Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

[axeslinger1957]

We're looking for a tube for our daughter. We have a 17'6" fiberglass runabout with a 70HP Evinrude outboard. The boat is set up for only 3 passengers. We would carry a driver (most likely me), a spotter and my daughter. She is a tremendously strong, athletic and petite 13-year-old gymnast. She has tubed before, just not like this.

I was discussing this with a friend whose opinion I trust. He stated in no uncertain terms that we needed to buy the "sit down" type of tube instead of the "lay down" type in order to minimize the risk of neck-related injuries. That sounded good to us. Of course (you probably already guessed this one), SHE wants the "lay down" type of tube.

What are the experiences and opinions of experienced tube-towers?

 

[bigpoppakdog]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

no experience with those flat ones. I have a large 4 person tube. When you lay down on it, you have time to tuck and roll when you fall off...most likely on the turns.

 

[axeslinger1957]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

OK, Poppa, that nails it. Sit down it is.

 

[bigpoppakdog]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

From my viewpoint, the flat ones are only one dimensional. You can have A LOT more fun on the tubes because you can sit, lay down, stand(although I am not recommending that**disclaimer**). Plus when you learn how to "bounce" them on the turn back into the wake it is safer to be sitting.

again my 2 cents.

 

[Al Bee]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

I have both sit down and flat. My 9 year old was the one that requested the flat one, and man, it is much better. She has sooo much more fun, (and so does everyone else I might add), the first time I threw her off the tube, my wife was beating me on the head and yelling at me, but when I pulled up to here and asked, "Go Again?" She was laughing and smiling from ear to ear and couldn't wait to get on again. WITHOUT a doubt, buy a flat one!

 

[bigpoppakdog]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

difference between a 9 year old and teenager.

 

[SeaRay182noob]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

Hello, I also have both a sit down and a lay down tube. Having towed many kids I would recommend the lay down type. Firstly the kids seem to enjoy it more, the timid kids just hang on but the more adventurous one can play around on it a little more. Secondly, to bail out all they have to do is let go and they slip off the back or tumble off the side verses a tube which you have to fall backwards or jump off/out, both ways usually going head first. And lastly being a driver you can control the amount of thrill ride you give them, you can give them "boring" by keeping them in the wake or you can pound the crap out of them by making a circle and cutting through the middle watching as they launch. And my favorite is having two tubes on and making them crash into each other

The only draw back is you have to lean back a little further when you first start out but anybody over 10 I think would figure it out. My younger kids (3&6) can do the sit down tube alone but cant go on alone on the flat one yet. They cant lean back enough but if someone goes with them its no problem.

Well I'm sure you'll have fun whatever you decide and I hope this helps.

 

[ramster]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

Flat tubes have a much smoother ride, and can serve as a lounge when your anchored and swimming. The round doughnut type are much more bouncy and for some that is a good thing, you will get a much more wild ride and catch more air. With a flat tube you can whip pretty hard and pull some serious G's before ejecting your test pilot. My 10 year old girls always loose their grip and slide off the side, or back. I have never flipped the flat tube, the doughnut will flip even if you are still hanging on. Of course it's up to the driver who stay's on, and who go's swimming.

 

[grahamh]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

I prefer just a regular tube, you can still lie on top of it like a flat run.

I prefer sitting in it, you can hang on through a lot more, but we usually do "extreme" tubing with lots of wakes and air, so it might be a little different with kids..


As for neck injuries, I've cartwheeled off a tube multiple times, and my head's still on for now!

 

[Tubingluvr]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

we have both, the flat lay down and the cockpit style sit down.
My kids have been tubing for years and have slowly gotten away from the lay down and prefer the cockpit style sit down, specifically the Airhead Viper.

 

[Carso]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

I had a "mach III" tube that had two sitting compartments on each side of a place to lay down - was great fun - best of both - until the seam ripped - model is now discontinued. - did like the style though - would buy similar again.

 

[skargo]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

I understand the sit downs are safer as far as back/neck injuries are concerned.

 

[dbismyname]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

I'm pretty sure I heard a girl at KY lake was on a sit down and went off one wake and landed on the next and broke her back. I would definitely see a lay down being safer as far as back injuries go.

 

[grahamh]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

I'm pretty sure I heard a girl at KY lake was on a sit down and went off one wake and landed on the next and broke her back. I would definitely see a lay down being safer as far as back injuries go.

Wow she broke her back? I wonder if they were going too fast?

The things that I never liked about riding lying down is that your face/neck/head is rather close to the towline, and there's the possibility of going forward off the tube and then when your head hits the water you get bent back under the tube...not life threatening, but rather unpleasant.

I honestly don't feel that there is a big difference in safety between different styles. I mean, there is always something inherently dangerous about being pulled behind a boat on anything.

 

[iamthunderman]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

We have the missle, coleman I think. It is a triangular 4 person tubs. Three deep seats on the peaks, and a lay down spot on the back middle. It is great, very stable. My wife rides ont he back and the 3 kids (2, 4, and 6) ride on the points. The love it, all you can see is teeth back there. You have to make sure the weight is evenly distributed though, air can get under it and could be a flip situation if going too fast.

 

[lucky7]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

i think the sit on top ones ride smoother. get the biggst one you can afford.

 

[skargo]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

My brother asked our nephews pediatrician what he thought, and he said for kids, definitely go with a sit down style. Good enough for us!

 

[redone4x4]

Re: Need tube for my daughter: lay down or sit down?

i think the sit on top ones ride smoother. get the biggst one you can afford.



check out the Grandstand from sportsstuff, its made to stand on like that. it even has rope handles so you can stand and lean back on. its alot of fun.