Towables?

[Dave Hink]

I've got a 16ft Seasprite with a 120 I/O. Still in break in from a rebuild. Can I pull a Big Red Hot Dog thing? What works Best for;Older Kids , Younger Riders? Sled? Tube? need some kind advice. I like the hot dog thing idea but, I also saw it in a Blue by some one.Which is better?My kid is 6 his pals are about 10. Thanks

 

[garycinn]

Re: Towables?

I hear the hot dog type tubes are real dogs <br /><br />Seriously, I would avoid them. I haven't heard anything good about them. Others may have different feedback that have actually used them.<br /><br />Teenagers will want something fast like a disc. Younger riders want something around them with a blow up floor. Check out on-line sources. I just got an HO Sport Formula II tube and like it for both younger and older riders.

 

[bmiszuk]

Re: Towables?

I have an older 18ft boat with 140hp I/O, and we have ten kids (oldest is 14, youngest is an infant). I first bought a $30 tube at K-Mart to see how the kids liked tubing. They loved it of course.<br /><br />So I went to the local boat store and bought a SportsStuff tube that looks like three tubes connected together. It's actually one inflatable shaped roughly like a triangle, with three holes in it where the kids sit. It's perfect for them. Older kids can ride together, and even younger kids will go with the older ones (but only at low speeds). It's a lot more fun for them than riding one at a time.

 

[RatFish]

Re: Towables?

Check out these links...<br /><br /> Water Toys <br />Water Toy Review <br />More Water Toys

 

[wajajaja]

Re: Towables?

hi ratfish, any recommendations on where to go tubbing, ive only boated so far on lake hopactgong. <br /> 19ft bay 125 o/b

 

[RatFish]

Re: Towables?

wajajaja,<br /><br />You are north of me. I'm down by Philadelphia. If you every make it down this way here are a few places to try. Delaware River between Trenton and Philadelphia. Rancocas Creek (best near high tide). Down the shore, try Corson's Inlet State Park. There are no big lakes or reservoirs down in the southern part of NJ. Have Fun!!!

 

[sloopy]

Re: Towables?

those large hotdogs, which hold 13 people, usually require something around 240-500hp. If you ever go to a beach resort, you will notice that the same boat pulling the para sailors is the same type pulling the long tube.

 

[Dave Hink]

Re: Towables?

I was talking about the ones for like 3 or 4 riders. As for tubes, sounds like a disc or one with a floor is a good one for a kid.<br /> I'm sure more people on this board have some "Tube" experince or wisdom they can enpart in this matter. Anyone got any kids? Many Thanks!

 

[bluewater19]

Re: Towables?

I have an o'brien delta tube. It's kind of a triangle and not all that stable. Good fun but easy to dump the riders. We also have a really big 3 person towable made by seadoo. The only way to describe it is a big triangle tube with three lounge chairs built in. It is so stable you really have to be out to destroy someone to get it to flip. This is what my kids like to ride. It is great for new riders. We paid 139.00 at costco for the seadoo and 79.00 for the o'brien.<br />Good luck

 

[CharlesW]

Re: Towables?

We have several tubes that get a lot of use.<br />One that is covered on one side only that we use for the very young beginning tubers. They can sit in it and at low speeds it is not at all intimidating.<br />We also have a couple that are covered on both sides and you can give a person a pretty wild ride on them. We often double tube, but you do need to use some caution so you don't have a major collision of heads when they come together.<br />We also have the Seadoo triple seater and it is by far the most used water toy we have. 1, 2, or 3 people at a time can ride. It is very stable, but it is also possible to give everyone a wild ride with it. <br />A few comments: <br />1. Buy a good towing rope. Don't use a ski rope. A rope for a towable is much heavier and is about 50' or 60' long. Can't remember which. <br />2. Be sure to use equal length ropes when pulling more than one tube.<br />3. Remember that the tube is going to go wherever the driver puts it. It isn't like a skier where they can change direction if they need to.<br />4. Keep in mind that when the towing boat is going 20 to 25 mph, the tube will some times be at least double that speed. Lots of fun for some people, not so much fun for others.<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br />Charles

 

[wajajaja]

Re: Towables?

don't forget 'centrifical force', had a snowmobiler whip his kid into a tree in stokes state forrest this year. fatal.

 

[chippy]

Re: Towables?

Dad, My girlfriend got me a big bertha. It will hold 4. Our kid's love tubing. I tried to dump them but no luck. If you have young kid's try the big bertha.

 

[Formula1974]

Re: Towables?

we bought a big bertha and man the name doesnt lie its BIG. Cant wait till the water gets alittle warmer so we can try it out.

 

[Formula1974]

Re: Towables?

oh yeah I picked it up at walmart for 30 less then boaters world wanted for it.

 

[cmyers_uk]

Re: Towables?

Purchased an Obrien Wave Wizard II for 3 people It has 3 seats that can be taken out so you can lie flat. Seems great when I get it going, Ive had some problems though using it with a Regal 190hp because the transom eye is too low and the thing submarines.<br /><br />Sent an email to O'brien technical support with no reply only iboats people helped me out so Im not that happy with after sales!

 

[shadowdwpp]

Re: Towables?

Has anyone tried a rip II by airhead?

 

[help_ma_boab]

Re: Towables?

Shadow,<br /><br />Yep - I gotta Rip II. You're meant to be able to 'carve' turns with the fins on these things - but effect is minimal. You need to get the tube right up on one edge to have any effect at all, then it either flips, or flattens out again. Its really hard work for very little result. But it is dead easy to get back on after you fall off!

 

[ddaigle]

Re: Towables?

My friend gives rides on one of the big hot dog tubes, for tourists, they are fun for about 5 minutes then they get boring because you are just dragging behind the boat.