For many of us more “seasoned” watersport lovers, tubing started from very humble and simple beginnings. A truck innnertube with a rope tied around it and hanging on for dear life trying not to be impaled by the valve stem while getting dragged behind a small runabout. Well, the last forty years have seen many improvements to make it safer, more comfortable and more enjoyable for all ages.

Towables have come a long way since those humble beginnings and we’ll get to what’s new in due time. Tubing is a great way to get your youngsters comfortable around the water and watersports and can be a good stepping stone to more advanced watersports such as wakesurfing, wakeboarding and waterskiing. Tubing is relatively simple and without a doubt, it’s fun. Haul out the tube and you’re almost guaranteed to see a lot of huge smiles, from both big and small riders alike.

Tubing, however, isn’t all just fun and games. It requires a healthy dose of common sense, from both the boat and PWC driver as well as the participants, to ensure everyone’s safety.

Many of you may be new to boating, or perhaps you’ve been away from it a while, or you might want a refresher course on the basics, so this is designed to help all of us be better boaters and set the example for others.

Let’s start with the basic checklist:

1.Proper equipment: life jackets, tow rope, towable tube and a boat appropriate for tubing

2.Designate a driver and a spotter.

3.Attach the tow rope to the tube.

4.Tie off the rope to the stern (back) of the boat.

5.Review safety hand signals for communication between spotter and those riding on the tube.

6.Have fun!

Ok, how about we a dive a little deeper into the equipment:

Start with the towable itself. The best water tubes are those that best meet the needs of your riders. If you’re pulling 4-year-olds, you don’t need a flying tube. You need something safe that your kids will ride and have fun in.

Safety begins with a personal flotation device that fits properly. Kids can fall off tubes, so it’s best that they be wearing a life jacket that stays put. There are literally hundreds of options, but it’s a good idea to have bright colored life jackets, to make the riders stand out in the water when there is a spill.

Safety also is a big responsibility for the driver, who needs to demonstrate 360-degree awareness and cautious driving. It’s also important to realize that a towable tube swings out wide opposite of the direction you’re turning, so it’s especially important to be aware of shorelines, docks, trees and other boats. The fewer boats that are around when towing kids on a tube, the better. When you practice 360-degree awareness, you begin to develop a keener sense of not only what’s going on around you, but also what might happen in the coming moments. A PWC might dart out of the corner of your eye into the path of your boat. A water skier might decide to end his ride, toss the rope and ski across the stern of your boat headed for shore because he didn’t see the tube being dragged behind you. Practicing 360-degree awareness is the best way to keep everyone safe, and some of those people might not even be in or behind your boat.

The tow rope is a crucial part of your setup. Make sure it is in good shape as you head into the season. There are various sizes and strengths based on the number of riders so choose the appropriate one. Like a ski rope, there should be little give to it, although some have small bungee attachments which can provide a little extra excitement.

Of course, we wouldn’t be talking about any of this without the tube itself. My, what a long way we have come from truck innertubes…..The good news is that there are hundreds of options when choosing a towable. Large specialty retailers like Bass Pro Shops and others offer huge selections that let you get the right tube for the riders you plan to pull. And of course you can always purchase replacement bladders for your towable or other items at TRL Watersports

We Hope this has been a good primer for some that are new to the sport and a nice refresher for you tubing veterans . Happy tubing and see you on the water soon!