Tube takes too much room in boat

[nightvision]

Hi all,<br />We have a 17.5 foot bow rider. We usually take along a tube for one child and a kneeboard for another. The boat seats 7, but we usually nust have about 5 people (two adults/three kids). The tube seems to get in the way, when we are kneeboarding because we put it either in the bow or behind the driver seat. How do you solve this problem? Do you put the tube on shore with some towels and hope no one steal it? Can you tie the tube to the cleats on the side of the boat and travel with planning speed? Can you put the tube on top of the bimmini top and tie it down good? I don't think the last two option will work, but the kids kind of threw that out and want to see what people say. We are new to boating so we would appreciate some suggestion.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Tube takes too much room in boat

Can you bring an electric inflator and just deflate it when you're not using it? Maybe just take out some of the air so you can fold it in half?

 

[QC]

Re: Tube takes too much room in boat

I'm with ZmOz. I often act like filling and deflating is a big deal, but with a decent pump it's real quick. I'd just get into a routine that works. You'll get so good at it you won't think twice about it.<br /><br />BTW, I bought my first and only pump in 1984 at Kmart for seven bucks, it's currently aboard its third boat. I can't kill it. It has sucked a ton of water and I use it to deflate rafts too. Made in China. Go figure . . .

 

[djvan]

Re: Tube takes too much room in boat

If you tube/kneeboard on a small lake or in the same area you could anchor the tube when not in use in shallow water near the shore away from houses. That's what we do. (If there is an area without houses)<br /><br />DougV>

 

[karrick]

Re: Tube takes too much room in boat

I had the same problem, so I purchased a 12V air pump. I previously used a 4 D-cell air mattres pump and it was weak and you never knew when the batteries would die. The Coleman 12V pump fills the tube in about 2-3 minutes. I can fold the tube when not in use and store it easily. A pump will also extend the tubing time if you have a small leak in the tube and need a refil every so often.<br /><br />Have fun<br />K

 

[cliffslocal]

Re: Tube takes too much room in boat

We used to tie it off on the swim step...worked great.