How fast can you safely tube?

[ildoc]

Just bought our first tube and noticed the instructions say to NEVER exceed 20 MPH with adults, and 15 (I think) with children. Well, my boat will barely plane at 15, so I was wondering if anything over 20 MPH is truly dangerous, or is that a CYA statement put on by the company?

How fast do tube?

 

[STL Towman]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

if its an adult and they can swim good and are cocky (saying you cant get me off that tube) give em some WOT action d i was out with a friend on his boat and im not sure if he was WOT but boy howdy he gave me a ride lol

 

[tommays]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

Well it depends on how fast your willing to crash

If the driver does not pay attention a wake that might give a nice pound to the boat can really HURT a tube rider not expecting it

FYI my Obrien is 15 for children and 25 for adults


Tommays

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

in the old days on a real tube (tractor) it was wide open, and around it circles and figure 8's , now that was a ride.( non of those sissy handles)

 

[ildoc]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

Sounds like you guys are giving me the thumbs up to gun the hell out it!

It seemed that most tubers on our lake were doing over 25 at least.

 

[Almeja]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

Depends on rider.

New folks, nice and easy, graduating up into mid-20's for most riders.

Faster for experienced riders who know how to take a fall... but I usually don't go much beyond 30. Don't want to get anyone hurt. Two riders up... mid 20's.

The teenage boys usually want me to try and flip them off the tube at some point by slinging them over a wake. They have animated discussions at the end of the day about who had the best 'biff'. [crash]

Ski vests on everyone... of course. A bit of common sense and a good spotter are essential.

 

[b00tstrap]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

I've always found that hitting wake at almost any speed is more punishing than speed. Hitting wake at high speeds really hurts! Also, whipping the tube around the outside of the boat in a high speed turn is really great.. you actually are going faster than the speed of the boat...better hold on!

 

[LFK]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

I go 20-25, depending on how crowded the lake is + water conditions, but I never go over 25 with my kids on the tube.

 

[AguaSki]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

No doubt the manufacturer is going to include a conservative CYA statement. While you can probably go faster than what the manufacturer recommends, common sense is in order. Anyones recommended speed on this forum is only an opinion. Give careful consideration to the current conditions. Do what you think is reasonably safe, and have fun.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

whe tubing we use head signals up and down was faster(YES) side to side was slower(NO) spotter watches rider and tells driver. driver is suppose to drive, and watch for obstacles, and other dangers.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

We tubed on fat tractor tires; like 14.5 x 24 or 13.6 x 28. Tied a ski rope to one side and the rider jumped on the top and hung onto the front of the tube.....no handles or nothing. A smaller tube didn't have enough surface area to make for a good ride and was hard to stay on; also not very buoyant.

We would go as fast as the boat would go which was pushing 40 at times and we would do high speed turns. When the driver blew you off, especially in high speed turns where you were doing 50 at least, you would skip across the water for 2 or 3 bounces before some part of your body tripped you and in you went.

This was on adults. On the kids, we gauged speed according to age and abilities. The older ones got the rougher ride.........didn't hear anyone griping.

Twas a ton of fun to the point that skiing became boring.

Mark

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

My wife never lets me off the tube unless I've wiped out at 35.

 

[lakelivin]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

Like mentioned above, speed is only one part of the equation.

On completely flat water (no chop, ripples, or wake from other boats), and going in a straight line, I've found that you can match the speed up to the riders level of daring. Of course it's up to the driver/ spotters to ensure you don't allow your tubers to hit a rough patch at 45-50 or run over a partially submerged log.

If you're turning, note that the tube goes quite a bit faster than the boat; tighter the turn, faster the tube acceleration. The tube is also going to cross your own wake at this higher speed, so take that into consideration. I believe that this may be potentially the most dangerous tubing situation.

Rough water is another factor to consider. Adjust speed accordingly.

For skilled thrill seekers (my teenage nephews), I've found the best ride is start REAL slowly (generates a huge wake) then keep looping around tight enough to keep them in the turbulent wake. REALLY bounces them around. I bounced one kid maybe 8'-10' in the air, boat probably never went over 12-15 mph. They loved it, but note that these were 17 year olds that were doing flips off the top peak of the boathouse (close to 2 stories high).

Bottom line: match the ride to the conditions and skill/ age/ thrill seeking level of your tuber. The best ride is to take someone right up to the edge, but not past the point where they get truely scared. Too much & it will be a long time before someone that gets hurt or scared will get back on the tube...

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

Give blood. Tube hard.

My cousins, friends and I would all whip each other as hard and fast as possible. It wasn't a good day of tubing unless the tops of our feet were bright red from slapping the water, and our arms hung slackly by our sides, too tired to be lifted above our waists. Not for everybody, but now, 20 years after the fact, we still get a chuckle recalling our youthful craziness... Last time I went tubing (two years ago) I hurt for a week afterwards. Too dang old for that stuff now... but boy was it ever fun...
- Scott

 

[pinbodean]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

If you can still climb into the boat under your own power, you ain't done! 8)

 

[LFK]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

If you can still climb into the boat under your own power, you ain't done! 8)

heh. I love that! I'm going to say that to my 10 year old the next time she's on the tube.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

WOT

 

[goeb]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

Depends on the tube. I have a small two man that is really easy to flip, even doing figure 8's at 20mph. It's a wild ride.:% I have another large 2 seater that is tough to flip at 35 no matter what figure you're runnin'. Remember that a whipped tube will almost double the speed of the boat.

Two bits of advice. First, I have been tubing for 20 years and the worst injuries that I've seen are from kids banging their heads together. A group camping beside us last year, had a boy that had three of his teeth knocked out. (First time boat owner, first time out)

Second, the more weight in the tube and the more extreme the ride, the better likelyhood of busting a seam. I "seam" to always be repairing or replacing tubes!:|:|

 

[aspeck]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

Coming from redneck country, we live (and sometimes die) by the saying, "Hey, watch this!".

That said, be careful, be observant (watcher WATCHES tuber(s), driver DRIVES, tuber(s) have loads of fun), and give 'em WOT if the tuber and driver can handle it safely.

 

[wvit1001]

Re: How fast can you safely tube?

Unless your willing to get someone really hurt and spend the afternoon in the emergency room I'd say 25 is about fast enough. My boat will go a little over 60 mph so WOT is out of the guestion.

It's pretty easy to tear a shoulder or a knee hitting the water and running 40 mph on a tube is a real good way to get hurt.

I've been in a boat where the skier had to be pulled from the water and taken to the hospital for an blown out knee. You don't want to have that happen on your boat to one of your friends.

If your going to act like an idiot just make sure your insurance is paid up.