More Kite Tube Bans

[raythompson]

This from the Medford Oregon Mail Tribune.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has banned the use of kite tubes — a towable boat toy designed to get its riders airborne — at all its Oregon facilities, including Lost Creek Lake and Applegate reservoirs.

The Corps issued the ban Wednesday on the use of any airborne inflatables at waterways it manages in the Rogue, Willamette and Columbia basins after a string of serious kite-tube accidents.

Link to story here (Ads make it slow)

I suspect the end is nearing for kite tubes. Liability may be just too much and more states will also start banning the tubes.

[lee]

We were sent a letter to stop selling them and send the tubes back to the distributor.

[Tanner]

Yeah they were banned here in Oklahoma too.

Of course we do have a few lakes that aren't ran by the corp... so if someone wanted to get around it

But I've never actually been on one of these things but they look fun.

[lee]

Our letter was from Sports Stuff, not the Corps.

[my86stanggt]

The lakes here in Arkansas have banned them also. At least the ones run by the Corps (which is all of them as far as I know).

[dogbert]

These tubes have been recalled by the manufacturer. You can call them and get 2 replacement tubes if you send yours back.

[spenchey2]

No one can sell a kite tube a retail spot anymore. My dealer said they had to cut all theirs up and send them back so they can get the money back they paid for them.

[lee]

Corps bans tube kiting on Midstate lakes!

Inflatable rafts pulled through air behind boats can cause injury

Associated Press

The U.S Army Corps of Engineers has prohibited the use of tube kites, inflatable rafts that fly on a rope pulled by a boat, on lakes in Middle Tennessee.

The corps announced the ban Monday. Its statement said the round, inflatable devices are pulled behind boats at speeds between 25 and 35 mph, which causes them to become airborne. Injuries can occur when a tube kite dives into the water with the force equivalent to a 70-foot drop or when the rider falls off.

David Treadway, corps spokesman for the Nashville district, said no specific incident on these lakes caused the corps to prohibit the tube kites, but it was one of about 15 districts nationally that issued restrictions.

According to warnings issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, riders have suffered broken necks, broken ribs, and chest and back injuries. The device has been blamed for two deaths this year nationwide.

Treadway said riders can still use tubes so long as the tubes stay on the surface of the water. •

[Moki]

Banned at Lake Powell

[Redlined]

Back at the beginning of Summer, there was a Kitetube early one morning, and we watched this kid take a fall from way to high. He literally bounced off the top of the water (with his body, not the KT). We then watched has his crew went and scooped him up and headed straight to the launch. I suspect they weren't going for coffee.
I wonder how in the world that manufacturer thought these would fly for more than a minute without a lawsuit attached?

[kirk]

Why I wouldnt ride one...

http://www.heytone.com/movies/wegowipeout3.html


That's gotta hurt.

[Tige M.D.]

Re: Why I wouldnt ride one...

Originally posted by kirk
http://www.heytone.com/movies/wegowipeout3.html


That's gotta hurt.

Holly Crap! The promo video doesn't show you that. They make it look so controlible. DAMIT that had to hurt! I'll still try it