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Short answer: Unzip the cover and take out the bladder that is losing air. Before you look for holes, fully unthread the Boston valve and thread it back in — cross-threading is the most common cause. Inflate the bladder, pour a cup of water into the valve well and watch for bubbles. If the valve is fine, work around the perimeter and seams listening for air. For a leak you cannot hear, pour soapy water over the bladder and look for where it bubbles.
A tube that goes soft is not automatically a punctured tube. More often than not it is the valve, and that costs nothing to fix. Reuben works through the whole diagnosis in order, from the cheapest thing to check to the hardest leak to find.
Reuben on removing a tube bladder and locating a leak — 2 minutes 26 seconds.
What you need
- A pump — whatever you normally inflate the tube with
- A cup of water
- Dishwashing liquid, for the hard-to-find leaks
Finding the leak, step by step
Take the bladder out
Find the zip on the cover — on the tube in the video it is at the front — undo it and lift the bladder out. If your tube has more than one bladder, you only need to remove the one that is losing air.
Fully unthread the Boston valve, then thread it back in
Do this first, before you go looking for holes. A cross-threaded valve is a very common cause of a bladder going down: the threads sit crossed and leave a small gap for air to escape through. Unthread it completely, then thread it back in straight and tight.
Inflate the bladder
Pump it back up with the valve done up nice and tight, ready to test.
Test the valve with a cup of water
Pour a cup of water into the well around the valve. If bubbles come up, the valve is cross-threaded or faulty. Unscrew it, wind it all the way back in, and test again. If the well stays still, the valve is fine and the leak is elsewhere.
Work around the perimeter and the seams
With the bladder inflated, go slowly around the whole perimeter, checking the seams. Listen and look — an obvious leak you will hear before you see it.
Soapy water for the ones you cannot hear
Mix dishwashing liquid into a cup of water until it is nice and soapy and pour it over the inflated bladder. Bubbles form straight away wherever the air is getting out. This is the method for the small punctures you will never find by ear.
Once you have found it
Most tube leaks are repairable at home with a repair kit. Our tube patching guide is the next step, and it is the video Reuben points you to at the end of this one.
If you would rather not tackle it, or the damage looks bigger than a patch, get in touch with us — we sell these and we would rather look at it than have you guess.
Why tubes spring leaks — and how to stop the next one
From the shop. The biggest killer of towable tubes is heat, not rocks. A fully inflated tube sitting in the sun keeps building pressure until a seam or the bladder gives out. Always let some air out once you have finished towing — just enough to hold its shape while it dries. That one habit prevents more leaks than any repair kit fixes.
Inflation pressure matters at the other end too, and getting it wrong can affect your warranty:
- Fully covered tube — inflate until the cover is pulled taut.
- Partially covered tube — inflate until the bladder is wrinkle-free.
- Water cools the air inside, so the pressure drops in the first few minutes on the lake. Top up with a hand pump rather than assuming it has sprung a leak.
There is more on this in our guide to inflating your tube correctly.
Common questions
Why does my towable tube keep going down?
The most common cause is not a puncture at all — it is a cross-threaded Boston valve. The threads sit crossed and leave a small gap for air to escape. Fully unthread the valve and thread it back in straight before you start hunting for holes.
How do I find a slow leak in a tube?
Inflate the bladder, then mix dishwashing liquid with water and pour the soapy mix over it. Bubbles form immediately wherever air is escaping. It picks up punctures far too small to hear.
How do I check whether the valve itself is leaking?
With the bladder inflated and the valve done up tight, pour a cup of water into the well around the valve. Bubbles coming up mean the valve is cross-threaded or faulty.
Do I need to take the bladder out to find a leak?
Yes. The cover hides the bladder and muffles the sound of escaping air. Unzip the cover and take the bladder out — and if the tube has multiple bladders, only remove the one that is deflating.
Why do tubes develop leaks in the first place?
Most often, heat. A fully inflated tube left in the sun keeps building pressure until something gives. Always let some air out once you have finished towing — leave just enough to hold its shape while it dries.
How much should I inflate my tube?
On a fully covered tube, inflate until the cover is pulled taut. On a partially covered tube, inflate until the bladder is wrinkle-free. Correct inflation is a warranty condition, so it is worth getting right.
My tube went soft after a few minutes on the water. Is it leaking?
Not necessarily. Water cools the air inside and the pressure drops in the first few minutes. Top it up with a hand pump and see whether it holds.
Can I repair the leak myself?
Usually, yes — a tube repair kit handles most punctures and seam leaks. Our tube patching guide walks through it. If you would rather we looked at it, get in touch.
Related guides
- How to patch your tube — the repair, once you have found the leak.
- How to correctly inflate your tube
- The Breakdown: tubes — styles, ropes and what suits your crew.
Shop the gear
- Tube accessories — repair kits, pumps, valves and spares.
- Ski tubes
Not sure whether yours is worth patching? Give us a call and describe what you are seeing.
Waterskiers World — Australia's dedicated towed water sports retailer, family-run for over 20 years from our Brisbane store and online. Get in touch.