Tube Parts

Rebuilding a Tube Instead of Replacing It

A towable tube is two parts: an inflatable bladder on the inside and a tough fabric cover on the outside. The bladder holds the air; the cover takes the abuse. Either can fail while the other half is still good — a bladder can split or leak, and a cover can tear, fade or lose its stitching. Where the manufacturer makes a replacement part, fitting one is far cheaper than a whole new tube. Not every brand supplies bladders and covers, though, so availability comes down to the make and model — worth checking before you assume a part exists. Bladders and covers are matched to a specific tube model and size, so order the part made for your tube. The model name is usually printed on the tube itself; if you’re not sure which part you need, or whether one is available for your tube, tell us what you have and we’ll check. Most tube splits come down to inflation. Run a tube too soft and it folds and flexes under load, stressing the seams; run it too hard — especially as the sun heats the air and raises the pressure — and it can burst. Getting the pressure right is the single best thing you can do to make a tube last: inflate a fully-covered tube until the cover pulls taut, a partially-covered one until the bladder is wrinkle-free, top up with a hand pump as the water cools the air, and let some pressure out after use. Our how-to guides walk through correct inflation step by step. Waterskiers World stocks replacement parts for a range of tubes, including Jetpilot, KD, Direct Line, Raptor, HO, Connelly and WOW. Browse the range online or visit the Brisbane store, and tell us your tube model if you need help finding the right part.