Kids love to tube

[sjames]

Has anyone installed one of the larger air pumps in their boat? Thinking of putting a large pump to keep all the "floating things" pumped up and not have to drag out that **** noisy little pump that plugs in to the Acc plug.

Seems to be enough room to maybe mount one of these above the exhaust can in the engine compartment and run a hose up.


Example of the pump I am thinking of:
http://www.amazon.com/Kwik-Tek-Airhe...6751196&sr=1-7

[xrichard]

I have that pump. I didn't do a built-in installation, but I installed a Marinco plug in one of the rear storage lockers so I can open the locker and plug it in with the tube spread out over the engine compartment and opposite locker.

http://www.amazon.com/Marinco-12VCP-...6782211&sr=1-8

I think the pump draws high-20 amps, so your standard 12v accessory outlets won't work. (...and if they don't pop the breaker, you shouldn't use them anyway because that's too much for the wires feeding the 12v outlets...)

It is loud just like the smaller pumps but it is very fast so you don't have to listen to it long.

[RIPnSIX]

Just my thoughts.... While tubing is fun.. and I will say when the water is crap.. ok.. but these boats were designed to ski. So get those kids out on the planks.. and have them cutting across the wakes... just my .02

[DanielC]

I am going to strongly agree with RIPnSIX.
Teach your kids a skill, something they will enjoy for the rest of their lives. Do not merely just entertain them.
Do you remember the first time you got up on skis? You, like most people probably do.
Do you remember the first time you went for a ride on a tube? Probably not.

[behindpropellers]

The best thing to do is not even buy a tube.

Tubing is a waste of gas.

[pj]

most of the worst water sports accidents i've seen or heard about involve tubing

[Nordicron]

Anti tubers please pull that stick out!

Just my thoughts.... While tubing is fun.. and I will say when the water is crap.. ok.. but these boats were designed to ski. So get those kids out on the planks.. and have them cutting across the wakes... just my .02

Whatever, I've seen this debate before and its just crap. You know what; I bought my boat for me and my family to enjoy! My kids and their friends love to be dragged all over the freaking lake on that tube(Great Big Mable is great)! Add to the fact that I just installed 2 pro485s and 2 600watt amps to feed each of them so the kids can rock out too whatever they got in the ipod while being dragged and bounced all over the lake!

Besides all you people that buy these boats and then proceed to beach and tie-up in the party cove I'd argue wouldn't a pontoon boat work so much better for that?

And you know what else it makes me happier than **** seeing them have so much fun doing it! Another thing while these boats maybe just designed for skiing or boarding they do a **** fine job of pulling a tube also! Being these boats turn on a dime and accelerate like lightning it doesn't take near the same speeds to make it fun, using an I/O is much more of pain and its seems you always end up going too fast.

Lastly my 12yr old daughter can now wakeboard pretty good and is just starting to get the confidence to actually jump the wakes and has fun with that also. My 6yr old daughter just took her first pull on a kneeboard 2weeks ago and I couldn't have been prouder of her! But again they both still love to just have crazy fun on the tube especially when they have friends on the boat.

Now to answer the original question. I have that same compressor(works great) which I direct wired and am looking around for some hose so I can keep it tucked away and just pull out the air hose when needed. I would just worry that if you made the hose to long you'd seriously cut down on your airflow but not sure.

[pj]

that being said, try the sumo tube. at least there is some effort involved

[cubalakeny]

TUBES!!!! I thought this was a nautique website.

[sjames]

Wow!!!!!

Ok so I guess I love all the feedback and passion..... and my kids will ski, surf , and wake board if they so choose.....

and I do remember my first time which is why I bought a boat for the family and want to pass all of that along.

I also remember the first time I tubed with the truck tire that had that long metal bent valve "meet" me.

anyway the kids love to have fun, and I LIVE to let have my kids have fun......

BTW we tube, Ski, surf and wake board so not worries I am using the full spectrum of the boat

[TRO]

my thought is...although tubers usually tear up the good water... it's your boat, do whatever you want to with it as long as you are having fun, enjoying the water and the family/friends. who cares if you tube with a wakeboard boat or wakeboard with a 200. it's all about having fun and spending time with friends and family.

[sjames]

Amen TRO and we only tube in crap water which they love anyway.

[gride300]

i would not recommend installing anything in the engine compartment. you don't want to start a fire. if you're going to tube, get one of the cool ones, not the typical donut shape. also, do your kids knees a favor and sell the kneeboard. let them beat them up wakeboarding or something like that. it is your choice, but IMO kneeboards are very dangerous for what you get out of them. i'll admit i've had tons of fun when i was young tubing at full throttle and whipping off, sometimes sliding, sometimes catching a limb. it's alot better to start riding now than it is to wait. i heard someone on here say they will let their kids tube if they ski/ride first. i think that is a good compromise. if they decide they don't like the sport then bring on the tube, but tubing does not bring that feeling of progression other things done behind the boat will bring and we all know that is an unmatched feeling.

[Chexi]

Parenting is not about making sure your kids have fun, it is about preparing them for adulthood and a career as a professional wakeboarder or skiier. Ok, now seriously, as long as you tube far away from the butter, there is no problem with tubing. Just be sure you use a very unstable tube so that it is at least a challenge to stay on. On total crap days when the water is horrible, I pull my young niece and nephew on a tube, and it only took 1 or 2 pulls (their first time out ever) behind one of those ultrastable tubes before they were complaining about it being too easy. In some ways I miss the old black tire tubes with the portruding valve. The ever present risk of getting your scrotum avulsed from your body added to the danger, and hence the fun. Of course I don't tube any more. It beats me up too bad and then I'm too sore to board.

[RIPnSIX]

Wow.. sorry didn't mean to high-jack your thread man.. It's your boat do with it what you want..... I am glad your kids do ski/ride/surf. I get where you are coming from.

I just hate it when ppl have 60,000.00 dollar tube boats.. or Drinking machines.. I guess there is jealousy role that is being played. I would love to have/ and I would use the crap out of a 200 with zero off and all the bells and whistles... but that just simply isn't in my budget..

There just isn't anything worse than when you are making some barefoot runs, or ripping six in the course, and you have a big *** Nautique pulling a tournament ****ing tuber doing donuts watching you, because they think that since they have a Nautique, they are apart of the ski community.. **** that!

On your install, I hope it all works out.