Fishing Forum

I was just wondering how many psi is the right amount for a TU Colorado Toon. I lost my instructions years ago. I know that after a while in the sun the psi climbs abit, but what is the proper amount to start with. I usually just pump it up till it "feels full'. But is there an ideal pressure. I also realise that it depends on the boat, weather, ect.. Just looking for a ball park figure.
Also just as a laugh, has anyone ever tried helium. I know this sounds stupid, but I never claimed to be the sharpest knife in the drawer.
KAZUALT
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Believe it or not, there is more volume than pressure involved for the tube.

My FC4 only requires 5lb to make it to the ideal firmness. My Skeeter Pontube actually takes 6.2lbs.[cool]
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Thanks that makes alot of sense. I recently aquired a portable battery operated pump that is used for car tires and was going to use it to pump up the toon, but didn't want to go overboard.
KAZUALT
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I think I read somewhere that the Outcast tubes require 5 to 5.2lbs. It is slightly different for each tube as you can see only on the 2 that I compared mine to.

I have a digital inflator made by Ryobi. It will allow me to preset the amount of air.

While in the water on cold days, you will notice that the craft will lose some pressure. This is due to the cold air around the chamber.

I built a little device with a pressure differencial in it to maintain the 5lbs that my FC4 requires. When I am 1/4 of a lb below optimum, it comes back on and re-inflates. That allows me to maintain perfect inflation at all times.

I need to make a reverse mechanism for hot weather since the tube will expand more while in warm air. I am also working on a different setup for the Skeeter since it has 4 chambers instead of the 2 from the FC4.[cool]
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I know a gentlemen that bought one of these and inflated a Skykomish (which is urethane bladder and strong as heck)

He said he set it for 3. Long story short, all of a sudden one of his potoons is blown. (happened twice)

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So, I personally do not trust those pumps.
I use one called the LVM which will not inflate a tube or boat all the way. You top it off with a had pump. Knock on wood, I have not had a leak, or a blow out yet, but this is just my choice.
If TubeN2 uses them, they must work.

LVM:
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The Ryobi will only get it close to the finish pressure. I always finish out with the Hand 2way pump unless I am in a hurry then I will hook it directly to my hand made automatic to finish out. It has been calibrated and uses mircrochips for the Scan pass technology.

If that other pump that you mentioned has a setting of 1, 2, 3....etc it may be way different than PSI. It takes alot to blow a urethane bladder.

I was taught to pump to a firm pressure. That is where I made my first adjustments from and the initial readings for my pressure guages prior to building my unit.[cool]

Not bad for a blonde huh???[pirate]
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Never thought about that or seen the manual for the PSI.... As TubeDude says fill it up until the les smooths out, stop. Now you got me wondering about the old FishMaster that I got and now I wanna know that PSI too. Hey TubeDude and TubeN2 would u know that one too?
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I can find out. I just bought a new innertube for the old fishmaster that I used to use.

I can bet that it wouldn't pass the 4 to 6lb mark. The covers are limited on those as well but the bladder can handle so much more.[cool]
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[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1]I know a gentlemen that bought one of these and inflated a Skykomish (which is urethane bladder and strong as heck)

He said he set it for 3. Long story short, all of a sudden one of his potoons is blown. (happened twice)[/size][/black][/font][/size][/black][/font][/quote]

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Part of being a responsible inflator is monitoring the progress of your inflator until you are fully comfortable with the operation and function. To have a chamber burst 2 times is a sign of double negligence.

After destroying one bladder, I would have seriously reconsidered before blowing up another 100 buck for a new one.

