I'm taking my daughter to Texas with me this March to fish Lake Fork. Every year I fly down there and I keep my pontoon at my buddies house. I bought my daughter, 9, a Stillwater Talon U boat. I am going to tie her to my pontoon because I don't think she has enough strength to flip her feet for hours at a time. The only problem I have is I think she will sit too low in the float. I don't want her to be burdened by the tube around her.
I'm looking for a solution for her to sit higher, something I can attach to the seat so she can sit higher up yet still be comfortable. Any suggestions?
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Well you can always add a plastic seat similar to what I did to mamatrouts FC4. That is one idea.
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[cool][#0000ff]My suggestion is a couple of boat seat cushions...the kind you can throw for life preservers if needed. But you will have to secure them so they don't slip when wet. She is not heavy enough to worry about changing the center of gravity and creating the potential for tipping over. But, a seat belt might also be in order so she doesn't slip out.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In the past I have also used a piece of 4" thick firm foam...like for mattresses. It provides additional height and comfort. Only problem is that it soaks up water that you have to wring out and allow to dry between uses.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Good luck. Catch a hawg...or two...or more.[/#0000ff]
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That's good. I have a throwable cushion I keep on the boat that I could bungee to the seat. One more thing I forgot to mention, we will be flying so I need to avoid anything large with luggage being an issue. The seat belt is a good idea, that would make momma feel safer.
Are there flippers made for kids? Do any of you have kids with float tubes?
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You can avoid the large luggage issue. I buy a cheapie, lightweight, standard boat seat which fits my wife's pontoon, available at chinamart or sporting goods at the location of my fly in. It does require that you do some tinkering beforehand to make sure the fit and comfort are just right. It might work for a float tube, if you can find something that fits, can be easily adapted, and can be found at the fly in location. Maybe a kid size plastic patio chair with the legs sawed off would work.
Lashing the two units together will probably be easier on the paddling than towing the tube with a rope behind you.
Pon
[quote fsh4fun05] That's good. I have a throwable cushion I keep on the boat that I could bungee to the seat. One more thing I forgot to mention, we will be flying so I need to avoid anything large with luggage being an issue. The seat belt is a good idea, that would make momma feel safer.
Are there flippers made for kids? Do any of you have kids with float tubes?[/quote]
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[cool][#0000ff]There are also inflatable seat cushions that take up little space or weight when deflated. You can find inflatable things, along with kids size swim fins in the swimming departments of Sports Authority, Wally World, etc. Maybe even Sportsmans. But might be tough to find this time of year.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Just a suggestion, like we make to anybody buying fins...be sure to get them large enough to hold her feet with waders and water shoes on them. Comfort is as important as function.[/#0000ff]
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Flippers are everywhere. Make sure that they are a size that they can use to maneuver with. I had a cheap pair of swim fins that are too short. I had to get a better kind with a little longer flipper for the kids to work them. Also put fin savers on them and attach to ankles. Will help to keep the flippers off bottom if they do fall off the kid.
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Life vest for the child is very important. Amazing how fast they can disappear. Buy or borrow one at your destination if you have to, but have one on her.
Gotta love those kids!! Great that she is going with you.
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Seeing he is in Utah...all of them need to have a vest or PFD with them even on a tube, but children must have one ON at all times
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