Family Swim Raft

[Byezb]

Does anyone have any experience with lake swim rafts? Would like to get one for the family (3 kids 8 and under). Thinking of everything from making one with barrels, trampolines, or the otter island. Something like these below. Anyone have any experience with the bouncers / trampolines?


https://www.hewittrad.com/products/o...cts/swim-rafts

https://ravesports.com/bongo-15-3844#92=

[jimmsch]

Being the people in my family I would go with the trampoline. If it were for me the island would be nice.

[Byezb]

Anyone have first hand experience on how well the trampolines hold up?

[BigOrange]

Take it with a grain of salt because my experience is all of one time -- but I was able to get on one of those trampolines and thought it really stunk -- as in no fun. I envisioned being able to get a good bounce and then get some big cannonballs off the tram into the lake. No dice -- I think with it floating it is just not enough of a solid platform to really function like the tramp should. Either that or maybe the one I was one was just underinflated. For kids, maybe not an issue.

[sandm]

we had a raft called the oasis island quite a few years ago. it would hold around 6 people and had netting in part of the middle to allow some to soak in the water.
it was used a half dozen times the first year and don't think it has seen the light of day in over 10. don't know where it is at this point. took quite a while to inflate so we only used it on weekend camping trips.

granted we are all adults and never had kids with us so that might introduce a different thought had we been going with kids but for us it was a waste of coin.

if it was my coin and had kids, i'd get one of the big rollup mats that are all the rage. no work to set up and the kids I see on them seem to enjoy them. feels like they would be a lot less maintenance.

[Byezb]

Thanks. Good feedback.

We actually have one of those foam pads that you roll out, but was just looking to get something I could leave in the water through the summer. Something to entertain the kids that doesn’t involve me pulling a tube ��