Also known as party barges, pontoon boats are one of the best watercraft investments you can make.
From cocktail parties to fishing to just cruising around, these versatile boats can do it all. Their spacious decks can even handle you holding barbecue parties with ease and comfort.
But can a pontoon boat pull a tube? Today, we’re discussing the answer as it depends on many factors.
We’re also sharing a guide on the tubing requirements for a pontoon boat, the type of equipment you need for the activity, and the safe way to pull tubes with a pontoon boat.
Let’s dive in!
Can a Pontoon Boat Pull a Tube?
The short answer is yes, you can use a pontoon boat to pull tubes.
That said, the possibility of pulling a tube with a pontoon boat depends on a few factors that you should first consider as follows:
Boat’s Horsepower and Size
The horsepower of your pontoon boat’s engine is the main factor in determining whether or not the water vessel can pull a tube and make it fun.
If you’re a pontoon boat owner, chances are you already know these things aren’t exactly built for speed. On average, a pontoon boat can go as fast as 15 to 25 mph.
Granted, this speed range is suitable for enjoyable tube pulling, but you won’t be able to pull a tube at such speeds unless the boat’s horsepower allows it.
For example, if your pontoon boat has a 70 horsepower motor, it’s enough to take you up to 10 to 15 mph. This is ideal for kids.
A 90 horsepower motor will reach between 18 to 20 mph, which is great for basic tubing. A 115 horsepower boat can reach a speed of around 23 mph for a more exciting experience, while a 150 horsepower engine can travel at up to 25 mph (or even more) and pull tubes without worrying about how many passengers you got aboard.
Keep in mind that the size of the boat also plays an important role here because the pontoon needs to also drag its own weight. For example, a 90 horsepower engine on an 18-foot long pontoon will ride significantly faster than a 22-foot long, heavier boat with the same motor.
Number of Tube Riders
The second key factor in determining if you can pull a tube with your pontoon is the number of people who will be tubing at a time. More people means more work and less speed.
For example, if only one person is tubing at a time, then the pontoon boat won’t have to do a lot of dragging work so it can reach higher speeds more easily.
Now let’s say your engine has low horsepower and the boat is pulling two adults behind, this means more work and a slower ride. Not to mention, the number of passengers onboard also adds to the overall weight of the vessel which the boat has to drag.
Towing Bar
In addition to your boat’s horsepower and the number of riders, you should make sure that your pontoon boat supports towing. If not, you’ll have to install the proper equipment for the job.
Pontoon boats usually feature tow bars to let you tie ropes for tubing, skiing, and more. So if your pontoon is missing a tow bar, you can choose either setting one up yourself or asking a professional to do it instead.
In any case, you need to ensure that the tow bar is strong enough to withstand the strain of pulling tubes.
If it doesn’t seem sturdy, add a few strong U bolts on your pontoon’s transom to attach the rope. Even if the tow bar seems sufficiently sturdy, make sure that its bolts are deeply drilled into the pontoon to be secure enough to endure the pulling stress.
How to Pull a Tube Using a Pontoon Boat
With all the factors we discussed above in check, you can now pull a tube with your pontoon boat. The following is a list of the necessary items for tubing and a step-by-step guide on how to tie a tube to a pontoon boat.
Gathering the Equipment Needed
- Tow rope: choose a rope ranging from 50 to 65 feet long, this is particularly crucial if you’re planning to pull the tube at higher speeds. Also, the rope must have enough tensile strength to handle the stress of pulling. For a one-rider tube, you need a rope with a minimum strength of 1500 pounds. Don’t forget to buy a Y harness if you’re using U bolts on your pontoon boat.
- Towable tube: if your pontoon is low on horsepower, a one or two-rider tube is enough. If you have plenty of horsepower on your boat, then a multi-person tube is worth considering. In any case, never go beyond the maximum limit of weight or number of people on the tube.
- Protective gear: these include water tubing helmets and life jackets.
Tying the Tube to the Pontoon
Here’s how you can tie a tube behind a pontoon for safe and effective pulling:
- Inflate the tube until it’s firm with no crinkles
- Make sure that all the valves/caps are securely closed with no air escaping out.
- Tie one end of the rope to the tube.
- Attach the other end of the rope to your pontoon’s tow bar or U bolt. Avoid tying the rope into a knot. Instead, tie it using multiple loops for security. Here’s a tutorial to help you get it right. If you’re attaching your rope to a low tow point (transom), consider installing a booster ball on the rope so it remains afloat.
- Tug the rope a few times on both ends to ensure it’s tight and secure.
Wrap Up
So, can a pontoon boat pull a tube? The answer is yes.
However, the speed and the efficiency of the pulling depends on a few factors including the horsepower of the engine, the size of the boat, the number of tube riders, the number of passengers aboard, as well as the towing bar of the boat.