Sitting on tubes

[busybee]

Do we think sitting on tubes damages them, extra strain on seams maybe?

[A1an]

Personally, if I thought people sitting on my tubes may be detrimental to their integrity I wouldn't be going to sea in it in the first place.

Some people may have different views.

[jeffstevens763@g]

No in short I think the zodiac websites shows about ten people stood on the tubes of a boat.
Just no sharp bits under your bum if it bothers you have some wear patches fitted but they are immensely strong.

Regards jeff

[Starovich]

Originally Posted by busybee

Do we think sitting on tubes damages them, extra strain on seams maybe?

Not for one minute.

[Rokraider]

I wouldn't worry about sitting on the tubes as far as their integrity goes. Whether you have people sitting on the tubes on the move is a different question.

[Festinghouse]

on the move is fine as long as you can hang on. i had wear patches fitted along with extra handles on the tubes in just the right places so as to allow bum on tube with knees facing forward, one hand on seat back and other on rubber handle on tube - enough for 4 people to sit on tubes.

[neil.mccrirrick]

Spent years sat on tubes with full dive kit on sometimes on the move as well as still never a problem

[HughN]

I do sometimes worry that if the tubes are soft (in the winter when its off the trailer and on the beach), people sitting on them can distort - and possibly damage - the baffles. Paranoid, I know, but circular to elliptical does not go.

[Festinghouse]

i think the tubes have to put up with far worse punishment than someone being sat on them

[willk]

Originally Posted by HughN

Paranoid, I know, but circular to elliptical does not go.

True, but baffles are somewhat conical.

OP - I worry more about damage to PAX than to the tubes. It's a speed to seastate call, IMO. Divers tend to get driven around at 20kts (or they did in my day) and in reasonable conditions. I've travelled by "tube" in faster, bumpy trips and it's far from ideal, both from a safety point of view and an injury angle. To add some facts to the pot, commercial RIBs in Ireland are not allowed to seat passengers facing sideways (on real seats), never mind tubes.

IMO, fine for short hops in calm seas at speeds at and below 20kts. As regards damage to tubes, unless you do it every day, it won't damage OR wear them at all (at speeds that it's safe to do).

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by neil.mccrirrick

Spent years sat on tubes with full dive kit on sometimes on the move as well as still never a problem

Me too! As long as you keep sharp stuff away...
......Hyperlon (at least) = Hyper-strong!
UV and poor care will do more damage than a host of Divers