This morning I took my pontoon to Deer Creek to get in a few hours fishing. After I packed a few things last night and was trying to get to sleep the thought hit me that maybe my pontoon is not too safe any longer. I have had it for at least 10 years, and probably longer. Does anyone know how long the bladders in tube and pontoons last?
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I've had my U-boat for more than a decade and it's still good. Gave it a good workout, too, inflating and deflating to fit into the trunk of a subcompact for weekly trips to the lake. Must have used it 100 times a year, and it's never once even had a slow leak. Fabric is wearing out in places but the bladder is great.
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First off, I think the old stuff was built a whole lot better than the new stuff.
Lloyd, there really isn't any way to tell. If it has been a long time since you have used it, I think I would pump it up the night before and check in the morning.
If the outer cover is good, I think that is a plus also. Don't want the BALL PARK FRANK thing happening.
This is a very good question however!
Vinyl doesn't have the shelf life of Urethane, but what exactly IS vinyl life span? Avoid folding the material, anything that might put a crease in the vinyl which will weaken it.
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I've never had a leak in mine so far either. The outside cover shows some scrapes and bruises, but so far so good. I usually load mine up with a lot of gear--rod holders, fish finder, battery, motor, anchor, etc. I began to think about a bladder going out while I was on the water, and the results I visualized were not very pretty.
Many years ago I was fishing the Strawberry in a boat when a storm came up. We tried to cross the reservoir and the wind blew so much water into the boat so fast, that it filled the boat at the transom end, and the boat sank. I almost lost my life that day. If someone had not seen the incident and come to our rescue, I probably would have drowned. I am a pretty good swimmer, but the wind was so great that I couldn't move much. Because of that experience I worry a little. I began to seriously think about the age of my pontoon.
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Thanks Joni. Good advice. I have never have it folded up since I bought it. I have always had some air in it.
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I think everyone should at least think about what could happen. Might help in preparing, even though it may (an hopefully not) happen.
My new boat is bladderless.....I got to tell you, the thought has entered my mind. Before it was bladder and outer cover. Now it is just outer cover. And exactly, how do you patch one?!
I will admit, you don't hear of the welded seam bladderless toons blowing, but we are talking "ME" [crazy]
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dont take this the wrong way but if it may make you
feel any better then just get a new bladder for you
ride and put it in.........................
Peter
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That could be a great option, depending on what pontoon. Creek Co. replacements are around $100. or less.
Of course with so many pontoon boats out there for under $200. makes you think twice.
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My wifes toon is a bucks alpine. It is give or take 15-20 years old and still floating strong. I leave it pumped up most of the way all year long and top it off at the lake and we've never had to patch it. it gets used about 20-30 times a year. I have a Dave scaddin 9 years old and also going strong I just check the bladders in the spring to see if they still feel soft and so far so good also after I top them off in the spring I cruise near the shore for a bit just to be safe
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Right On but they are URETHANE.
What's up for the weekend....pop will be in CA.
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My Bucks Cutter pontoons are over 13 years old and I've never had any problems, except for a very minor slow leak in one tube of 2 sets. I tend to think the covers will go first, since the bladders never see the daylight which weakens plastic material. Flygoddess pointers are right on. Temporary, limp home fixes for small to medium holes with water auto hose type tape like magic wrap or something cheaper that works under water, etc.
http://www.inmainplumbingsupplies.com/en...-Tape.html
My model is discontinued, so no replacements unless Bucks does custom work. JW outfitters did some custom work for me many years ago in their spare time from old patterns.
I think a life threatening failure in a tube or toon is not likey. Your major threat is probably very sudden lack of buoyancy, like in a blowout where absolutely no air pockets remain to hang on to. Contrast that with powerboats which are very vunerable due to their complex power systems and weight. Trailers fail, batteries die, fires occur, fuel systems clog, objects get hit at high speed, throttle linkages stick in reverse, passengers fall out, etc., all possible life threatening. Besides the tendancy of power boats to get caught further out from shore with system failure or bad weather. The rules of survival I know is to grab for anything that floats, conserve heat, and never exhaust yourself opposing the wind or current.
Then there was the time I got hit by a DUI float tuber, and nothing happened, Ha...
Pon
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I've never had a leak in mine so far either. The outside cover shows some scrapes and bruises, but so far so good. I usually load mine up with a lot of gear--rod holders, fish finder, battery, motor, anchor, etc. I began to think about a bladder going out while I was on the water, and the results I visualized were not very pretty.
Many years ago I was fishing the Strawberry in a boat when a storm came up. We tried to cross the reservoir and the wind blew so much water into the boat so fast, that it filled the boat at the transom end, and the boat sank. I almost lost my life that day. If someone had not seen the incident and come to our rescue, I probably would have drowned. I am a pretty good swimmer, but the wind was so great that I couldn't move much. Because of that experience I worry a little. I began to seriously think about the age of my pontoon.
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Thanks for all of the input--sound advice and very theraputic!
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Golf thursday night. friday golf tourny in IF sat golf tourny in AF and watch the rain in between This has been the wettest june on record its raining now so we have had about 4" of rain the last 17 days. Makes work kind a suck
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You know your golfing is getting in the way of perfectly good fishing weather!!!!
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