Marine Accessories

Innertubing is one of the most enjoyable water activities for children and people who are not balance inclined.  Innertubing is fun, and when the proper precautions are taken, is also much safer than waterskiing or wakeboarding.  For innertubing, you will need at least three people, one person driving the boat, one person flagging, and one person being pulled in the innertube.  The person flagging is necessary to alert other boaters when the innertuber is down in the water, and also alert the driver in case the innertuber asks for the boat to be stopped.  You’ll also need a special tow rope to pull the innertube; the strength of a regular rope isn’t enough to support an innertube. 

With the proper safety measures, you’re sure to have an entire day of fun innertubing with your family and friends.  Remember to let the driver have a chance now and then too (if they’ll let someone else drive their boat!).  

The first question to ask when considering what type of tow rope to purchase is how valuable whatever you are towing behind your boat really is.  Ski ropes are constructed to withstand consistent loads, while tube ropes will slacken and tauten quickly without control over either.  Some ropes of either type have handles that cannot be removed, which may also be a factor in your choice.

One of the more common causes of fatalities or serious injuries in water sports involve broken or malfunctioning tow ropes.  WSIA, the governing body of the water sports industry, has done extensive testing and research to determine the standard recommended tensile strengths for water sports tow ropes, which are 3,350 pounds of break strength for 3 people or less; 4,100 pounds break strength for four people or less; and 6,000 pounds of break strength for 6 people or less.  Tow ropes may also not be 20 feet or less in length.