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This tow rope is rated for up to 2 riders.

Attaching a ski tube to a boat is fairly simple, but with all the different types of ski tubes and boat setups available, we thought we’d share a few tips on hooking up your towable.

Choosing a Tow Rope

First things first. To hook your towable up to the boat, you’ll need a tow rope. Make sure you get the right one for your towable.

The correct tow rope should be:

• Made specifically for ski tubes
• Rated for the number of riders on your tube
• Long enough to keep the tube at least 20 feet from the boat

Attaching the Rope to the Tube

Next, attach the rope to your towable. There will either be an eye or a plastic quick connect on the ski tube. Loop the end of the tow rope through the eye and back through itself—or, if you have a plastic quick connect, loop the end of the tow rope through the center of the quick connect, and then pull the eye around the sides of the plastic piece.

If you bought a heavy duty tow rope, you might have to do a little twisting and pushing, but it should still fit through the eye.

Attaching the Rope to the Boat

Now attach the other end of the rope to your boat. Where you attach the rope depends on the style of your boat. If you have a ski ring, you can pull the loop through the ring and pull the top of the eye down over the sides of the ring.

If you don’t have a ski ring, you should have attachment points at the rear of the boat on either side. You’ll need to attach a “Y” rope or tow harness to these points, and then you can attach the tow rope to the harness. Loop the end of the tow rope through the quick connect on the harness in the same way you connected the tow rope to the ski tube.

Use the loop method to attach the ski tube—never knots. Using a knot can make the line weaker by up to 80 percent.

Use a trucker's hitch knot to tie down the bow and stern.

Unless you want to see your canoe or kayak fly off your roof and down the highway, you’d better learn to tie it down tight.

One trick to remember is to double everything: 2 belly straps, 2 tie down points for the bow end, and 2 tie down points for the stern end. The kayak or canoe should be strapped down tight to the roof rack and vehicle.

Another trick is the trucker’s hitch knot. It holds a load well, tightens under pressure (bumps in the road, etc.), and easily unties no matter how tight it gets. It’s one of the best ways to secure the bow and stern tie downs for your kayak or canoe.

Learning how to tie a trucker’s hitch is a bit more complicated than tying your shoelace, but we’ve got a video from Expert Village to show you how:

Strap your kayak down tight to keep it securely on your vehicle.

Loading up a kayak or canoe? Give yourself peace of mind by making sure it’s securely attached to the roof rack and won’t shift as you drive. Here are some tips for strapping down a kayak. These instructions also work for strapping down a canoe.

1. Load the kayak onto your roof, using foam pads or a roof rack carrier.

2. Adjust the kayak so that it’s perfectly parallel with the car. The bow should be pointing straight forward to reduce wind resistance while driving.

3. Strap the kayak down. Use at least 2 straps to secure the kayak to the roof (not counting the bow and stern tie-downs).

The type of rack system you use will determine how you strap down the kayak.

For foam blocks on a naked roof, thread the strap through the hole down the center of the block, then throw each end of the strap over the top of the kayak. Open the car doors and connect the ends of the strap inside the car. Tighten the strap. Repeat for the second foam block.

Alternatively, you can secure the foam blocks and kayak together without threading the strap through the car. Then use two more straps to loop underneath the kayak, over the top, and in through the car doors.

If you are using a roof rack system, secure the kayak to the cross bars (one strap for each cross bar).

4. Tighten the straps so that they are snug but not tight enough to collapse or distort the hull. Don’t hang your body weight on the straps to tighten. Just give them a moderate tug to tighten. The kayak should be compressed against the mounting cradles or foam blocks but not distorted out of shape.

5. Test how secure the kayak is by pushing against the side of the bow to see how much it moves back and forth. There should be almost no movement with moderate pressure.

6. Test the front of the kayak by pushing up on the bow. The hull should not lift up from the foam blocks or mounting cradles.

7. Next, secure the bow and stern with ropes. Secure the bow rope to the front bumper and the stern rope to the rear bumper. The rope should form an “A” with the top point of the A at the bow or stern and the bottom two points tied to secure points at either end of the bumper.

8. Secure the loose ends of the straps to keep them from flapping against the car or kayak.

After driving a short distance, stop and check the straps to make sure they are still tight. Adjust the kayak and straps as necessary.

Lounging on the water is a great way to spend a lazy afternoon.

Sun’s out. Your schedule’s free. What to do with a lazy afternoon? We’ve got a few ideas for you.

1) Read a book on a floating lounge. Or grab a few friends for a lounge party out on the water.

2) Take a bike ride. Bring some cash for ice cream.

3) Get out on the lake. Canoe. Paddle. Paddle board. Surf.

4) Take a mini day trip. Throw a dart at a map of the surrounding area within 100 miles, and that’s your destination.

5) Explore. Find a park, nature center, museum, or other place you’ve never been to in your city, and make a day of it.

6) Go water tubing. Or take a kid tubing. Use a larger towable for double the fun.

7) Jump rope. Skip rocks. Play hopscotch. Remember what it’s like to be a kid again.

8) Take a picnic. Pack a lunch, a blanket, and your swimming trunks.