Ski Tube

Towable Tubing Tips:how to Get the Most Out of your Towables

Few watersports offer such sheer enjoyment as boat tubing. And the great thing is that it's so easy compared to, say, water skiing. This ease makes it suitable for all age groups and so a great activity for the whole family. Easy as it is, however, you need to take some precautions. Here a some pointers on how you can get the most out of your towable tubing experience.

First, let's look at what towables are. Essentially, the towing experience involves being pulled behind a boat in or on one of various types of “towables.” These boat towables can take a variety of forms but tubes are the most popular (like water ski tubes). Tubes come in a vast range of shapes and sizes, so our first tip is about buying your tube and the rope that connects it to the boat.

Towables are made of artificial fibres such as nylon, polyester, PVC or neoprene. Polyester is the most durable while neoprene is the most comfortable and most expensive. If you have kids, you might prefer the latter.

Next there's the matter of shape. Towables come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. The original design is the donut shape. This is most suitable for adults who can sit on top. However it's not so convenient for smaller people to sit on. Plus the donut rolls over easily making it unsuitable for young children.

Then there are deck tubes which are flat and delta shaped. These are great for multiple riders. These can flip over easily so they're most suitable for teenagers and young adults.

Next we have 'ride in' and 'ride on' tubes. The former are like small boats and so are perfect for small children and those requiring a gentler experience. 'Ride ons' are long narrow towables. Sometimes called torpedo style, these can sit up to six riders. So they're great for groups of young riders seeking speed and thrills.

Finally for extreme thrills there are the rocker towables which have wings. These are examples of concept tubes which are aimed at the thrillseeker.

As for the ropes that connect the towable to the boat, these are graded according to the number of riders allowed. Towable ropes should be 50 and 65 feet in length.

Now that you've bought your towable and rope, it's time to look at some tips for using them. First, always check any warning indicators on the tube. Read and obey the manufacturer’s specifications on such factors as the number of riders, their maximum size and weight, and the recommended top speed limits. Then the tubers should be instructed into how to position themselves on the tube. Don't forget they must always wear a personal floatation device while in the water.

The next thing to do is to find the right area of water for towing. To be safe, you should allow at least 100-feet of unobstructed water on either side of the boat and a minimum of 3000 feet in front. Aside from the driver, the boat should have a 'spotter' to check for riders who fall off. The spotter can then alert other boats in the area by waving a flag.

It's essential too that the boat handler be familiar with any regulations affecting that stretch of water you're on. Speed limits are influenced by water conditions. Wakes for example can be dangerous for towing so boat speeds should be reduced. And he must keep in mind the capabilities of the riders on the t

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Ski  $3.5 Ski

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SportsStuff PVC/Repair Adhesive $7.5 The SportStuff SnowTube Patch Kit is a necessity for anyone who uses SnoTubes. Easy to use it allows you to get your snow tube back in service quickly. The kit contains a tube of goop which is a repair adhesive and sealant for PVC and Neoprene. Use to fix seam splits, pinholes, cuts and small punctures in PVC. Great adhesive for hundreds of uses.

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Tube $10 Tube

The Tube $3.99 The Tube

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Transpack SKI Convertible Bag 185cm Red $89.95 The Transpack SKI Pro Convertible ski bag is a padded single ski bag that converts into a ski double bag, within seconds. The Transpack SKI Pro Convertible Ski Bag includes a zippered gusset. By unzipping the gusset, the bag expands to accommodate two pairs of skis. Constructed of durable 600 Denier polyester, the Transpack SKI Pro Convertible ski bag protects your skis from dents and dings. Features: Convertible single/double padded ski bag Super tough, water-resistant 600 denier polyester Compression straps for load control and size adjustments Heavy duty, double-locking, self-repairing nylon coiled zippers Shoulder strap/hand straps Internal zipper pocket for personal items Industrial strength material and components Item code: 8250 View our full line of Transpack Bags.

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KidSki Kid-Ski Universal Ski Tip Lock (ages 1-6 $17.95 The Universal Tip Lock is the long-awaited, exciting new KID-SKI product for 2006-07. It connects the ski tips together to keep them from wandering, thus offering a child more stability. Equally important, it helps kids maintain a wedge position, and the wedge is the easiest way for a young child to learn to ski - even with the new shaped skis. The new transferable Universal Tip Lock is now the state-of-the-art product for parents of kids to easily connect and disconnect the ski tips. Simply slide the aluminum mini-clamps onto the edge of the ski tips and flip the plastic cam levers closed. Thats it! To remove it, just pop open the levers, and its off. The small, lightweight Tip Lock II easily stores in a parka pocket. The Tip Lock is very light weight and low profile. There is no need to remove the Tip Lock from the skis after each outing. Just leave it on for the entire winter. Also, the Tip Lock makes a wonderful carrying device, even after a child graduates off the Tip Lock. For you multi-kid parents, you can carry 2-3 pairs of skis in one hand. Its worth the purchase price just as a carrying device. The Tip Lock will work on any childrens ski - plastic training skis, old-style straight skis and shaped/parabolic skis. USERS of PLASTIC SKIS: If you want to use the Universal Tip Lock with the Kid-Ski plastic skis weve included some "Tip Lock self-adhesive tape" to make the ski tip slightly thicker (as the plastic skis are thinner than regular skis).

SmartWool PhD Ski Medium Sock Blk/Gry MD $23.95 SmartWool PhD Ski Medium Sock Blk/Gry MD

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