How to Pull a Tube in a Power Boat

When you want to give the passengers on your boat the thrill of water skiing without the need for water skis, you can let them skim across the water on a tube towed by your boat. While towing a tube with a power boat may provide entertainment for the tube riders, it can be a harrowing experience as well. You must follow all of the same basic safety procedures used when towing skiers and a few procedures specifically applicable to tubes.

Instructions

    • 1

      Stop your boat in a location where there’s little vessel traffic. Shut the engine down and remove the emergency shutdown lanyard from the starting switch.

    • 2

      Instruct the tube passengers to don life jackets. Assist the tube riders as they board the tube. Instruct the tube riders to paddle the tube away from the boat.

    • 3

      Restart the boat's engine. Move away from the tube at idle speed until all slack is pulled from the tow line and the tow line is taut. Increase the boat speed until the tube begins to plane.

    • 4

      When the tube ride is over, slow the boat. The tube should slow down at about the same rate as the boat.

    • 5

      Shut the engine down and remove the emergency shutdown lanyard. Pull the tow line, coiling it as you pull it into the boat. Assist the tube riders in boarding the boat.