How to inflate a large towable....?

[Jim in Alabama]

I will be pulling kids on a Super Mable this summer and I have zero experience with towables. I know there are high volume air pumps for these things but I already have a shop vac as well as a portable shop compressor, will one of these work to air this monster up? I'm thinking inflate it at the dock and keep a hand pump on board for touch up if needed.

[NonHyphenAmerican]

initial inflation is easy with the exhaust side of the shop vac.

Then we keep a hand pump on the boat to touch it up when needed.

About $10 at Academy Sports.

http://assets.academy.com/mgen/27/10044 ... is=640,640

[RcgTexas]

Just make sure it is inflated enough or the ride will not be satisfactory for you in the boat or the folks on the tube. We have a 110 volt pump specifically designed for our tube, which I can't remember the name of right now, but it is like a super mable. It has a back on it so the little tykes wont slide off the back.

They make 12 volt units that can work on the boat batteries but we fill ours ashore and it usually is good for the Day at least.

[evinrude2stroke]

I bought a small 12v pump made for towables. Cost about 17-18 bucks and comes with 3 different nozzles to fit whatever size towable u have. I leave it on the boat, Pumps up towables in literally 1-2 min. It one of the best pieces of gear that I keep on the boat. The shop vac & compressor will work too as long as you have the correct nozzle. Good luck.

[Bamaman]

If you're trailering the boat, you will want to inflate and deflate a big tube. And the best thing for that is a 12 volt pump that puts out high volume, low pressure air.

Try to trailer a big tube inflated and it might fly on you. I see'em on the lake trying to fly when the passengers fall off @ 30 mph, and sometimes they'll go 15-20 feet in the air with the rope attached.

And speaking of ropes: Make sure you get a rope specifically made for tubes. We've seen a number of accidents on our lake (including a neighbor) where a ski rope broke in hard turns and the tube with passenger broadsides a fixed pier. Our neighbor girl about died and is no longer the same person mentally or physically.

[Drago]

You might want to consider something like this.
https://www.theboatpeople.com/pumps/bra ... ure-gauge/

[Bill S.]

Go to walmart. They have 12v pumps for inflatables with diff tips for cheap. I think i bought mine for like $10-$15 dollars and have had it 2 years with no problems. We just leave it on the boat.

[Gearbanger]

Not sure if you have an inflatable mattress around. I have bought a few for camping and they all come with a 12v pump. I use one of these and keep it on the boat to use if needed while out. You could probably find one at a thrift store or yard sale for cheap if you looked.