The sight of a big yellow boat whizzing across the water at the beach is almost always accompanied by screams of excitement and shouts of laughter. These are banana boats, novelty inflatables that are big enough for you and your friends to sit on as they’re towed through the water by a motor boat. We’re sure that if you’ve ever seen one, you’ll be wanting to have a go yourself, and if you haven’t, maybe we can convince you to do it anyway! What are the best ways to enjoy a banana boat ride in the United Kingdom? Where can you find them? Who’s welcome aboard? To find out the answers to these, and other questions - keep reading!
1. What kinds of inflatable boats are out there?
The classic big yellow banana, which has given its name to this activity as a whole, isn’t the only kind of inflatable that’s suitable for this activity. After all, it’s only necessary for the inflatable to be big enough for people to ride on, and to stay upright while being towed. Water sports enthusiasts have come up with a range of different shapes to keep this activity interesting, and present some challenges. As well as the ride-on-top banana, there’s the sit-back sofa, which might be more hair raising than relaxing, and donut-shaped ringos, which, while only big enough for 1 person each, can be towed in a group by the same boat. And there are variations on the classic theme - bananas of different sizes, a range of colours, and varying designs that make them more or less stable in the water - will you be able to hang on?
2. Where are the best places to enjoy a banana boat ride?
It should come as no surprise that some of the most popular vacation spots in the South of England boast banana boat rides among their beach activities. Newquay’s Summerleaze Beach isn’t just a surfer’s paradise, but a bay for banana boating too. The beautiful beaches of Studland, in Dorset, is another place where you can break up a day of sunbathing with a wild ride across the waves, or try this activity in Newhaven, East Sussex, where spectacular white cliffs are the backdrop to a ride on a big sofa. But it’s not just the south coast where you can enjoy a banana boat ride, in fact, there’s a lake within the M25, in Upminster, where Londoners can get their fix of fun without travelling for hours. Lakes provide settings for this activity in other parts of the country too, in Lincolnshire for example, or on one of the most breathtaking lakes in the whole of the UK, Loch Lomond in Scotland. The other nations of the UK are catered for as well, with Tenby as one of the most popular spots to go banana boating in Wales, and Carlingford Lough in Northern Ireland hosting banana boat trips on the Irish Sea.
3. Who can get on board a banana boat?
This is a watersport which is truly fun for all the family. We mean that in a number of ways. First of all, it’s possible to find banana boat rides around the country that are suitable for children as young as 6 years old. Others are limited to those older than 8 years of age, but there’s no doubt that the kids will love it once they’re on board. Secondly, to enjoy a banana boat ride, you need to go with a group. Whether that’s family or friends, the fun is found in trying to hold on together and making each other laugh for the duration. Ringos are for 1 person each but several can be towed by the same boat, while sofa-shaped inflatables are perfect for small groups. Long banana boats can take up to 10 people at a time on a wet and wild adventure! Something to bear in mind is that some kinds of inflatables can make for bumpier, white-knuckle rides. The classic banana is usually the most stable, but things like ringos might not be suitable for the youngest children.
4. How long do banana boat rides last?
The point of a banana boat isn’t to transport you from one place to another. Instead, the point is to raise your heart rate, heighten your adrenaline levels and make you laugh! Most rides last between 10 and 15 minutes which might not sound like much, but in that time you’ll be pulled the length of the beach or lake a couple of times, and have to try and stay dry at top speed and when cornering - so you’ll feel fully satisfied by the time you’re back on dry land!
5. What do you need to have with you to enjoy a ride on a banana boat?
The best thing about banana boating is that you don’t need anything that you wouldn’t have with you for a day at the beach anyway! This makes it the perfect way to get all your friends enjoying a water activity together, and you might even convince some of the less adventurous members of the family to join you too - bonus point to anyone who gets their grandparents to have a go! The good news is that safety is a priority, and every member of the group will be kitted out with a life jacket. You might also be given a wetsuit and a helmet, depending on the local and weather conditions.
What’s the best time of year to enjoy banana boating in the UK?
Like many of the activities that are on offer on British beaches, banana boating is generally a summer kind of thing. Enjoying the ride, the spray of the waves, and the sea breeze in your face is much easier during the hottest months of the year, so banana boat rides are most reliable from June to September. Having said that, a bit of cold water doesn’t put people off practising other watersports when it’s not the summer, and, with the help of wetsuits and especially on inland lakes, banana boat rides can be found during the offseason.
© 2024 Martin Buxton, Yumping Adventure, SL
