Tubing tips

[AaronG]

Tried tubing behind my boat (22' deck boat) for the first time this weekend. It was a truely scarey experience. The tube I used was an old "le tube" that came with my father-in-laws boat. It was really hard to get on in the water. I found that if my father-in-law (who was driving) put the boat in gear, I could get up on the tube, otherwise, it would just flip over as you climbed on it. Once we got moving, it seemed really scarey! It was all I could do to hold on, and according to my father-in-law, we were only going 25 mph or so. After about 2 minutes, he made a fairly sharp turn. The tube and I spun out to the side, flipped over, and the canvas tube cover ripped off the tube! I scrammbled to pull my shorts back up(which came down as I fell of the tube), and got back on the boat.<br /><br />I want to try again, but with a better tube. Which ones are the easiest to get (and stay) on?

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Tubing tips

Nothing wrong with the Le Tubes as long as they are in good shape (no rips in cover). 25 is plenty fast too. Sounds to me like you had a couple of easily solved issues<br /><br />1) Was the tube properly inflated? I doubt it since the cover came off. The tube should be very firm, not spongy at all.<br /><br />2) To get on the tube from the water can be difficult. One trick I tell people is to leave the boat in gear. It keeps tension on the rope and helps it not to flip over. It's much easier to get into the boat and pull the tube in. and then jump into the tube from the boat.<br /><br />3 Practice!! Both as a driver and a rider. Sounds like the FIL just got a little too wild and bucked you off. Remember, it is not the driver controlling the tuber, it is the tuber who should control the driver. If you want a nice mellow ride, the driver should give you exactly that.<br /><br />We use a one to ten system for tubing. A 1 is slow, no wake speed. A 2 might be barely on plane with no turns. A 10 would be anything goes, or a hospital trip! <br /><br />Have fun!

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Tubing tips

Oops! Double post!

 

[AaronG]

Re: Tubing tips

Tube was properly inflated, the cover must have had UV damage, because it literally tore apart! I'll probably be buying a new tube this weekend. What would you buy? <br /><br />The 1-10 system is a good idea. I'll use that. <br /><br />Not to sound stupid, but was I supposed to be laying on my stomach on the tube? Thats what I was doing, holding on for dear life, with my feet dangling in the water! <br /><br />I'm sure it will be fun when I get a little better.

 

[MrBill]

Re: Tubing tips

The O'Brien LeTube is a great piece of equipment, try a new one. Properly maintaqined and kept out of the sun when not in use will provide years of enjoyment. Adults, especially over 200 lb ones, will easily fall off a tube when lying down, but that's part of the fun. There's more stability sitting or squatting, which allows the tuber to have more control. My kids like to squat in to use their feet to aid steering, a lot of fun when two tubes are being pulled and one wants to bump the other outside the wake. Practice will make perfect, with speed and intensity being the tuber choice. Experienced young tubers usually ask me to give them exciting, wild rides (figure 8's, whipping, etc), but the very young and moderately old like to stay in the wake 18-22 mph.

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Tubing tips

How you try to stay on is up to you. I prefer to lay on the tube, but many like to sit in it, with the feet out the front. If you do it sitting, it's actually a very stable ride. Just pivot yourself around to shift your weight for cornering.<br /><br />I also have a Le Tube, and have had it for 4-5 years now with no problems. I'd probably buy another one simply for the kids if nothing else. It's nice to have the "hole" for the young ones to sit inside. For strictly adults, a like the flat type that are low profile and no hole. Don't go too large of a diameter if you are only going to ride it alone. They tend to become a wing and become airborn too easily.

 

[dorelse]

Re: Tubing tips

We have a couple personal favorites in my family...and 25 mph sounds a bit high...check the instructions, 20 is the max rated speed for adults, 15 for kids on our Slash II.<br /><br />The Airhead Slash II is a fun one (its steerable), but our family favorite is the now discontinued Sportsstuff Starfighter. The kids love it (and so do the adults). Its huge, holds 2, and is great to kick out on turns. We have yet to flip it, and we have definitely tried. <br /><br />As for getting in, keeping the boat in gear works best for us as well (as others have said.)

 

[AaronG]

Re: Tubing tips

I thought I was going too fast too! My father in law said we were only turning 2800 rpms. Thats like 25-30 mph. I think next time I'll have my wife drive. She has a brain. She'll keep it under 20. I think that will be more fun. <br /><br />I'm gonna buy a new one this weekend. I'll have this down before the fall I hope!

 

[dutch135]

Re: Tubing tips

Originally posted by sangerwaker:<br /> How you try to stay on is up to you. I prefer to lay on the tube, but many like to sit in it, with the feet out the front. If you do it sitting, it's actually a very stable ride. Just pivot yourself around to shift your weight for cornering.

I've heard of accidents with feet forward and sitting on tubes.. One incident in particular was due to some slack after a corner, the rope became wrapped around a leg on the front of the tube, then when the rope went back under tension, (lots of it), the rope pulled thru and basically sliced the calf right off this young man. Ever since hearing of that, we'd preach laying down only, hands on the handles.<br /><br />There is a knack to riding them, these kids can get real good and with enough practice they can really challenge you to dump them... they know how to maneuver their body weight to keep that thing down side down! <br /><br />I agree 25 is too fast,, 20 max seems plenty, especially when they start to whip in the corners. <br /><br />Tough for drivers,, lots to be watching, especially doing the 8's and corners, if on a busy lake. Keep your heads up!<br /><br />

 

[KM2]

Re: Tubing tips

I think 25 is too fast. Have been doing a lot of tubing the last month and around 20 is fast enough. I like sitting over laying down. The tubes I have are similar to the Le tube and I tip too easy on corners. Driving with tubes is much harder than skiers and it takes some practice to give the riders a fun time and not go too far. Avoid things like turning sharply and whipping the tubes too fast, large waves and especially getting slack in the rope. The last one is a good way to hurt someone or break your equipment.

