Family Swim Raft

[Koocs]

I have experience with a bouncer (i.e. trampoline without springs), a foam mat and a neighbor's Otter Island.

The bouncer was great while it lasted. We would leave it on the water all summer and except for a freak summer storm that flipped it over lifting the 250lb anchor off the lake bottom we didn't have any issues. The problems started when we took it out and the end of summer. We have a quite steep and rocky shoreline which as I found out the following season can put small holes in the material. I bought a patch kit and tried the DIY option the first year and after several unsuccessful attempts to fix it I took it into a inflatable boat dealer for a professional patching. It appeared to hold air sitting on the grass but as soon as we put it in the water it was clear it was still leaking. Took it back for patching again and they found a leak on the seam which they then patched. To make a long story a little shorter that was two years ago and I have lost interest in dealing with it. If anyone wants a lightly used 13' bouncer I will give you a great deal. I do know other people with these bouncers who have not had the same problems so it could be just my luck with inflatable toys.

After the bouncer experience we thought we would try a foam mat. We purchased one of the better mats we could find and the kids have really enjoyed it. It is way easier to get on than the bouncer even with the ladder. The mat bounces almost as much as the Bongo (note we have the bouncer which does not have springs). The second or third time the mat was used one of my sons friends decided to dig his fingers into the edges of the mat and pull chunks off. I had given the kids some basic instructions for using it but did not mention anything about not digging your fingers into the foam. From then on I added this to the top of the list of usage instructions. Unfortunately, on year two while 5 or 6 of my older sons friends were on it the anchor tether ripped off. Since there are two tethers we can still use the mat, at least until the other tether comes off. Even with these couple of issues I feel the mat is less maintenance and just as much fun for the kids and it is less expensive as well.

The neighbor at our lake has an otter island and although the most expensive option it is by far the least maintenance. It can be left in all year without a worry and it is indestructible. It is great for diving off and has a couple of back rests for laying in the sun. It has nice rounded edges so even with a lot of kids pushing each other around there is little chance of injury with the exception of banging a head on the side or ladder (which I thankfully have not seen happen). I am seriously considering one of these as the next water toy although there is a floating dock with a slide option that also looks interesting (https://www.ez-dock.com/product/dock-slide/).

[spatty99]

I used to have a water trampoline and didn't like it. It is fine to hang out on and float, but it hardly has any bounce, nothing like a regular trampoline.

[Tommy2slow]

For a “bouncer” to actually function similarly to a trampoline you will need to find one with an internal metal ring to support/attach springs. A bouncer that relies on the air inside the structure to provide the bounce will likely leave you disappointed.