It’s a blazing hot summer day, and all you can think of is cooling yourself off by going to the beach. Here is some good news for you! A hot summer day is a perfect time to bust out your towable tube and have some fun on the water. To help you make the most of it, we have put together this short little guide to help you safely inflate your tube.
Contents
How To Inflate Towable Tube in 5 Easy Steps
Without further ado, let’s get right down to it and help you inflate your towable tube to get you on the water.
Step 1: Choosing the Right Inflatable Tube
First things first, choose the right kind of inflatable tube because safety is extremely important when it comes to water sports. After all, you don’t want to have an accident while you are out on the water.
Always pick an inflatable that is made of a strong, waterproof material that is resistant to any wear and tear. It is also a plus if the inflatable comes with a strong hook where you can attach a rope to securely tie the tube to a boat.
Also try to get one with hand grips, which allows you to hold onto the tube in the water so that you don’t fall off.
When purchasing your tube, make sure that you get an air pump that is specially designed to fit your tube’s valve so that it can be properly inflated.
Step 2: Place Your Tube on a Flat Surface
Now that you have your tube, the first step to properly inflate it is to spread it out on a flat surface. This just makes inflating the tube much easier.
Make sure that the surface is flat and there are no sharp objects underneath that could tear into the tube.
Step 3: Remove Valve and Start Pumping in Air
Most inflatable tubes come with a Boston valve. The good thing about this valve is that it only allows unidirectional airflow, so air can only go into the tube from the pump and cannot escape from the tube easily.
Once you are ready to start inflating your towable tube, lift up the cover and open the plug, and you will see a valve.
Then, insert the air pump’s pipe into the Boston valve and switch on the electric air pump to start filling your tube with air. You can also use a manual hand pump or even a foot pump if you want.
Step 4: Test Your Inflated Tube
One common issue that most people face when inflating a towable tube is knowing when to stop pumping air into the tube. If you stop too early, you might under-inflate the tube, but if you keep on pumping air, you risk over-inflating it.
A good rule of thumb to follow is to pump air into the tube until all the wrinkles on the tube’s surface have disappeared. Then, close the plug and test your inflated tube to check if it has been properly inflated.
To do this, stand on top of the inflated tube. If you go down half an inch, that’s good because this means that the tube has been correctly inflated. If you go down more than an inch, it means that the tube is under-inflated and needs more air.
If you stand on it, and you don’t go down at all, then that means that the tube is over-inflated. You need to release some of the air.
Step 5: Keep a Hand Pump Ready
If you have managed to follow all the steps until now, then great going! You are almost there! All that’s left to do now is to securely tie a rope to the hook on your fully inflated towable tube.
Once that is done, take the other end of the rope and tightly secure it to the boat so that your tube remains attached to the boat throughout the ride.
As an added precaution, keep a portable hand pump with you on the water just in case the tube loses air. You can quickly use the hand pump to re-fill the tube with a little air and bring it back to normal.
Safety Precautions
Here are a few safety precautions that you need to keep in mind when using a towable tube:
- Never leave an inflated tube in the sun, as the heat will make the air inside it expand and the added pressure can pop the tube.
- Fully dry the tube before storing it.
- Never store the tube in freezing cold temperatures.
Conclusion
Hopefully, our short little guide has made inflating towable tubes a piece of cake. Just follow all the steps above and you can enjoy an exciting day out on the water skimming over the waves. It’s the perfect antidote to beat the heat!