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[cool][#0000ff]I gotta agree with the goddess. I do not use anything except my two way hand pump and I monitor the pressure by first watching the wrinkles smooth out and then by checking for firmness at a couple of locations on the craft. When it is "tight to the touch", it is launchable.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]On cold morning launches, I air up my tube before finishing other preparations. I double check it again before launching. Often it has shrunk a bit as it cools. I will then "top it off", realizing that I may have to release a bit of air later as the sun warms the air and the surface of my tube. It pays to check around midmorning.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Virtually every story of split air bladders I have heard has been the result of using a power inflator...or leaving aired up craft in a hot vehicle or direct sunshine.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As others have stated, psi really does not mean as much as perfermance. Every craft operates best when properly inflated...to firmness. It is not a matter of maintaining proper inflation to get better mileage...as with a car tire.[/#0000ff]
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What is no one even going to touch the HELIUM remark. I know that somewhere out there someone has tried this. I'll bet it doesn't make a difference.

But, thanks for all the replys and the solid info.
KAZUALT
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[cool][#0000ff]Interesting thought on the helium, but probably would not seriously offset the total weight of angler, gear, etc. Not sure what the volume per lift stats might be. I would guess that there would be enough lift that you would have to keep it tied down until you were ready to climb aboard. If nothing else, it would seriously increase the load capacity.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you really wanna get dangerous, go for a hydrogen filled tube. Then you could create the first float tube Hindenburg (blimp) disaster by creating a spark or lighting a match while afloat.[/#0000ff]
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I was in a bad mood this morning until I read your reply. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH. Owning a club, I am used to a lot of EXPLOSIVE HOT AIR, but a hydrogen pontoon would add a new dimension to my experiences.
All jokes aside. Helium would most definately make a diference on the load capacity. How about laughing gas, nitous oxide. It is readily availble, as is helium. I know this is just conjecture, but is it possible. I do know that you would have to know how many psi your craft will hold. But will you gain anything from it?
#1 crazy ideas, but without crazy ideas life would set still!!!!!!!!!
KAZUALT
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[cool][#0000ff]Hey, if you have picked up anything from hanging out on this board, you should know that I am creative and an innovator. Heck, I will try almost anything...ONCE.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, when it comes to "gassing" up your craft with anything besides plain old air, I will leave that experiment up to you. Just let me know when you plan to try it. I will wait outside to try to catch a glimpse of you as you orbit overhead. Just be careful if you fly over "hostile" territory. Those SAM missiles might "deflate your ego".[/#0000ff]
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now this is funny... [laugh]

MacFly [cool]
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I think I will stick to good old air from the pump. Those SAMS s%$k. But, if I ever try I will definately give ya'll a fly over.
KAZUALT
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About 3 to 3 1/2 psi for me with my tubes.

When I used to use a low pressure guage ...
(don't know what happened to it, I lent it to a "friend" and didn't see it again.)

2-3 psi was "bouncy" surface, would sag if put on the water, creases going or just gone, but reappear if you rest weight on it, making a depression.

3 psi was getting more supportive, all "creases" gone.

3-4 psi was "hard to the touch, no creases, but would make a slight depression from leaning on it" and that is the feel I still fill up to achieve now, and then stop filling.

4 psi was more hard to the touch, resisting pressure from a hand or elbow, and stitching was becoming visible in seams if you looked hard. The tube was feeling very strong at this pressure.
My tubes could take that 4psi pressure no problem, but one time I put a cut in my tube cover from a sharp edged broken reed while wading through a reedbed to a pond. I convinced myself that a little more give would reduce the chances of that happening again. (Try drawing a knife over something stretched very tight and it cuts easily more than another item with less tension.)
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[font "Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"][black][size 1][#0000ff]If you really wanna get dangerous, go for a hydrogen filled tube. Then you could create the first float tube Hindenburg (blimp) disaster by creating a spark or lighting a match while afloat.[/#0000ff]
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When my dad passed away my uncle was telling me stories of what my dad did. One is what u just said.
He remembers my dad telling him about a 55gallon drum filling it up that kind of gas and built some kind of touch on top of it and setting it afloat at night at work. It went up as high and had the fire going and wind picked it up and drifted it away from the job site float it acorss the highway causing alot of cars stopping and police cars showing up......[angelic]
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I don't think it has been brought up yet....But when I first started hanging out on this board -- I read some good advice (from FG I think) -- that mentioned pumping until a quarter would bounce. That has served me well.
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Dusty, It was me alright but you for got about it giving change....LOL
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