How to Pull a Tube Behind a Boat - 5 Tips for Towing Safely
Everyone loves fun-filled tubing at the lake. This thrilling water sport is enjoyable to people of all ages. However, tubing accidents can happen if you aren’t careful. Despite that, it is possible to keep your friends and family safe by following a handful of towing safety tips.
In this post, we'll share how to tow a tube behind a boat and prevent accidents. Here are the 5 tips to make towing fun and risk-free.
1. Carry Essentials with You
Taking your loved ones tubing? Here are several things you should take with you on your tubing trip.
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Government-Approved Life Jackets – You need this kind of jacket for both your riders and your boating crew.
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Good Quality Tow Rope – A tow rope is for withstanding the tube's side-to-side water tension that can happen when you speed along the water.
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Orange Flag for Emergencies – You need an orange flag to signal others that you need help. This can happen if you run out of gas or if someone gets hurt.
2. The Tubing Don’ts
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Never Leave in a Hurry - Proper communication between the crew and riders lessens many potential risks. You must ensure all the riders and crew are ready for the tubing experience before you get into the water.
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Never Increase the Speed Abruptly - Getting fast and furious can be a thrilling experience for the riders. But you may be wondering; how fast should you pull a tube behind a boat? You should maintain a speed of 20-25 mph while towing others.
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Never Tow Multiple Tubes at Once - Pulling multiple tubes behind a boat increases the chance of accidents. It's best to tow one tube at a time.
3. The Tubing Do's
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Understand the Rules of the Water – Be aware of wake zones, speed limits, and what to do if you are boating after dark. All that information can be found here.
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Avoid Obstacles – Stay conscious of obstacles if you're driving the boat. Make sure you don't hit a pillar, dock, or another boat in the water. If you see swimmers near your boat, turn off the engine immediately to avoid hurting them. If someone falls off the tube, slow down your boat, turn around and pick them up immediately. It is not safe to leave tubers in the water alone for long periods of time as they are hard to spot by other drivers.
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Maintain Age Limit – You may be wondering; what should the minimum age for tubing behind a boat be? Most tubes are not compatible with children under 6 years old. Typically, riders keep a speed below 10 mph when kids younger than 12 years are tubing.
4. Get Help from Spotters
It's hard to stay on the right track when you are driving the boat and keeping an eye on riders at the same time. Spotters can help you focus on driving by observing the riders on your behalf. At least one spotter should be with you at all times.
5. Rider Position & Tube Distance
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Stomach Down for Safety – Riding stomach down is the safest position for riding tubes. Other positions, such as sitting or back posture, increase the chances of head injuries.
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Tube Distance from Boat – You may be wondering; how far should a tube be behind a boat? The answer is at least 100 feet from the boat to maximize the safety of the riders.
Summing Up Towing Safety
Tubing is super fun. From kids to adults, everyone enjoys it. But when you're planning to tow a tube, you must follow a few rules of the water.
Wear life jackets and carry a tow rope and an orange flag for emergencies. Always pull only one tube behind your boat. Never start till everyone is ready, make sure you ask to confirm that before towing. Plus, don't forget to keep the maximum speed at 20-25 mph.
Check your boat specifications before towing to understand the age and weight limits. Always steer clear of obstacles around you. Make sure at least one spotter is helping you. Finally, check if the rider’s position and boat distance are correct before you start towing.
Planning a Tubing Trip?
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