers your looking at 25' or better just for capacity, I 'm not positive on this but I think as a Captain your boat is responsible for the passengers on the Boat as well as those on the tube or if you have 6 in the boat and 10 on the tube your boat better be rated for 16 so you may want to verify that, I could be wrong though, I'm sure there is someone here that will know for sure

Edited to add, as Captain I don't drink and drive, ever, suckers that like to tube though.....Hehehehehehe

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Best Boat for Tubing

With ten people on board your going to need a LIMITED SCOPE MASTER captains license from the Coast Guard. You could keep it to six and get your six pack license.

Plus a spotter... So it would be 5 on the tube, yourself, and 1 in the boat. 6+1 total.

 

[solarant]

Re: Best Boat for Tubing

Actually it will be a side by side banana boat, if a ten man means more investment then I can go with a 8 man etc. The business will be just north of Cancun Mexico, the laws are more lax in Mexico also.
I worked 15 years in the merchant marine but I have never worked on small boats like this, I have a house in the location, so I just thought why not make some money seeing I am retired, plus the fact I love the sea.
Currently there are Mexican guys here pulling ten person side by side tubes with 150 HP outboards, and their boats are what look like 15 foot bass boats, I do not know how the equipment stands up, but they are pulling these banana boats for twelve hours a day non stop.

 

[Philster]

Re: Best Boat for Tubing

I'd want a 2-stroke outboard considering the bizarre array of what they are getting away with down there.

Laws are lax = understatement of the year