tubing how fast is to fast?

[SDSeville]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

Very wise of you to ask m.qualls89. I agree with the others that most of the time around 25 should be the limit. However, as mentioned earlier a lot depends on the water conditions, the type of tube you are pulling, and how you are driving. I have a very large tube (the Costco version of the Big Mable 3 seater) and have had no problem pulling straight and gentle turns at around 30 in calm waters. However, I slow down significantly for hard turns and when the water gets rough. Don't be tempted by younger friends begging you to "go faster!!!".

I have been thrown off going about 35 and it felt like I got hit in the face by a bag of batteries.

 

[jdag]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

25mph is more than fast enough...fast enough to hurt things you would not expect to hurt...like a knee.

I was having a great time tubing at 20-25mpg. When I fell off, I immediately knew I hurt my knee badly. A trip to the hospital, several trips to the orthopedic, and an MRI later, the pain still causes me to wake up at night writhing (I was going to say screaming, but didn't want to sound like a sissy) in pain...and it's been about 8 weeks.

 

[86 century]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

40 is a bit fast not to say I haven't gone faster.
55 is the fastest I have ever seen someone come off a tube was not a pretty sight.
It was the riders idea.

I have taken a few hard spills in the 40mph range trying to barefoot not fun at all.

 

[Mason78]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

I have been pulled on a tube at 40 MPH. It is a lot of fun but creates a painful experience when you come off the tube.

In my younger days, I was willing to accept the danger of being pulled that fast in exchange for the thrill.

With that being said.... I am a little older now and own my own boat so I have graduated from tube rider to captain, I would never pull anyone on a tube that fast.

I max out at 30 MPH with adults. Kids get pulled a lot slower depending on their age, swimming ability, and experience.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

I can't remember from my younger days, but a Sea Ray 18' bow rider with a 4.3 at full throttle with 3-4 passengers was probably the fastest.

Towed a tuber on my 29'er two years ago. Wouldn't hold plane under 25mph and he basically wanted to go faster at each speed interval. I ran a stretch at 35 mph or so and he was fine until I stopped, in which he fell right off the tube. Being a 30'er on a narrower river it was simply straight line tubing, so no doubling speed through turns or wake jumping.

Doubt I will ever tow a tube behind the 34'.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

The difference in skiing and tubing is that the skier has the option to let go at any time when things get hairy and will not likely suffer too badly unless past the point of no return. The tuber is stuck holding on unless they want to take a spill. So, if a tuber is faced with the pain of bouncing across the water either way, they will tend to hold on until it ends badly.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

The difference in skiing and tubing is that the skier has the option to let go at any time when things get hairy and will not likely suffer too badly unless past the point of no return. The tuber is stuck holding on unless they want to take a spill. So, if a tuber is faced with the pain of bouncing across the water either way, they will tend to hold on until it ends badly.

Yup - a smart skiier gets the sense of impending doom and lets go of the rope before it is too late, and even if they don't - the rope gets ripped from your hands and you are down.

Behind my boat max speed for a tuber is around 20 - mostly because if you are over the age of about 8 then I'll be happy to teach you to ski/wakeboard or kneeboard, but I'm not taking you tubing

 

[BoatDrinksQ5]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

Scary thing once you get going above 35mph - is the water is semisoft concrete.

If you happen to get an arm or leg cut into the water while skipping...it stops! you keep skpping! makes for a lot of pain!

and keep in mind, a lot of these posts say it is potentially VERY dangerous "if" you wipe out. Sports like this, don't have the word "if" in them....it is "WHEN". At those speeds the chance of major injury isn't the normal 1/1000 on each crash....its more like 1/100 or 1/10! (made up 'stats' for illustration...haha)

 

[m.qualls89]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

Its just a single person round tube you lay on. Most of the time it doesnt hurt but the last time got me thinkin after it knocked the wind out of me lol. Yes weve been doing sharp turns swinging way out. Think ill slow down lol. As for skiing or wake boarding, i want to learn but can never get up.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

Its just a single person round tube you lay on. Most of the time it doesnt hurt but the last time got me thinkin after it knocked the wind out of me lol. Yes weve been doing sharp turns swinging way out. Think ill slow down lol. As for skiing or wake boarding, i want to learn but can never get up.

Then you have been lucky. The spinal injuries or concussions are waiting for your next trip. lol all the way to the hospital.

Tubes are like training wheels. Learn to do the real stuff. Takes time, and a lot of patience by the people in the boat (hint: don't learn with a boat full of people).

 

[Boland01]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

25-28 mph max for my 17 year old son and a defintely slower in a turn. With younger teenagers under 20 mph for sure and if they are nervous I pulled them as slow as 12 mph. Just slow enought to level out the boat after a while.

 

[mommicked]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

When I was younger and tougher (or just dumber), I jumped a wake about 35 or faster on a kneeboard as the boat turned and I nosedived-endoed-somersalted into the water. I saw a bright flash when my head-neck hit the water and came close to breaking my neck. I was dazed, limp and weak when the boat came to pic me up and had to be helped aboard, I was dizzy for a half hour. I stopped ridin kneeboards that day and learned how a little more speed can mean alot more injury.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

^^^^^ Sounds like you were pretty lucky. People need to realize, the faster you go, the more water becomes like concrete...

 

[mommicked]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

^^^^^ Sounds like you were pretty lucky. People need to realize, the faster you go, the more water becomes like concrete...

I was very lucky I was'nt permenantly damaged or knocked out. My buddies were laughing hysterically and did'nt realize how hurt I was until I was back on the boat. I could barely hold my mouth/nose out of the water while waiting for them to return

 

[SDSeville]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

Read about a couple adults tubing (with no life vests) near Chicago a few weeks ago. Both drowned after a big crash. People don't understand how hard you actually crash.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

and then there was the time we went waterskiing behind a pick-up truck driving on the beach....

 

[SDSeville]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

and then there was the time we went waterskiing behind a pick-up truck driving on the beach....

...or jumped from the 2 story roof into the swimming pool when in grade school. It's just water. How can you get hurt?

 

[sstone]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

Usually the people we have on the tube, are on the tube so that they're NOT in the boat. So you learn to get real good at keeping them happy on the tube without hurting them..and after a few years they get pretty demanding. Its definitely possible to give thrill rides at 20 mph, with a lot of air. Even at that speed, you can get hurt. Safest speed for a tube: idle. But then the little ones are back on the boat..

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

Well!! I guess I'm in the serious minority on this question. I really wonder how many of these posters actually ride a tube behind a boat. I'm 35 years old. I've been tubing behind boats for at least 10 years. I regularly ride at 30 to 35 mph. My wife sometimes pushes the speed up to near 40 mph when pulling me. I have come off at that speed. You skip across the water a time or two but it's no big deal.
I pull lots of other friends and family at 25 to 30 mph. They all enjoy the experience and there have been no injuries. When we put the very small children on the tube with a parent for a nice, straight, calm ride it's usually around 20 mph. The kids love it.
If I had to ride around at 25 mph on a tube I would give up the "sport". That is ridiculously boring. You don't even need to use your hands at that speed to stay on.
I did once pull a guy at 55 mph on a tube at his request (with his jet ski). When we stopped he was pretty freaked out and said it wasn't fun like he had hoped.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: tubing how fast is to fast?

"sport" - he he, best laugh I've had all day.