tube storage on the boat

[ghall]

Was wondering what people do with the tube when they're not using it. I have a 2007 175 and so space is limited. Can it be towed on a short line behind the boat? What about securing it to the transom?

 

[First Born]

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=10123&subdeptNum=10950&classNum=10999

Not my boat but a picture I found of them being used. Good luck with it.

 

[Loneranger]

I store my tube across the transom of my cobalt similar to the piture posted by First Born. You can do the same thing shown cheaper by using two pieces of cord about three feet long and securing the tube to the stern clets. I would argue that tied to the stern clets is more secure also.

John

 

[VTSeaRay]

I take a line, and run it thru the handles in the tube(s), then secure to the 2 stern cleats, with it laying on the engine cover - I've done this on both my 185 BR, and the 210 Select, works great! And, is very secure! If I've got the cockpit and bow covers on (usually a longer trailer ride) I put it in the walk thru to the bow and it doesn't go anywhere.

-VtSeaRay

 

[Jasonandjess]

We have a HUGE tube, its called the Grand Stand and there is no way we could drive around with it tied to the transom. Our solution was to use a small power inverter and a AC powered air pump. Our tube has two chambers and even inflating both of them, it take just long enough to inflate that by the time the robe is hooked up and the life vests are donned the tube is ready to go. Deflated we either put it behind the driver seat or in the ski locker. Hope this helps

P.S. Don't leave the pump on the boat when your boat is in storage between trips, its so humid here that mixed with the water from the carpet a pump will rust solid between weekends, who would have thought :huh:

 

[Gogstad]

I take a line, and run it thru the handles in the tube(s), then secure to the 2 stern cleats, with it laying on the engine cover - I've done this on both my 185 BR, and the 210 Select, works great! And, is very secure! If I've got the cockpit and bow covers on (usually a longer trailer ride) I put it in the walk thru to the bow and it doesn't go anywhere.

-VtSeaRay

+1 on this...it works very well. I have recently installed a cargo bimini from Monster that allows me to put it on top of the bimini securely and this has worked well also.

 

[jmlloyd526]

Get an electric 12 v pump and take it down. I carry 2 tubes in the engine compartment storage and it takes less time to blow them up and take them down than it does to try and secure them.

 

[Noland]

Around $20 will get a good 12v pump... That's what we do. we carry 2 or 3 towables in the engine compartment.

 

[beernutz]

We have a HUGE tube, its called the Grand Stand and there is no way we could drive around with it tied to the transom. Our solution was to use a small power inverter and a AC powered air pump. Our tube has two chambers and even inflating both of them, it take just long enough to inflate that by the time the robe is hooked up and the life vests are donned the tube is ready to go. Deflated we either put it behind the driver seat or in the ski locker. Hope this helps

P.S. Don't leave the pump on the boat when your boat is in storage between trips, its so humid here that mixed with the water from the carpet a pump will rust solid between weekends, who would have thought :huh:

I also have a pretty large inflatable called a Super Mable and we tend to just deflate it with a Coleman DC inflator I bought. It only takes about 3-4 minutes to either inflate or deflate Mable and it is really big.

If we are just making a quick run from one spot to another on the water between tows I'll turn Mable upside down and run a line through the handles and secure them to the cleats then have someone put a foot on the tow rope inside the boat to keep the front end from catching wind.

Like someone else suggested, if you get an inflator don't keep it in the boat as I had one die prematurely on me after I did that.