Boating World

Fun Machines

Experience the thrill of multi-rider watersports with these 17 crazy new water toys.

by Edwin Childs

Let’s face it — as awesome as they may be, there aren’t many watersports that lend themselves to a group dynamic. You usually spend half your time on the lake anxiously awaiting your next turn, watching your waterskiing-inept friend as he face-plants time and time again to a chorus of sympathetic groans on board. The only alternative to this waiting game, you figure, involves cutting the towrope and leaving your buddy to the mercy of the lake. Before you take such drastic measures, though, you might want to check out this season’s new and exciting line of towable water toys. Now more than ever, these inflatable fun machines are being designed for multiple riders, so no one has to impatiently wait their turn ever again. Besides, the only other group-oriented watersport involves waterskiing in a giant human pyramid, and who can do that?

Airhead

Clear the runway for Airhead’s Jet ($159.99), a two-rider towable that provides a wild ride via a pair of wings, which enable it to “jet” from side to side effortlessly at low speeds. Lie flat on your stomach or simply sit down, and the eight deluxe handles with neoprene knuckle guards will provide plenty of gripping options. The Jet is constructed from heavy-gauge PVC bladder that’s covered by a rugged 840 denier nylon cover, and it’s equipped with a Boston valve for easy inflating and deflating. www.airhead.com.

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Airhead's Jet

Sevylor

Watch out for mobs of peasantry armed with torches and pitchforks, because Sevylor’s giant 78-inch Monster Tube ($144.99) is on the prowl. The tube is large enough to haul four riders, and its unique I-beam floor is electronically welded to the main tube to prevent riders from slipping in between the cover and tube. The inflatable floor and two separate air chambers provide some additional buoyancy for a softer ride, and it’s equipped with rapid inflation/deflation valves. Whatever you do, though, don’t let it anywhere near fire or loud noises — the Monster Tube hates those things. www.sevylor.com.

monstertube
Sevylor's Monster Tube

World Industries

Bringing its patented in-your-face, skate-or- die attitude to the water toys market, World Industries has scored another sure hit with the Grim ($129) tapered towable. It’s thick at the front and tapered at the back, so it skims above the water instead of submarining underneath. And at 60 inches, this tube is big enough for two riders, and it’s manufactured with a durable 30-gauge virgin PVC bladder that’s fully encased by a double-stitched nylon cover with an internal reinforced harness. This towable also features a Boston valve for fast inflation and deflation. www.kwiktek.com/worldindustrieswatersports.

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World Industries' Grim

Aviva

Get ready to blast off across the lake with Aviva’s Blast III ($299.99). Designed for serious fun, this towable tube will seat up to three people, with headrests and nylon-wrapped handles to keep you comfortable as you zip and zoom through the wakes. www.goaviva.com.

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Aviva's Blast III

Rave Sports

Do your kids have you at the end of your rope? Well, now you can turn the tables with Rave Sports’ new towable made especially for kids, the Hydro ($149.99). This inflatable’s single cockpit seats two children or one adult and child comfortably. Its unique, high-propulsion “RAVETail” design blasts a 3-inch round stream of water 15 feet into the air from the tube’s stern, while the “ Skim Fast” bottom reduces the amount of friction created with the surface of the water. www.ravesports.com.

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Rave Sports's Hydro

West Marine

Take off on West Marine’s new triple-chamber water rocket, the Laser Blaster ($89.99), and you’ll probably feel like you’ve just slapped your Wookie and made the jump into hyperspace. Take a friend along on this galactic water-sled and double your fun. It’s also a great choice for kids who are too small to go solo on a tube or water skis, since they can ride along with an adult until their skills improve. The Laser Blaster also has movable pontoons for increased stability. www.westmarine.com.

laserblaster
West Marine's Laser Blaster
O'Brien

Get airborne with O’Brien’s new water toy, the Jump Seat 3 ($269.99). This 96-inch inflatable can comfortably tow up to three riders, and is constructed from 26-gauge PVC and fully covered in 840 denier nylon. Don’t forget to hold on tight to two of the six available handles with EVA knuckleguards, though, because you’ll likely be catching crazy air on this thing. www.obrien.com.

