Thursday, 18 June 2026
Towable tubes are designed to withstand massive stresses while on the water, but their lifespan is usually determined by how they are treated when they are not even being used.
Here are 3 things you need to remember to do every time, not just to extend the life of your towables, but to keep everyone that uses them safe.
1. Internal Air Pressure
As we all know, air expands significantly when exposed to direct sunlight and heat. This is not a problem during an actual ride as everything is being naturally cooled by the water and spray. The problems start when the ride is over.
A perfectly inflated tube that's left out in the sun can over-inflate in a matter of minutes. This puts levels of strain on the bladder seams, the nylon cover, and the stitching that they are simply not designed to take, and something has to give.
It may not be immediately obvious from a visual inspection, but the next time it is fully loaded and out on the whip, either the bladder could rupture or the cover could come apart, neither of which would be pleasant for the occupants of the tube.
So, between rides, always let about 25% of the air out to allow for expansion. Then, when needed, just top it up to the correct pressure again. This applies if it is sitting on the swim platform, tied up and left in the water, or even left in the shade if it's a scorching hot day (although we understand that finding shade for a fully inflated towable is difficult without encroaching on the guest spaces).
2. Saltwater Corrosion
Saltwater doesn't just affect metal, it's disastrous for nylon towable tube covers too. Saltwater leaves behind tiny abrasive crystals as it dries, which slowly work their way into the nylon cover and stitching and basically just break them apart over time.
So, when the session is over, don't just throw a bucket of water over your tube. Deflate it entirely, remove all bladders from the outer cover, and thoroughly rinse everything separately, on all sides, until there is no saltwater remaining at all. Soft brushes or microfibre cloths make this task even more effective, but never use any sort of cleaning products as these will damage the tube and will end up in the sea.
3. Storage
Once everything has been thoroughly rinsed of all saltwater, it must all be left to dry completely or you WILL have a mould problem in no time (and normally the accompanying stink that goes with it). Bladders can also suffer chemical degradation if they are put away wet and could rupture at high speed, with zero warning.
So, always dry everything properly before it goes away. We find the best way to do this is to drape the fully deflated bladder and cover separately over your handrails for a while, thus creating the world's most expensive washing line. Flip everything over occasionally to speed up the drying process.
By doing it this way, ventilation is good, you're not causing an obstruction or a trip hazard on deck, and any water can drain off freely. This is far better than just leaving everything flat on the swim platform for guests to trip over, and where water cannot escape anyway.
If you start applying these 3 simple steps every time the towables come out, they will not only last much longer, but you will also be actively taking steps to protect the safety of your family and friends, and that can only ever be a good thing.
Here are 3 things you need to remember to do every time, not just to extend the life of your towables, but to keep everyone that uses them safe.
1. Internal Air Pressure
As we all know, air expands significantly when exposed to direct sunlight and heat. This is not a problem during an actual ride as everything is being naturally cooled by the water and spray. The problems start when the ride is over.
A perfectly inflated tube that's left out in the sun can over-inflate in a matter of minutes. This puts levels of strain on the bladder seams, the nylon cover, and the stitching that they are simply not designed to take, and something has to give.
It may not be immediately obvious from a visual inspection, but the next time it is fully loaded and out on the whip, either the bladder could rupture or the cover could come apart, neither of which would be pleasant for the occupants of the tube.
So, between rides, always let about 25% of the air out to allow for expansion. Then, when needed, just top it up to the correct pressure again. This applies if it is sitting on the swim platform, tied up and left in the water, or even left in the shade if it's a scorching hot day (although we understand that finding shade for a fully inflated towable is difficult without encroaching on the guest spaces).
2. Saltwater Corrosion
Saltwater doesn't just affect metal, it's disastrous for nylon towable tube covers too. Saltwater leaves behind tiny abrasive crystals as it dries, which slowly work their way into the nylon cover and stitching and basically just break them apart over time.
So, when the session is over, don't just throw a bucket of water over your tube. Deflate it entirely, remove all bladders from the outer cover, and thoroughly rinse everything separately, on all sides, until there is no saltwater remaining at all. Soft brushes or microfibre cloths make this task even more effective, but never use any sort of cleaning products as these will damage the tube and will end up in the sea.
3. Storage
Once everything has been thoroughly rinsed of all saltwater, it must all be left to dry completely or you WILL have a mould problem in no time (and normally the accompanying stink that goes with it). Bladders can also suffer chemical degradation if they are put away wet and could rupture at high speed, with zero warning.
So, always dry everything properly before it goes away. We find the best way to do this is to drape the fully deflated bladder and cover separately over your handrails for a while, thus creating the world's most expensive washing line. Flip everything over occasionally to speed up the drying process.
By doing it this way, ventilation is good, you're not causing an obstruction or a trip hazard on deck, and any water can drain off freely. This is far better than just leaving everything flat on the swim platform for guests to trip over, and where water cannot escape anyway.
If you start applying these 3 simple steps every time the towables come out, they will not only last much longer, but you will also be actively taking steps to protect the safety of your family and friends, and that can only ever be a good thing.
