6 Tubing Safety Tips for When You’re Out on the Water

There’s nothing more fun than being out on your boat when the weather starts to warm up. Your friends and family will have a blast while you’re on the water, especially when you break out the inflatables for water tubing! People of all ages will have a blast riding on a tube behind the boat, and safety is the most important part of having fun. Check out these 6 tubing safety tips for when you’re pulling a tube behind your boat.

1. Always Wear a Personal Flotation Device

   The most important safety tip for being out on the water is to make sure all of your passengers have personal flotation devices. Not only should they have these devices readily available, they should be wearing them while riding on a tube. Before you head out on the water, take the time to ensure each person’s device fits properly based on their size and weight.




2. Learn Your Equipment

   Every boat driver should inspect their equipment before each boating season. Manufacturers put recommendations on the equipment to keep consumers safe, and you’ll want to check for weight capacity, age recommendations, maximum towing speed, and the amount of allowed riders. Some of the equipment you should check to ensure they are in proper working condition before you tow anyone includes water tubes, tow ropes, tie on points, and other related objects.

   You’ll also want to be sure you’ve got the right equipment to pull tubes. Unlike TurboSwing, most towing devices including wakeboard towers and ski pylons are not rated to pull inflatable tubes. To ensure the safety of both your boat and your riders, we recommend installing a TurboSwing ski tow bar.




3. Know Your Riders

   As the boat driver, you should be aware of the riders you are pulling behind the boat. Young children will need different accommodations compared to older, more experienced riders, and it is up to the driver to know the riders and their individual needs.




4. Use a Spotter

   An important safety tip everyone should follow when they’re water tubing is to use a spotter. As the driver of a boat, you aren’t able to watch your riders and drive the boat safely at the same time. With the help of a spotter, you will know if your rider has fallen off the tube or if the tow rope breaks, and you will be able to focus on safely maneuvering the boat in the water.




5. Be Cautious When Using Multiple Tubes

   Sometimes you might be pulling more than one water tube behind your boat. You should drive at slower speeds and complete fewer turns when pulling multiple tubes compared to pulling a single tube to keep all riders and passengers safe. Following these water tubing safety tips will prevent collisions and serious injuries. If you truly want to make sure your multiple tube riders are safe, you need our EZ Pulley™ system that swings sideways in either direction and reduces jerking of the tow rope.




6. Drive Responsibly

   When you pull a tube behind your boat, you are responsible for the safety of the rider on the tube. You should maintain a reasonable speed to prevent accidents, and steer clear of another boat’s wake. It is also important to be aware of other boats and obstacles in the water as you drive, and before you start moving, double check that your rider is in position and ready to go.

These are some of the most important water tubing safety tips you should follow. If you follow these tips, you and your passengers can have a ton of fun this summer and stay safe while doing it! If you’re looking to make your boat water sports friendly, you need our tow bar because it is the only tube-rated towing option on the market. Figure out which TurboSwing tow bar will work best with your boat, and get it for your next excursion!