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O'Brien's Jump Seat 3

SportsStuff

Not unlike the much-celebrated “Thunder River” ride at the Six Flags theme park, SportsStuff’8 8 e 8 e e 8 8 e e 8 e 8 e 8 e 8 e s ultra-cool Carousel ($859.95) situates its four riders so that they all face one another with their backs to the action. This inflatable platform is designed to actually spin as it glides across the water, and the high-rise backrests help you stay in place as your driver cranks up the G-force. Not to mention, you may end up starting a watersports “ revolution” (pun intended). www.sportsstuff.com.

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SportsStuff's Carousel
Straight Line Sports

As it always does, Straight Line comes correct this year  with its Buster Series ($120-$220) of deck tubes. With three different sizes to choose from, the Buster can tow a maximum of three riders simultaneously on its oversized neoprene comfort pad. It has a tapered design with “ grab straps” for riders to get back on more easily, and multiple handle positions to keep them there.Speed shouldn’t be an issue with Straight Line’s Racer Series ($150-$380), all of which feature cockpit-style seating and inflated floors. With a range of four various sizes to choose from, the Racer can carry a maximum of four riders at the same time. www.slsports.com.

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Straight Line's Big Buster (left) and Racer 40

HO Sports

Couch potatoes, brush off those snack crumbs and pay heed — HO Sports has designed its latest towable to provide a thrilling ride in the lap of luxury. The Triple Shot ($375) allows you to sit side-by-side in a couch-like position, while the soft foam handles and tall side bolsters ensure you stay put, even at high speeds. With built-in cup holders and a natural couch shape, this tube is also likely to end up becoming your favorite place to kick back at the lake, catch some rays and enjoy a cool beverage … now where’s that remote? www.hosports.com.

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HO Sports' Triple Shot
Connelly

Don’t be frightened away by the “ghoulishly” extreme graphics on its exterior — Connelly’s towable Skull ($269.99) is easily one of the coolest four-person water toys on the market. The pointed front end is designed to allow this “ghastly” towable to hit plane more quickly, and the back rumble seat doubles as a boarding platform, which makes it much easier to reboard in the unlikely event that you get whipped off this raft. Now you can hit the wake from all angles with the versatile new Full Tilt ($239.99). Attach the towline to this inflatable tube at either one of two points, and this towable will provide completely different riding characteristics depending on where it’s hooked. The Full Tilt also allows riders the potential for multiple riding positions, with eight padded handles that let the riders sit side-by-side, end-to-end, backward or forward. www.ridecwb.com.

fulltilt skull
Connelly's Full Tilt (left) and Skull

Coleman

The chameleon-like Coleman Hydrofusion ($169.99-$329.99) towable, with its innovative two-in-one ride system, allows water enthusiasts to double-up on their fun. Three disc sizes accommodate one to three riders, and all three feature an adaptable zip-out bladder for riding snug in the tube’s cockpit or on top of the tube, deck-style. Hit the water running with the Lateral ($133.99-$249.99) line of towables, which consists of three models with up to a three-person capacity, comfy neoprene pads and knuckle guards, and is made from 30-gauge PVC with an 840 denier nylon cover. www.coleman.com.

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Coleman's Hydrofusion (left) and Lateral
Gladiator

This season, Gladiator jumps into the water-toys arena ready to do battle with its Great Big Brawler ($299.99). This massive towable is constructed to accommodate a maximum of four riders and has two tow points, allowing for a number of different riding positions. Switch from kneeling to prone to seated on the comfortable foam pad/kneepad with backrest … Russell Crowe sold separately. www.overtons.com.

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Gladiator's Great Big Brawler