Looking to buy a new tube- suggestions?

[cooperwoods]

Hey All:

My Last tube (HO Bomber) is shot - I need to get a new tube for summer use - ofcourse only to be pulled by my "other" boat. Looking at the HO Black Ice (ride on top 3 person tube priced at $300), the HO Atom (sphere/triangle tube priced at $350) or the same tube as before (HO Bomber priced at $170).

The Bomber (we have had three) has served us well -but wonder whether its worth the extra money for the bigger and "better" tube. Typical use is 2-3 high-schoolers at a time looking for excitement etc. thoughts? Any help would be appreciated.

[DanielC]

This is not the answer you are looking for.
Spend the time to teach the youth to wakeboard or ski. They will remember that for the rest of their life. Give then a thrill ride on a tube, they will forget it after the adrenlin rush wears off.
This is an opinion I have formed from being a part of youth camps since 1982.

The next generation of boat buyers is not going to come from someone who got a ride in a tube. It will come from youth who learn to beginning ski, or wakeboard, and see the personal progress they made, and either talk their parents into buying a boat, or remember the learning experience, and buy a boat for their children.
Youth today need someone who will take the time to educate them, to teach them there are personal rewards in doing something more difficult, and then succeeding, than just be exposed to a quick thrill ride.
Spent your money on a training, or barefoot boom.

In my experience there is also a much greater possibility someone will get hurt tubeing than they will skiing or wakeboarding.

Just a minor thing. Most inflateables are made in China, most skis and wakeboards are made in the USA. Whose economy do you want to support? Do you want to enable the Chinese economy to compete with us even more? Do you want to compete with the developing nations of the world for the global oil supply?

Having said all that, the simpler the inflateable is, the more durable it will be. I have seen the more complex tubes show up at camp, and last maybe one day.

One more thing to think about. The physics of waterskiing, or wakeboarding favor younger, lighter youth. This is a great ego boost when the freshman boy or girl gets up on a wakeboard or ski before the senior football player, who is respected for his athletic ability.

[WakeSlayer]

In my experience there is also a much greater possibility someone will get hurt tubeing than they will skiing or wakeboarding.

What a well-written non-bashing post. I particularly agree with the above part.

mike

[Hollywood]

Ok, back to the tube recommendations!




[crickets]

[Andrew]

get one with wheels! that way you don't even have to take it to the lake!

[MHayes]

This is not the answer you are looking for.
Spend the time to teach the youth to wakeboard or ski. They will remember that for the rest of their life. Give then a thrill ride on a tube, they will forget it after the adrenlin rush wears off.........

Just curious, but where in his post did he say that the kids didn't ski or wakeboard?

[ffmedic74]

We have had an obrien screamer for atleast 8 years and the darn thing wont die! If it ever does I plan on getting the superscreamer.

[cooperwoods]

for what its worth, we are on the water alot, and primarily ski and wakeboard. I bought the boat to give our famly a fun activity to do together. Am happy to report that we have had two nautiques since 2004 and have spent 100's of hours on the water. That said, the kids love to tube with friends - especially when the water conditions make it difficult to ski/wakeboard (i.e. weekend afternoon on our lake) -- so, appreciate input on tube of choice.-- thanks

[AirTool]

We have the bomber and it is nice for two small kids or an adult plus 1 kid. I'd buy another one just like it if I needed one.

I've been on similar round/flat tubes big enough for 3? adults and they can be more fun for more/bigger riders.

The diameter/payload needs to be sized for the rider. Too heavy is obvious....too light and the riders bounce around and might flip over. They need some weight for stability.

Anyway, we prefer the round/flat pizza shape.

[AuMDLST]

Ok, back to the tube recommendations!




[crickets]

Perfect for a good laugh - Thank You

[SkiTower]

especially when the water conditions make it difficult to ski/wakeboard (i.e. weekend afternoon on our lake) -

exactly!

[Andrew]

In all seriousness, the only good times that I can say I've had on a tube was in the triangular shaped ones that usually hold 2-3 people down inside the tube..... We took those out on the weekends during high school (since the water was destroyed by wally's ) and did all we could to break bones!

I once saw 6'4" 300lb guy get about 16' in the air out of one of those evil inflatables!

[AuMDLST]

[crickets]

[harddock]

especially when the water conditions make it difficult to ski/wakeboard (i.e. weekend afternoon on our lake) -

exactly!

I thought that is when you are supposed to kneeboard

[HS]

especially when the water conditions make it difficult to ski/wakeboard (i.e. weekend afternoon on our lake) -

exactly!

I thought that is when you are supposed to kneeboard

I thought that is when you are supposed to wakesurf.