 

[flashback]

Re: Tubing tips

I haven't heard anyone mention length of rope? how long/short can it be and still be safe? seems like it would be a lot of fun if it were about 25 feet long but that may be too close to the boat put you right on the rooster tail

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Tubing tips

I use 50-60' .

 

[nysono]

Re: Tubing tips

I just started with tubing this past week, have a 60ft rope with a stearns lightning force at the end. The kids absolutely love it. My 14 yr old is already challenging me to try to dump him and try as I might I have a hard time doing it. Pulling them between 18-25 mph, slower if water is rough.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Tubing tips

I saw this in one of my boating magazine subscriptions and thought yall might like it.<br /><br />Sevylor ST3950 Manta Ray <br /> See Video <br />Sevylor, the company which is generally credited with having invented the watersport known worldwide as "TUBING",is introducing for the 2005 season, a brand new different and most exciting towable called MANTA RAY. The Manta Ray has a wing span of 11 feet and is 9 feet long and it is highly portable since it weighs only 45lbs, when deflated! It looks like one of the giant Manta Rays found in the Gulf of Mexico. Only this Sevylor Manta will carry a grown adult on its back. At a speed of approximately 23 mph against the wind and about 28 mph with the wind, the Manta Ray (depending on the water conditions and the weight of the rider) will rise from the water and majestically hover and float above the waves offering a thrilling and almost unforgettable ride. The Manta Ray is the latest of a long list of inflatable towables designed and invented by Sevylor, the company which designed and developed the very first commercially produced PVC ski Tube called "Tube 'N' It". <br />

 

[sergioy]

Re: Tubing tips

Reel - I've seen that Manta Ray at the local Bass Pro Shops here. That thing looks like a ton of fun. Tight now they have it at a discount from its hefty $399.00 price.<br />As far as this post is concerned - getting on to a tube in the water can get to be a real trick. The only way I can get on is by cannon balling from the boat onto the tube or shile the boat is in gear. But my kids and my 230 lb friend can get on it with no tension on the rope. So you will jsut have to do what works. As far as the speed is concerned - 20 - 25 is good. You will find that the more you do it the faster youll want to go, or not. As far as staying on - the bigger you are the harder it is to stay on. My 75 lb kid can stay on no matter what I do, unless I hit a really big wake and he flies off the tube. Oh and this is with very littel effort. While us larger adults really struggle to stay on. As far as tension goes on the rope, you really need to watch the turns. As the driver, I will emmediately back off the throttle. Cause once that rope tightens up it really really huts. As the rider I will just jump off the tube when I see slack on the rope, because it really really hurts <br /><br />Go out and try it out a few times, after a while you will want your FIL to drive. Just make sure you have a ski quality life jacket on, the fishing or cheapo orange ones will not suffice the impact on the water. Ahh, not that you will hit the water really hard ro nothing

 

[dorelse]

Re: Tubing tips

We use a 60' 4000 lbs strength rated rope for the Starfighter, and a 50' 2500 lbs rated rope for the Slash II. So far so good.<br /><br />Also, I do my best to keep all equipment out of the sun when not being used...I know this stuff will wear out eventually, but at the prices we pay for it, anything I can do to prolong it is a plus.

 

[voodoo]

Re: Tubing tips

Anyone here tried discing?

 

[Floating Carter]

Re: Tubing tips

our boat is mainly tubing/wakeboarding. the skis haven't been wet since we bought the wakeboard...the kids love it.. but tubing, I'm the primary driver and all the kids like to be thrown off, how I do it depends on age and daring of child. ( and maybe sometimes attitude)<br /> they all like being swung pendulum style over and outside the wake. speed depends on rider size and sometimes the lighter weight kids are really hard to get swinging...sometimes impossible. I also try to take them out during the week if I can, fewer boats = safer and more fun<br />Lisa

 

[phantoms]

Re: Tubing tips

As an adult learning to tube, it's scary at first. You need a driver that takes it easy on you and as you ride more and more you'll encourage higher speeds and rougher rides. I've come to enjoy riding and prefer the pancake style (raptor, etc.) tubes that are completely covered. The main way to ride them is laying on your stomach, but we also ride them on our knees and in a sitting position. You have to learn how to ride. You need to shift your body weight around to stay on (usually towards the inside of a turn) and pull up on the outside of the tube. Also, don't hang on tight until you have too. Let your arms rest when you're heading straight. If you hang on tight the whole time, you'll wear yourself out in no time. Getting back on is much easier for kids than adults. The adults usually get back on the boat and jump on the tube. We regularly run at 30+ MPH and cross wakes, sharp turns, etc. Basically doing everything we can to throw each other off. Once you're use to it, it's a lot of fun. Just creates some sore muscles (neck, arm and chest) for a couple days on my old body.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: Tubing tips

voodoo <br />Member # 44179 posted August 02, 2005 04:57 PM<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /> Anyone here tried discing?

When I was a kid, way before knee board or the sort, Dad made a flat wooden disc from a piece of 3/4 inch plywood. <br /><br />It was cut in a circle of 4ft, routered edges, then fiber glassad with mat and rosin. No foot binders or the sort. Hold on with your toe nails.<br /><br />This disk is hard to ride, but great fun once you master it. Using a standard ski rope,(meaning you hold the rope, the rope is not tied to the board) the object is to stand up from a starting position of laying down. Once you get up you can do 360s or whatever. Going outside the wake is probably the largest challange. If you try this, this is a...veerrry slow speed ride. YOU CAN NOT RIDE IT FAST