I've been fishing since I was about 7 (38 now). Just got into float tubing recently. I bought a Togiak from Cabela's. My first trip out wasn't so good. I left the house early and had my tube partially inflated. I bought an electric pump that plugs into the car lighter. It didn't work very good, so my first trip out the tube's weren't completely inflated, it seemed very tedious getting in and out, and the fins I was using weren't very comfortable - after about 2 hours on the water my feet were killing me and I was about ready to call it quits - although I stayed out there another 2 hours. Worst of all, I didn't catch anything.
After my first trip out I wasn't very excited about float tubing. I was thinking I made a mistake when I bought it. Started looking at Kayaks (although they're still out of my price range). I decided to give the tube another try.
Made a few modifications since the first trip. Changed to a foot pump - this inflated the tube's very quick. I think having a fully inflated tube made getting in and out of the tube real easy. I had to cut a little bit of the material off the fins (they're US Diver fins - I think) - after that, they fit great. After about 5 hours, my feet felt fine. Added a Cuda fish finder - that was a nice addition. Plus I was on a much more productive lake. No monsters, but still caught a couple.
The second trip out went great - I can't wait to get back out there now.
I just looked at all the mods that people made to their tubes - WOW. I think for now I'd like to keep it simple - just add a rod holder and a tool holder similar to ATFishing's - that's cool.
Anyway - glad I found this site - chock full of float tube info.
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Welcome! One thing about tubes and toons...they must be properly inflated to work right.
And you really need to take some kind of manual pump, which sounds like you got that covered. You don't want to transport the tube fully inflated, and if it is a really warm day, you might want to put the tube in the water for several minutes then check the air again.
As far as rod holders...well, anything goes as you have seen here.
Keep us up to date on your progress.
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welcome !!!
Im sure you will find this site very helpfull and fun. We like
to talk about tubing , fishing and stuff like that.
If you have any questions just feel free to ask.
Peter
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Glad you did not give up on the tube. Been out once with my son. No fish yet, but we are trying to fish using float tubes and then trying to learn how to fly fish. We should do one or the other.[cool]
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Welcome
] Glad you are enjoying the sport. As you get the hang of things it will get easier for you.[cool]
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[cool][#0000ff]Welcome aboard. Doesn't sound like a fun first trip, but at least you are getting some of the prerequisite rookie mistakes out of the way. We all go through them and unless you do you can't claim to be an official tuber.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Once you get comfortable with the float tube, and how it handles, you can focus more on fishing than on operation. That's when it gets really fun. I predict that tubing will allow you to improve on the skills you have already developed and pave the way for developing even better skills in the future.[/#0000ff]
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[quote flygoddess] and if it is a really warm day, you might want to put the tube in the water for several minutes then check the air again.[/quote]
What's the reason for this? Will the tube lose a little pressure after it's been in the water? I'm curious because I went out again this evening - it was about 80 - 85. When I put the tube in the water it was fully inflated. When I came back in - about 2 1/2 hours later - it seemed to have lost a little bit of pressure. Naturally I started to worry that I might have a leak in one of the tubes - and after only 3 times out. I'm hoping that I just didn't close one of the nozzles all the way.
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Vinyl bladders seem to be more effected, but it shouldn't be a big deal.
On a hot day the boat will appear fully inflated. But then you stick it in cold water and it will appear to loose air. It is contracting. Cold shrinks.
Now if one side lost a noticeable more air than the other then I would be checking into it. If it was a little, it could be the fact it is just a different bladder. Not all bladders are created equal[
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Thanks for the info. Both bladders seemed to have lost about the same amount of air - not an incredible amount, but enough that I was able to notice. This is something I'll have to keep an eye on to be sure there isn't a leak though.
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[cool][#0000ff]First, it really does not matter what kind of bladder you have. Basic physics says that air expands when heated and contracts when cooled.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You will notice contraction, after airing up your craft under several conditions:[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]1. When you take the craft out of a warm vehicle and place it in colder outside air or on water colder than the air temp.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]2. During the day, if the sun becomes obscured by clouds or starts going down late in the day. The radiant heat of direct sunlight keeps the tube cover tight. But, as soon as that heat source is gone, the air will shrink a bit.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]3. If a cold storm blows in. A bit of moisture on the cover evaporates and cools the tube. That can happen fast in a heavy cold rain.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If you start out with the air chambers firmed up well, a slight air contraction should be no problem. But, if your cover becomes noticeably saggy, you should either add some air from the spare pump you carry or head for shore. A few pumps should restore the firmness for the rest of your trip. If it still loses pressure you should look for a pinhole leak or a valve problem.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]On the other side of the coin, your tube will swell as the daytime temperatures rise...especially when the hot sun is beating down on it. Overinflated bladders will split, so you should check them for firmness as the day gets hotter. Just a quick bleedoff of excess pressure will not affect your ride but can keep you from having to walk back to shore if your air chamber splits out.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Even more important is to bleed off some air as soon as you get back in to leave. If the air chamber is already over-filled due to the hot sun, it will get even worse once you pull your craft up out of the water. That is good advice both for the main tube and for inflated seats too. [/#0000ff]
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You know- I was thinking ,there sould be some kinda
pressure releave valve on main blader, just in case.
If you loose presure-no big deal just put more air in.
If you get too much presure ............................
Just thinking out load again[
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Peter
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I believe there is at least one model that automatically releases excess pressure. Would be nice if we could buy the mechanism that does than and retrofit.
I periodically squeeze-deflect a pre designated pressure test area to monitor deflection and thus pressure. Never have had overpressure while on the fly even in blazing sun, due to the counter cooling effect of water Im floating in. I mount my tubes with valves forward so I can reach for inflation/deflation on the fly if at all possible. Deflation due to overinflating before launch while underway is tricky, you have to do it with very short, quick taps.
Pon
[quote peter805]You know- I was thinking ,there sould be some kinda
pressure releave valve on main blader, just in case.
If you loose presure-no big deal just put more air in.
If you get too much presure ............................
Just thinking out load again[
]
Peter[/quote]
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Welcome to the board. Glad you stuck it out. Everybody goes through their little initiations, once you find your comfort zone, tubing's tough to beat.
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