Schoolchildren and boating enthusiasts have one thing in common. And that is, both groups know that summer is the best time of year. The sun’s out, the days are long, and the water beckons. Scratch that—schoolkids and boaters actually have two things in common: Both groups love summer, and both groups love their water toys.
In the early days, a boater’s favorite water toys were simple. Throw a snorkel and fins aboard, maybe find a truck inner tube to pull behind the boat or buy a pair of Cypress Gardens combo skis, and nearly everyone aboard was happy. Today, the spirit of those tow toys lives on, but the toys themselves, well, they’ve gotten a little more complex. Snorkeling fins have evolved into personal jet-powered propulsion. Tire tubes have morphed into multipassenger inflatables with crazy designs and impressive performance. And those combo skis? They led not only to wakeboards and wakesurfers, but now battery-powered cousins that don’t even need a boat.
It’s a brave new world out there, but as those two groups mentioned above well know, it’s a fun new world as well. Feel like you’ve been missing out? Have no fear—we’ve compiled a list of a few mild-to-wild candidates to get you started.
Summer’s here, and it’s time to get your fun on.
Fliteboard Series 5 With Flite Jet 2 e-Foil
It’s hard to argue with the allure of an e-foil. Not required to be tethered to a boat or wave for propulsion, and thanks to its smooth-running, below-the-water hydrofoil design, not left on the beach when conditions aren’t perfect, it’s like a space-age surfboard. Electric motors also fit in well with an e-foil’s peaceful vibe, carving near silently through the water. Yes, there’s a -learning curve and some athletic skill required, but once you accept the challenge, you’re not only instantly one of the coolest people on the water, you’re also having a ridiculous amount of fun.
Fliteboard’s Series 5 is a versatile, all-around platform that’s great for beginners but can be easily customized as skill levels improve. Its 5-foot-8-inch length offers the volume and stability to get riders up and aqua-planing quickly while still giving experienced riders the performance they expect. Pair the board with a conical wing and the all-new Flite Jet 2 propulsion system, and you’ll experience the first concrete example of the dramatic improvements made possible by Flite’s relationship with Brunswick and Mercury Marine. Flite Jet 2 is Fliteboard’s quietest propulsion system to date, promising an almost silent ride. Power and efficiency are also now comparable with Flite’s folding-prop-driven alternatives, with the less-turbulent jet promising increased smoothness and agility, and even making it a suitable choice for ocean waves. The enclosed impeller also lessens worries about prop exposure, ideal for teaching younger or inexperienced riders.
A trio of battery options are available, offering run times from 45 to 150 minutes. Control power delivery wirelessly via the pistol-grip Flight Controller remote. Its high-contrast display collects info from GPS, accelerometer and other sensors, as well as keeping tabs on battery life. Starting at $9,395; fliteboard.com
BOTE Inflatable Dock
Drop-stitch construction changed the game for “rigid” inflatables, allowing everything from tender floors to stand-up paddleboards to take on impressive firmness yet still deflate and pack away when not in use. Bote’s Inflatable Dock 10 takes advantage of the same technology to offer up a twist on the old-school lake raft. Rather than bulky barrels or foam that position the top deck high atop the water, the inflatable dock delivers a 10-foot-square platform a mere 8 inches in depth yet will support the weight of up to 1,500 pounds of crew and gear. Perhaps best of all, the dock’s inflatable construction makes it easy enough to set up and pack away that it’s realistic to take one out on the boat and whip it out for the ultimate sandbar party or raft-up.
The basic package comes with all you need to get that party started, including the dock, travel bag, carry sling, hand pump and repair kit. Military-grade PVC skin eliminates worries about any mishap, whether bumping or scraping into the dock or boat. A comfortable BVA foam pad topside keeps things comfortable underfoot and offers plenty of traction. Eight grab handles topside as well as an additional eight around the perimeter make it easy for a crew to haul the 72-pound dock in and out of the water. Multiple rafts can also be linked together via a D-ring/Velcro-strap connector. One minor downside? Getting the raft to the recommended 6 to 8 psi can be a workout with the manual pump. Get an electric inflator; it makes the job significantly easier.
Consider a few accessories to unleash the dock’s true potential. With standard Magnepod magnetic bases positioned around the perimeter, check out Bote’s magnetic drinkware. The coolest add-ons, however, are likely the inflatable Aero couch and Adirondack chair. Add them to the mix to create the ultimate island oasis. Starting at $1,399; boteboard.com
ZUP YouGotThis Deluxe Combo
Boats can get crowded with water toys, especially when you’re trying to satisfy everyone’s interests and skill levels. And even with a wide selection of toys on hand, there’s still the likelihood that someone is left frustrated at day’s end, unable to get up on ski or board no matter how hard they try. Zup’s unique YouGotThis board was designed for this very scenario. It’s both an easy platform for kids to learn on and a versatile design that can mimic kneeboarding, wakeboarding, water-skiing and even wakesurfing for novice-to-intermediate riders.
