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Secrets for getting the best performance out of your inflatable.
These tips will also help increase the longevity of your product by reducing potential damage to the cover
and PVC bladder.
Proper tube inflation not only allows a towable to travel over the water more easily, but also helps eliminate the main cause of frustration for a tube owner. Under inflation probably leads
to more product damage than over inflation.
Connelly tubes shapes have been designated to perform best when properly inflated. What this means is that a properly inflated tube will expand to fill the cover
without distorting the intended shape.
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So, how do you know when a tube is filled “enough,” especially when there is no gauge to show that the tube has been filled to the optimum level? How does one keep
from under inflating or over inflating a towable? What is the appropriate level of inflation for performance?
Properly inflated tubes glide over the water with the least amount of resistance.
Under inflated tubes plow through the water, creating drag, which in turn puts undue strain on the tube’s tow point and tow rope. In addition, a cover on an under inflated tube can quickly distort,
fill with water and become damaged.
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Just as under inflation will cause problem, over inflation will put stress on the cover seams and PVC bladder welds. The hot summer sun will have a dramatic effect on an over
inflated tube! The air inside a tube that is over filled would soon expand to almost double its size were it not for the cover containing further growth.
In general, you should fill your tube until the
nylon cover is fairly wrinkle-free. Our tubes are built from 30 gauge PVC material with good elasticity. This elasticity is what allows the Connelly tube to expand until it fills the nylon protective
cover.
TUBE TIP #1: FILLING PARTIALLY COVERED INFLATABLES
There are a few easy steps for filling your partially covered tube, whether it is small or large. These steps should get you on the water
quickly.
For open top tubes such as Connelly's Spin Cycle, Swept Wing, Wing Two, Mega Wing and 4 x 4, it is a simple matter of placing the PVC bladder inside the cover and aligning the molded Boston valve
with the corresponding opening in the nylon cover. If you haven't done so already, unfold the PVC bladder and lay it out to roughly match the outline of the nylon cover. Always try to find a clean, debris free
area to inflate your tube because sharp rocks, twigs and glass could puncture the bladder or rip the cover.
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Unscrew the main body of the Boston valve (or speed valve in the case of the Spin Cycle) and inflate the tube half full. Replace the Boston Valve assembly to stop the back flow
of air. At this point, check the alignment of the tube and cover. You can fine tune the tube alignment by grasping the Quick Connect end fitting and shaking the tube back and forth. With a little effort,
the tube will just about center itself. Once everything is aligned to your satisfaction, unscrew the top cap from the Boston valve. This 3-way valve has a rubber flapper on the bottom of the threaded
stem which allows air to be pumped in but also keeps it from coming back out. So, with the top cap removed, continue to inflate the tube until the nylon cover is fairly wrinkle-free and the PVC bladder
feels taut. A tube that is inflated per these instructions will glide across the water and not drag.
Keep in mind that once the tube goes into the cold water, it may feel as if it is losing air.
However, it is just the fact that the air inside the tube is contracting. The opposite is true as well: When the tube gets
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hot from the sun, it will expand greatly. If this happens, adjustments can easily be made: Add a little air if the cover looks sloppy; let air out if things are heating up.
Bottom line: Check the inflation level before each use.
Some tube models, such as the Connelly Wing Two and 4 x 4, use nylon straps that encircle the PVC bladder. The purpose of these straps is to
lock the top fabric to the bottom to prevent hands
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and feet from getting caught under loose material. These straps also help the tube maintain its desired shape. When inflating tube with these 'control straps', it is a good idea to
lay the PVC tube inside the cover, align the two straps and then join the two ends with the mating pieces of "hook" and "loop" material. The length of the straps has been optimized to fit best
when the tube is properly inflated. Once the straps are secured, inflate your tube as instructed.
TUBE TIP #2: FILLING LARGER AND/OR FULLY COVERED TUBE MODELS
Larger, fully covered tubes
are as simple to fill as the little ones, although there might be a few more steps to completing this process. One of the nice things about Connelly fully covered 'deck style' or fun tubes like the Big O,
Scooter, Hot Rod, Convertible, Cruzer, Dub Ya, Dually Deluxe, Mega Wing Deluxe, Phantom Wing and Triple X is that they come preassembled. This means the bladder has already been lined up inside the nylon cover
before it is boxed. It is now just a matter of adding air. However, I would still advise inflating the tube half full and then checking out the alignment of the cover and the PVC bladder. If the tube has headrests
and inflatable seat cushions, it is easier to fill them before the rest of the tube is inflated.
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Even if the deck style is not pre-assembled, it is an easy process to get this style of tube ready for the water. Un-box your new Connelly tube and lay the nylon cover face up
on a clean surface. A sandy beach or grass lawn works well. In the middle of the side control gusset (Usually near the back or rear side of the tube), there will be a zippered section. This zippered
section will be about 50-70% of the width of the tube. Unfold the PVC bladder and orient this in the same direction as the cover. Now, fold the bladder in thirds lengthwise or just a little narrower than
the zippered opening. Slide the front of the bladder through the opening and up to the front of the nylon cover. Then, reaching far inside the cover, simply flip the sides of the folded bladder out
towards the sides of the nylon cover. Check the alignment of the Boston valve through the hole in the
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cover. If they match up, close the zipper, being careful not to pinch the bladder in the teeth of the zipper. Inflate the tube half full and check it out. If needed, grab the front fitting
and shake the tube up and down and side to side to center the bladder. If everything is lined up, continue to inflate the bladder until the cover is almost wrinkle free and the bladder is fairly taut.
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TUBE TIP #3: INFLATORS MAKE THE JOB EASY
Having a good pump to inflate your tube is necessity. The smaller single and double rider tubes can be filled adequately
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with a hand held DC pump like the Connelly Tube Gun. Larger tubes will require an inflator with a lot more output. The Connelly Quick Draw inflator is an AC pump that can fill
just about any tube on the market to a reasonable level. Although this AC pump requires an electrical outlet, one way to gain some portability would be to purchase an inexpensive inverter that plugs into
a boat's cigarette lighter or attaches to a car battery. Some of these small inverters can handle shop vacuums, which is another way to inflate tubes in a hurry. For the customer who likes to fill
their tube up on the way to the lake, Connelly offers the Schrader-style Quick Fill Adapter that will work with a gas station inflation hose.
We hope these tips will enable you to spend many
enjoyable hours out on the water with your friends and family. Remember, the key to good tube performance and longevity of your product is proper inflation. Have fun and be safe!
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