River-Running Inner Tubes

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FIGURING THE FACTS

Since river rafting is strictly seasonal (we haven't run across any Polar Bear Club tube riders yet), we were visibly on the job only during summer weekends and holidays. At such times, we generally operated from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with our busiest period falling between noon and 3:00 p.m. Of course, there's more to our enterprise than the actual onsite sales work. Once every two weeks, either my husband or I would spend half a day picking up tubes and patching equipment. We put in another eight hours, weekly, mending and inflating the wares. Yet for that little bit of effort, it wasn't uncommon for us to net $150 on one weekend. (We actually took in $310 in the course of one very busy two-day selling spree! )

Part of the reason for our success, we believe, was our concerted effort to build and maintain a good reputation. We made it a point never to miss a sunny weekend, and to tell our customers just how long we'd stay,in place on a given day, for the convenience of any of them who might want to sell tubes back to us. We also encouraged the use of life jackets, and told folks where such equipment could be rented at a reasonable price.

We were careful, too, never to sell "leakers" knowingly. And although our official guarantee covered only "two minutes or two miles", we went out of our way to satisfy anyone with complaints. As a result, we never had a discontented patron . . . and every one of those happy tube riders served as a floating advertisement for our venture!

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE?

With our second season coming up fast, Bob and I are more than eager to get into business again. After all, we've had an entire winter to dream up ways to improve our little enterprise. For instance, we plan to offer life vests for rent or sale this summer, and even hope to run a shuttle service along the most popular routes, picking up rafters at the end of a run and driving them back to their vehicles.

Now not everyone has the good fortune to live next door to two floatable rivers, it's true . . . but should you be located within an easy drive of at least one appropriate body of water, there's no reason why you can't start your own shoestring marina. And if you do, you ought to have plenty of customers. After all, riding a tube beats watching the tube . . . any day!

TUBING TIPS

If you'd like to try tubing on your own nearby river or stream, these pieces of advice could help you have fun and stay safe.

[1] Take advantage of local knowledge. Ask folks who know the waterway about conditions and hazards. (Canoeists, fishing buffs, and children are often the most reliable sources of such information.)

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