At first glance, the Zup most closely resembles a kneeboard. Like the old-school favorite, its 4-foot-9-inch-by-2-foot-3-inch blow-molded plastic deck is topped with a generous EVA foam pad. One notable difference is that the top deck also features water-ski-like pockets to slide your feet into if you want a traditional, combo-like water-ski stance. For those who prefer to kneel, those soft pockets easily flatten and even provide a little additional cushioning for knees and elbows. Forward, twin rubber-padded grab handles are molded into left and right sides toward the front of the board. A molded-in hook (more on that shortly) is found at the forward tip. Below, molded-in fins and channels provide tracking, while hydrodynamic “dimples” promise easier side slides and 360s.
The Deluxe Combo includes Zup’s unique dual-handle towrope. The rigid design is easily held in a variety of positions, but its key feature is that it can nestle into the aforementioned hook to effectively tow the board hands-free. The design is great for kids because they can ignore the rope and simply hang onto the molded-in handles. Adults can do likewise, getting into position before pulling the handle free. The board/rope combo makes for multiple possibilities. Lay or sit on the board sans towrope, remove the handle to “ski” or kneeboard, or switch the rope to one-hand and wakesurf—or just get creative and ride the Zup like an old-school disc. $319.99 for board, handle and carry bag; zup.com
O’Brien New-U
There’s a lot of cool stuff within the pages of this article, but allow us to briefly sing the praises of the basic inflatable. They’re relatively inexpensive, satisfy a wide range of ages and skill levels, and don’t require a lot of maintenance or storage space. Just blow them up, hitch to the back of your boat, and drive a few S-turn patterns. The kids will squeal, the adults will shout the inevitable “whoooooooo!” and everyone will likely leave with a smile on their face. That’s a quality summer day in our book.
The best bang for the buck? Consider a tube like O’Brien’s New-U, a deck-style design that riders lay atop and hang on for the ride. Several design features nudge the New-U high on our list of favorites. For starters, it’s gently curved from side to side. That not only reduces its wetted surface for more skids and speed, but it also helps riders feel more secure. Perfectly flat tubes can eject the outside rider during more-aggressive whip turns. Curved shapes also feel loose and playful, rocking and rolling their way across the water. Add sponsons on the tube’s bottom, just short of the left and right edges, which prevent rolling too far, and you’ve got a winner.
Like most inflatables, the New-U combines a PVC bladder with a durable nylon cover for colors, graphics, and to protect the more-vulnerable air bladder within. A soft EVA foam pad is comfortable on the body while protecting the bladder from things, such as life-jacket buckles, that scrape. Padded grab handles ensure that riders can hang on when the intensity factor increases. One of our favorite features, however, remains O’Brien’s simple Lightning Valve fill system. It features a large mouth and one-way flap to rapidly inflate via a dedicated pump or shop vac, then can be propped open to let all that air gush out when it comes time to pack things away. $443.99; obrien.com
Read Next: Five Unique Water Toys
Waydoo Subnado
Remember those torpedolike propulsion systems in James Bond’s Thunderball? Miniaturize them, provide options to strap one or a pair to arms or legs, link together, mount to a scuba tank, or even substitute in place of a stand-up paddleboard fin or below a kayak for paddleless propulsion, and you’ve got Waydoo’s appropriately named Subnado. A roughly 15-inch-by-2.4-inch 3-pound cylinder that moves users through the water via lithium-ion battery and water-jet propulsion, the slim Subnado can easily be stashed in a boat storage compartment for diving, snorkeling or just playtime. Should your phone’s battery die in any of those scenarios, the Subnado can also double as a power source.
Operation is easy and straightforward. Power is delivered via input from a simple trigger that can be placed on a finger or handlebar for one-handed operation. Hold the trigger to give the Subnado the juice, then release to stop the impeller from spinning. Mounting options include leg and forearm straps, a handlebar to allow the unit to pull you through the water like more-traditional sea scooters, a dual-unit handle option, and a mount that can fit the average fin box on a stand-up paddleboard.
The Subnado’s 100-watt motor features three speed modes and can reach top speeds of about 3 miles per hour at depths to 60 feet via the thrust from its enclosed four-blade impeller. Maximum run time if you watch the speed settings extends up to 56 minutes; expect a little less in real-world use. A full recharge of the lithium-ion battery takes 1.2 hours via the unit’s USB-C port. Starting at $429; waydootech.com
