Towables Category Page
Riding and carving turns behind a fast boat on a wakeboard or pair of water skis is a great summertime thrill. But these water sports can be hard to learn, especially for youngsters. Fortunately, there’s towables, which are a great way to introduce kids, or anyone else, to fast water fun.
What is a towable?
Towables are a broad category of devices that are intended to be towed by a motorboat while passengers sit on them, usually while holding tightly onto handles or straps. They’re generally not steerable, and instead drift back and forth across the boat wake as the boat operator carves large curves across a body of water.
Almost all towables are inflatable for easy storage and setup. They’re also often made of durable PVC with reinforced towing hookups to withstand significant speeds.
Towables come in an almost endless assortment of shapes and sizes, ranging from simple inner tube shapes, to loveseats and sleds, to giant hotdogs and multi-segmented sea monsters. Choosing wacky towable shapes is part of the fun.
Take your towables anywhere with anyone
Unlike water skis or wakeboards, towables can accommodate groups of people, commonly up to 4 riders. This also means that with the right safety equipment and precautions, it’s possible for adults to accompany younger or more cautious children on slower tows.
Towables are not just for open-water speedsters, either. They make excellent pool floats, and many folks love to use them as lazy-river crafts, drifting down flatwater river sections with perhaps a paddle for steering.
Essential towable accessories
Obviously, all towables need a powered boat for towing. However, while water skiing and wakeboarding require powerful motors to reach the necessary speeds for standing up, you can easily tow your towables with a lower-powered craft like pontoon boats. All towables will also need tow lines and a pump for inflation.
Towable Safety
Towables are fun, zany, and carefree, but as with all water sports, they can be hazardous. All riders, regardless of age or skill level, should wear life jackets. Never attempt to strap or tie yourself onto a towable. Boat operators should mind their speed and course, as a boat taking a turn too fast can easily flip a towable. And all boats should have some kind of signaling mechanism to let other craft know when there are people floating in the water.