If you own a motorboat or have access to one, you already know there's no shortage of ways to enjoy it. When the weather's warm and the sun is shining, cruising on the water makes everything feel just right - whether it's quality time alone or with a group you care for. Just about everyone equates being on a boat with the good life, a fact that's proven every time passengers upload on-the-water pictures of themselves to social media sites.
But when you're looking to have some high-adrenaline fun and actually get wet, watersports are hard to beat. In this article, we continue our look at watersports equipment by discussing kneeboards, multi position boards, and a variety of rafts (and tubes) designed to be towed by a boat.
Kneeboards And Multi Position Boards
In our Kneeboards section, you'll find traditional kneeboards created specifically for riding on the knees, and you'll find multi position boards engineered to double as both kneeboards (kneeling position) and wakeboards (standing position). Before we look at examples of each, it's important to know how rocker curvature and fins affect the performance of these boards.
How Rocker Curvature And Fins Affect Board Performance
The term "rocker" refers to the amount of curvature a kneeboard has from front to back. Because boards with a higher amount of rocker are easier to turn, they're best suited to beginners. More rocker curvature also creates more drag in the water, but that's generally not a problem for beginners who will be travelling at slower speeds anyway.
Flatter boards without as much rocker curvature produce less drag and are more predictable at higher speeds. Some boards may be built with "hybrid" rocker designs (see chart above) that embody characteristics of both flat and curved shapes.
Kneeboards and multi position boards will often be equipped with water channels and/or small fins along the underside of the board that cut through water and make the board more stable, predictable, and enjoyable to ride on.
Kneeboards
As we mentioned earlier, true kneeboards are designed for riding on the knees only. Sculpted cushion pads cradle and support knee areas and an elastic strap for the calves keeps the board firmly anchored to your body.
For beginners, we've got the Jobe Sentry 52" Kneeboard with molded rear fins, specialized grooves, and a twin-tip shape that make this board stable and forgiving. Another great board for beginners is the Airhead Wake Shaker Kneeboard (50") that features a higher amount of rocker.
More experienced riders should consider the Jobe Streak Kneeboard (available in 51.1" or 52.3" lengths) featuring 4 molded edge fins for better control during sharp turns. And for those who have mastered smaller boards, we've got the larger Jobe Prophecy 59" Kneeboard.
Multi Position Boards
As we mentioned above, multi position boards are designed for double use as kneeboards and wakeboards. Unlike traditional kneeboards that use molded knee pads and leg straps for grip, multi-position boards feature grab handles in the front. A foam layer along the top of the board serves to provide effective wet grip and comfortable squish for both knees and feet.
When it comes to traditionally shaped long boards, we've got Jobe's Stimmel 53" Multi Position Board with 2 removable underside fins, and their Omnia 58" Multi Position Board which includes 2 foot binding straps. The Nash Sports Hydroslide 58" Versa Kneeboard features grab handles and foot bindings that are both removable.
For those that prefer round multi position boards, we've got the Airhead Towable Disc-Go Air (choose 36" or 60" diameter sizes) and the Jobe Chipper 40" Multi Position Board.
Towable Rafts
We've got inflatable rafts of all shapes and sizes designed to be towed by boat on the surface of the water (commonly described as "towables"). No matter which of the styles you choose to take a closer look at, we've sought to make finding the right size easy whether you want one that fits a single rider or multiple riders.
We list overall dimensions on each product page, and we've got checkboxes along the left side of the screen under the heading "Max Riders". Selecting one or more of these boxes will narrow your search to towables sized for the number of riders you want - all the way up to 6 people in some cases!
Donut Rafts
We'll start by discussing round "donut" rafts with center areas that are open to the water. These are also commonly referred to as "tubes". Riders can sit in any number of positions they choose on or in the donut. Unlike other types of towable rafts with an enclosed floor, you'll be fully exposed to the water beneath you in a donut.
Traditional Forward-Facing Towables
Next up, we've got a great selection of traditional raft towables where 1-4 riders are seated in the forward-facing position. For maximum comfort, you'll find many of these towables have built-in backrests and individual "cockpit" pockets where legs can be stretched out. These types of rafts are not open to the water below.
Flat Deck Tubes
For those that prefer to ride laying down flat on the stomach, we've got flat deck tubes designed to accommodate from 1 to 6 riders in this fashion. So if you've got a big group of friends to share these fun experiences with, don't worry - check out the Airhead Mega Rock Star Inflatable 6 Riders Towable Tube.
Inline Tubes
With inline tubes, riders sit in a horseback-riding position atop the towable. To stay well-balanced, each rider has their own set of grab handles, plus secondary tubes on both sides that serve as footrests. Of particular interest may be a series of towable tubes from WOW Watersports that cradle each rider with their own scooped-out seats and back support. These are available in 1-, 2-, and 3-person configurations.
Kid's Inflatable Skis
For children first starting out in watersports, Kid's inflatable skis are great for helping these beginners get comfortable with the sensations of traveling over the water. Essentially, these are small streamlined rafts that allow a rider to board them on the back step of your boat instead of on the water. Once the raft is dropped into the water and you start moving, your child can stay seated or stand based on their own comfort level. With a little bit of practice, they'll be able to master balance, working the handle, and weight transfer - the fundamentals needed for good wakeboarding, kneeboarding, and waterskiing skills.
Some of the inflatable rafts we offer feature tow ropes equipped with handles at both ends. Holding on to the tow rope yourself instead of tying it to the boat means you can quickly let go if the rider falls.
Extreme Tubes
If you're looking for something fun and different, check out extreme tubes such as the WOW Watersports XO Extreme 3-Rider Towable Tube and UTO Starship 5-Rider Towable Tube.
This concludes our look at kneeboards, multi position boards, and towable rafts. In our towables section, you'll also find related equipment such as individual tow ropes and other accessories including floating buoys, flags, air pressure gauges, vinyl raft repair kits, valves, tie-downs, and more. Plus, we've also got other water sports equipment such as waterskis, wakeboards, and more. And don't forget life jackets for adults and kids!
We also encourage you to check through other sections of RECREATIONiD where you'll find some great remote control toys as well as products for climbing, camping & hiking, fishing, optical equipment, winter sports, helpful equipment for pets, and much more. Should you have questions about anything on our website, we'll be happy to help on the phone seven days a week!