Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I'm like a kid at Christmas waiting on my new toon to arrive. Stepping from offshore fishing, all I know about towing is pulling back to dock other ill-equipped boaters who broke down on the water.

I can outfit my toon with all the equipment I need but do not have a bunch of water toys and would like to start with at least one popular towable tube, or whatever you call it. Doing a web search, there's a crazy number of these things on the market.

The kids are all grown with infant grandchildren. Aside from us 60 year olds riding, most of the others are late 20's, early 30's. The whole reason I'm buying this toon is for everyone to have fun! So, what's a good choice to start with?

My marina guy sells Obriens and wanted to steer me to the Relax3.
http://www.obrien.com/product/relax-3/

Many others on this site look good to me, but what do I know? Ha!
http://www.towablesstore.com/chwa3.html

What do you guys pull behind? I'll also take tips on towing passengers, like .. how fast?, length of tow rope? .. basically anything that helps.

Many thanks!

I pull two.

A super Mable
A slalom Jockey Duo

The first can be a softer ride or a pretty wild ride depending on how I fling them. It lest the riders either sit or kneel (depending on whcioh way you pull it) and holds 1, 2 or 3 riders. I use a 60 foot 6000 pound rope (although a four rider 4000 pound rope would be sufficient). I've towed from 6 year olds up to adults on it.

The second is a one or two rider tube. It is rider directed in that the rider can steer the tube by leaning one way or another. Usually these are the teens and more adventurous adults.

I've also pulled a borrowed Papparazzi. This is another steerable tube for 1 to 3 riders. Lots of fun but a wilder ride than either of the other two.

the biggest recommendation I make is to use a sportsstuff booster ball, it is an inflatable ball that is in the middle of the tow rope and keeps the rope out of the water, it makes it much easier to sling the tube out of the wake.

as far as towing speed goes, it is up to how wild the riders want, most of the time we tow wide open.

We have/have had several tubes, the sportsstuff big bertha, it is listed as a 4 rider but is best with one or 2 people.




we also have the slalom single, it is a rider controllable tube and is a blast




we also have the airhead revolution tube, it rotates while you tow it, it is a rush, and seems to do best around 15-18mph





and the one that seems to be the favorite is the Sportsstuff chariot warbird, it is a good comfortable tube and pretty hard to dump the riders off because of the little side stabilizers

We have enjoyed the Big Mable for about 5 years. It inflates easily with a shop vac at home or use one of the high volume foot pumps from here http://www.airkayaks.com/categories/Accessories/Pumps/ on the boat. Also, make sure to get a good tow rope http://www.sportsstuff.com/k/search?q=tow+ropes

Sportsmans Guide has a ton on sale!

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/brow ... c=55&s=516

really good prices on some of them.

Slalom jockey is by far my favorite tube to pull, if you can get 20mph out of your toon and the rope out of the water. I can drive in a straight line and decently skilled riders can steer it out and over the wake.

Thanks for all the help! Ray Jr, the pics were great. It's going to be very interesting when the water warms up.