Double tubing seems to double the fun for everyone, but can you pull two tubes behind a boat? Discover the key to successfully pull double tubes in this post.
Tubing is such a fun sport to do with friends and families that you may often be tempted to increase the fun by adding more riders at a time. Not only does double tubing offer more thrill for riders but you can also buy another tube to tow more people easily.
However, fun aside, can you pull two tubes behind a boat? Is it a good idea? Does it pose more risks than towing a single tube? What do you need to know about double tubing?
Can You Pull Two Tubes Behind A Boat?
Yes. You can definitely pull two tubes behind a boat; many people are doing this for fun. However, just like pulling one tube, one boat pulling two tubes poses safety risks, including head injuries, strains, and sprains.
In order to pull two tubes with one boat, you need to prepare properly. This involves ensuring the motor power, preparing the tubes, ropes, and knowing how to drive your boat.
How To Pull Two Tubes Behind A Boat?
Check the motor power
Inflatable tubes don’t require much power because they naturally float on the water. They are the easiest to tow behind a boat.
In general, a 35-40HP boat motor can tow a single tube for one rider at a time. A 60HP motor can handle a 2-person tube.
For towing a pair of tubes with adult riders, the motor must generate at least 90HP of power or higher, ideally 115HP.
Make sure the tubes weigh the same
To choose the right towable tubes, you need first to keep the riders in mind.
Do you want a single tube, a double tube, or a multi-person tube? It depends on how many people are involved in the sport and how much load your motor can handle.
Next, if your riders are children, you may want to look for something that lets them sit in, not sit on. Towable tubes for children can be smaller than those for adult riders.
You should also take the type of tubes into account. Some tubes skim on the water faster than others, determining the speed at which your rider will move when tubing. For example, deck tubes and dual tow point tubes with flat bottom surfaces are suitable for faster rides.
Nevertheless, the most important thing to remember is that the two tubes should be the same. It’s also crucial to make sure the total weight of the riders on one tube equals that on the other.
The goal of this is to guarantee the tubes are balanced and move at the same speed to avoid collisions, twisting, among other accidents.
Check the ropes
First and foremost, use ropes specifically designed for this sport.
The Water Sports Industry Association (WSIA) states that the rope has to be 50 to 65 feet long, not shorter or longer. Besides, using the right rope for the tube size is essential to reduce the risk of rope breaking during the ride.
Choose a rope by looking at the tensile strength in correspondence with the max weight of the riders on one tube. For 170 lbs of total weight, choose a rope with 1500 lb tensile strength. Similarly, A 2375lb rope is for 340 lbs of weight, a 3350 lb rope is for 510 lbs of weight, a 4100 lb rope is for 680 lbs of weight, and a 6100 lb rope is for 850 to 1020 lbs of weight.
On top of that, before each ride, check the rope for knots, sun damage, or fraying; you should only use ropes in good conditions.
Tie the ropes properly
Always tie the rope to an approved attachment point like the transom eye, the low transom tow point, or the ski eyelet on the stern.
Keep in mind that you should never tie the rope to a tower since it’s not strong enough. Towing tubes with the tower can eventually rip it off your boat.
On the other hand, don’t tie the rope too low; it will be too close or touch the water surface, which leads to splashes on the riders’ faces.
To ensure safety when towing a pair of tubes, you should attach two ropes at two separate points on either side at the stern instead of one. This way, you can prevent the tubes from colliding and maintain safe rides.
Another thing to bear in mind is keeping the distances between the two tubes and the boat equal.
Drive the boat carefully
When double tubing, the key is to prevent the tubes from colliding and the lines from crossing.
It’s best to drive slowly in a straight line. It would help not to make a turn unless it’s safety reasons relating to the boat or the riders. Besides, don’t go in a zig-zag pattern since it rises the chance of tangling.
Other than that, driving a boat when towing two tubes is not too difficult. Use your common sense and be careful; remember people are completely relying on your driving skills
Safety Precautions For Pulling Two Tubes Behind A Boat
Even when you have prepared your boat, your tubes, your ropes very well, and you drive skillfully, there are safety precautions you must always follow so both you and the riders can enjoy the ride.
- Wear life jackets and other safety gear like helmets, gloves for the riders, glasses for the boat driver. Life jackets will keep the riders afloat if something goes wrong and the riders fall into the water.
- Beware of subjects around like other boats, docks, pilings, etc., and other people in the water. In this case, having a spotter on board will help a lot; they can keep an eye on the riders all the time and assist you with observing.
- Follow water regulations. It not only helps you stay safe on the water but also avoids trouble with water police.
Conclusion
Overall, can you pull two tubes behind a boat? The answer is yes. Double tubing is actually quite popular as a fun group activity. It offers additional thrilling for riders when skimming the water surface.
However, involving another tube leads to additional requirements and calls for extra attention. Make sure the tubes are the same with equal weight, while the ropes must be of the same length and tied properly to the boat. When driving, pay attention to your riders and the surroundings; watch out for any subject appearing on the water.