I need to cover the issue of how many people can be pulled on the tube first.
While you can get 3+ person tube and your jet ski will pull it just fine, it doesn’t mean it’s allowed in many places.
Most models have a MAX seating capacity of 3 people, that includes everyone on the unit and tube combined. You CANNOT have 3 people on the jet ski and 3 more on the tube in most states and countries! It also gets more complex as some states require mirrors or even a spotter at all times.
Unfortunately, in a few states you can only have one person on the towable tube due to needing a spotter along with a driver… a max of 3 people.
You can still buy multiple person tubes, it’s only the number of people you tow that is the issue, so having a bigger tube is fine on comfort and stability. Not only that, but bigger tubes offer a place to hang out when not driving the jet ski. That is why I include larger tubes, they’re more comfortable and offer more functions when not jet skiing.
Best PWC Towable Tubes
Now that we got the seating capacity details out of the way, let me go over what I consider the best watercraft tubes.
1. Airhead Super Mable
Hands down, the best towable on any PWC is the Super Mable made by Airhead.
The Super Mable is the most easy-going tube and the most fun to everyone in the family. If you’re new to pull sports, start with the Super Mable!
Buy the Super Mable here. (Amazon Link Ad)
Pros
- 3 Person capacity. While you can’t carry all three people in some states, it’s a great option when lounging after being pulled around.
- Tons of grab handles to hold on to.
- Back support. Tubing can be a workout, but having a back support is a must if you’re new to the sport.
- Speed Safety Valve, makes it easy to inflate and deflate the tube.
- Dual tow points, can go forward or backwards depending on what you want.
- 510 weight limit, can support normal-sized adults.
- Fine to sit one or two riders.
- Durable, the shell holds up better than other tubes I’ve used in the past.
Cons
- It’s a large tube, most jet skis will pull it fine but stick to 110 HP or greater.
2. Airhead Hot Shot
The next best option is a 1 to 2 person tube, but honestly, I like to stick to one person on this one.
Tubing is fun going by yourself as you don’t have to worry about someone else. And since jet skis are small, you don’t want a large tube, or you don’t want to get something too big if you’re new to tubing.
Buy the Airhead Hot Shot here. (Amazon Link Ad)
Pros
- Small tube, fits more easily in watercraft storage buckets.
- Easy to learn and a simple design.
- Speed Safety Valve to quickly inflate and deflating.
Cons
- Small tube, 1 to 2 people.
- It’s a workout, especially to adults, to keep yourself on the tube.
3. WOW Sports Big Ducky
I love wild and odd towable tubes, and this is a new one that I’m really loving.
This one takes the sit down, standup, and straddle seats and puts it in one. You’re getting a lot of value from it with all it can do, and it works on many levels of riders.
Buy the WOW Sports Big Ducky here. (Amazon Link Ad)
Pros
- Sits 3 people.
- You can sit down on the side or a person can straddle the center seat.
- Large, tall and bright – other boaters can see you better!
- Molded EZ TOW Connector to EZ tow point hook up.
- Not easy to flip compared to smaller tubes.
Cons
- It’s a large tube, I would stick with over 110HP, or even 150HP, or higher.
Accessories You Need
You’ll need a few things before you get on the water.
- Inflator (Amazon Link Ad).
- Tow-rope (Amazon Link Ad).
- Shock tube (Amazon Link Ad).
- Mirrors.
- Skier down flag (Amazon Link Ad).
- Life jackets.
Many jet skis today come with a 12-volt plug, but you’ll need a 12-volt inflator to inflate and deflate the tube. If you don’t have a 12-volt plug on your jet ski, you can buy cordless inflators, RYOBI (Amazon Link Ad) has one, so does Bauer. They don’t always come with the batteries or chargers, but if you’re in that tool line up, it’s a great option. Most inflators also can be used to deflate the tube, which is needed if you want to store the tube away easily.
The tow-rope is what attaches the PWC to the tube. Stick to the ones that float or have a foam part that helps the rope float.
The shock tube is to keep from sucking up the rope or if the rope breaks, it doesn’t smack the people on the tube.
Some places require you to have mirrors on your jet ski, even if you have a spotter. It’s not required everywhere, but it’s a good idea either way.
A skier down flag is required in many states, and a good idea in places that don’t require it. If someone falls off the tube, you raise the flag to let other boaters know someone is in the water. Even if the other boaters don’t know what the flag is for, they tend to slow down seeing a bright orange flag – people are careless at times and go too fast near boats that are tubing.
Everyone on the ski and tube needs to wear approved life jackets.
What Jet Skis to Do Pull Sports?
Pulling anything is not hard, just about every jet ski can do it, but having enough HP makes it more fun and less stressful on the jet ski.
To see what horsepower you need, I created a post that answers that here.
How-To
Towing a towable with a jet ski is a little different from a boat, but overall very similar.
Below is a great video to get you started with your jet ski.
Allowed?
Before you get one, you need to check your local laws on the lake to see if they or even PWC are allowed on them.
Some lakes and small bodies of water have odd rules about such things. Some may allow it, but only for small PWCs or only allow pontoons.
Don’t forget to have your boaters license, as it’s required in many states now.
Skier Down Flag
If you do any pull sports, you need to get a skier down flag to let other boaters know the person you’re pulling has fallen off and to cautious.
Not only that, you need to pick safe areas. I see far too many people pull their kids in the middle of the lake or other busy areas. You need to go in a cove or somewhere that doesn’t have a lot of traffic.
Other boaters are not paying attention, and the best you can do is be on your guard.