Pulling a tube is fairly easy and as long as drivers use common sense, they can create an exhilarating ride for tubers. Start off by pulling the tube inside of the wake. Once the riders are comfortable and you get a feel for the correct speed to keep the tube from submerging (or submarining) you can try some gentle S turns back and forth. The tube will then start moving over the wake, swinging from side to side.
Submarining is when the front of the tube dips into the water, sometimes diving all the way under the water. If this happens, make sure the riders position themselves a little farther back on the tube so their weight is on the back, accelerate, and once the tube pops up on the water or planes, you can turn up the speed. Also, check that your tube is properly inflated, you have the proper tow rope for your tube and that the tow rope is attached to your boat and the tube properly.
Know your riders and develop hand signals for speeding up, slowing down and zigzagging over the wake. This will help riders communicate with you, ensuring they enjoy their ride. New riders and younger kids might not like a super-fast, aggressive ride while the older kids and adults will want to zip around at maximum speeds. Hand signals will help drivers make adjustments for specific rider's wants and needs.
Fast turns swing the tube around at an even higher speed for a whip effect. WSIA says inflatables can reach speeds up to 55mph while towing at 20mph during a whip, and tubes can swing outside the wake to the full length of the tow rope. This can be frightening for younger children and dangerous in areas of high traffic or near shores and obstacles. Pay attention to the tow rope slack as well. If the rope goes slack and then you accelerate too quickly, the tow rope suddenly rips the tube forward causing the rider to fall off or causing multiple riders aboard to bump heads.
Drivers should have a rear view mirror and a spotter at all times while towing riders on tubes. They should be aware of the tubes trajectory while the spotters should be alert to riders going overboard. A spotter should have a safety "tuber down" flag on hand for when the rider falls into the water. By signaling the flag in the air, other boaters will be alerted to the fact that a person is in the water.
When someone falls off of a tube, drivers should throttle down right away. Approach riders on the driver's side of the boat so they are in view and never blocked by the bow/hull. Drivers should go slow enough as to not make waves and so they can talk to/hear the rider. Always shut the motor off before riders swim up to the boat and when riders are getting into the water or on the towable.
Safety Precautions
Follow these basic guidelines to ensure maximum fun and optimal safety:
- Always wear a life jacket and make sure it is properly sized and securely fastened. Accidents happen and even the best swimmers can be caught off guard. Minimize your risks with a Type III life jacket, which is required equipment for all towable riders.
- Do not pull more than one tube at a time. If tubes cross paths and collide it can be very dangerous and cause serious injuries to the riders.
- Riders and drivers should use caution when towing or riding on multi-person tubes. Heads can collide easily, causing serious head or brain injury. Arms and legs can also knock into the person next to you after hitting a wake or wave.
- Drivers should be aware of pilings, docks and other boats while whipping and towing tubes to avoid serious injuries. Injuries usually occur due to the rider's position on the tube, lack of directional control and velocity of the tube, and the number of riders per tube. According to the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, the most frequently injured body parts were the head (27%) followed by the upper extremities at (24%). Most common types of injuries are sprains and strains followed by soft tissue injuries. Impact with the water and contact with another rider are the most common causes of injuries.
- Water regulations vary from state to state, so be sure to make yourself familiar with the regulations governing the specific body of water you are towing tubes on. For information on state boating laws, please refer to the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators' (NASBLA) website.
- According to the United States Coast Guard's 2015 Recreational Boating Statistics report, alcohol use is the leading factor in fatal boating accidents while operator inattention is the leading cause of accidents in general. Always be sure your driver is sober and aware of their surroundings at all times.
While tubing is an easy, thrilling activity that doesn't require any practice or technique, erring on the side of caution and following recommended safety guidelines ensures that everyone enjoys themselves while avoiding injury.