07-17-2010, 06:06 PM
Newbie needs help!!! I apologize in advance for the length of this message. I just want to avoid a lot of unneccesary additional posting to supply information.
I'm new to posting on this forum but I have been "lurking and gleaning" information for several months as so to make a informed decision about getting started in the modern era of float tubing.
This website is a great resource, seems to be populated with good, knowledgeable people, willing to share their knowledge and experiences. This forum has been very helpful to me so far. Looking forward to "Getting Wet."
I have scoured the forum posts and the archives, thanks to TubeDude, but have yet to find an answer to my problem.
I also thought that maybe someone might have posted a video for "newbies" to watch, showing and explaining the basics, such as how to assemble their 1st tube correctly and how to avoid exactly the problem I have now.
I couldn't find anything like that. Hint, hint... If one exists, please point me in the right direction.
It would also be nice if posted pics in individual posts could be seen in a "slide show" style of format, instead of having to select each pic, one at a time, view, close that window, repeat, etc.
Anyway, here is my situation, hope someone can point me in the right direction. I am posting some pics also.
As of right now, being on a fixed income and all that that entails, I can't afford a top of the line float tube like a FishCat, Super FatCat, ODC 420, etc. along with the cost of the other necessary items in order to get started. So I figured to get a "starter" tube for use in the local ponds and see how that goes.
Using "Craig's List", I was able to buy locally, an "as new, unused, still in the sealed bag," W.W. Grigg, VP 8000, "Pond Tube, Pontoon Float Tube."
It came with a new set of Creek Company Fins, a new Coleman dual action manual quick pump, a new Coleman 12 volt, cordless, rechargable quick pump - all for $100.
Having read TubeDude's, and others, posts about WW Grigg's tubes, I decided it would have to be good enough to start with, for now.
Not the best quality of tube, I know, but I considered it a sign from the heavens to get busy and "just do it", so I "just did it."
The other night I tried, for 3 hours, to install the right side bladder as the inadaquate instructions said to, but never was I able to get the valve to stay centered in the cargo pocket upon any level of decent inflation and I had some parts I did not know how to install correctly, as described below.
Yes, I had the bladder the correct orientation, although I will have to admit, it was only after the second try at bladder insertion into the shell.
In my pics of the parts on the floor, it shows the right bladder on the left and the left on the right. That's just how they got laid out for the pics I took.
I also used the baby powder trick for ease of adjustment, as instructed. Moved the bladder forwards, backwards, rotated the bladder side to side, clockwise, counterclockwise, it made no difference.
Since the assembly instructions were sparse, at best, and I had some parts not even shown or mentioned in the instructions, I figured I was doing something wrong.
Calls to WW Grigg the next day were a waste of time. Both times I called, the 2 different individuals I spoke with couldn't be less helpful about float tube assembly procedures and their website has no information at all pertaining to the float tubes instructions.
The 1 sheet of printed instructions, actually titled "Helpful Tips", for installing the bladders into the shell are not at all helpful as to a step by step procedure for how the bladder / valve assembly is properly installed in the pocket.
However, the 2 large paragraphs about "Science Tips on Air Pressure," could have easily gone towards a more complete, step by step set of instructions, along with a couple of pics, just my opinion.
I have 2, thin, black plastic "washers", 1/32" thick, 5" in dia. with a 1-9/16" hole in the middle. These are not shown or described in the instructions in any way. Obviously some sort of protective device. Might go inside the cargo pocket, I'm thinking.
Do the "washers" go between the bladder and the underside of the shell pocket? Being that the outside diameter of the valve body is 1-3/4" and the hole in the "washer" is 1-9/16", maybe not.
Or does it go inside of the cargo pocket between the lower valve body and the valve section? It seems like a very loose, sloppy fit if that is so and that would also make it so the plastic lanyard connecting the 3
valve parts could not be used.
Maybe the hole in the washer is meant to be stretched over the lower valve body and is held in place with the plastic lanyard's large loop? I'm thinking this is the way, but I don't know for sure.
The "washers" also have a slick side and a textured side. Which side goes up and which side goes down? Does it matter?
The valve, consisting of 3 parts, the top cap, the middle one way valve and the lower threaded unit sealed to the bladder. Connecting the three pieces is the plastic "lanyard." I think that the lanyard has to be removed for installation of the "plastic washer" below the lower valve body in the cargo pocket? The cap / valve lanyard is not mentioned at all in the instructions anywhere.
The only other relevant thing that the instructions mentioned is was "Screw the middle section of the valve through the hole in the right pocket and into the threads on the bladder. Take care that there is nothing between the seal with the bladder." That's about all it says.
In the float tube package, there were 2 seat bladders and 2 back bladders, see pics, along with 3 patch kits. This seems very odd or perhaps somewhat ominous.
Is this WW Grigg's way of telling me that I will have a lot of problems with the seat and back bladders requiring constant patching and/or replacement of same?
I would like very much to hear from anyone with WW Grigg experience.
I am sure someone here can help me to "Get Wet."
Thanks...
Bumjelly, "tube-pup"
.
[signature]
I'm new to posting on this forum but I have been "lurking and gleaning" information for several months as so to make a informed decision about getting started in the modern era of float tubing.
This website is a great resource, seems to be populated with good, knowledgeable people, willing to share their knowledge and experiences. This forum has been very helpful to me so far. Looking forward to "Getting Wet."
I have scoured the forum posts and the archives, thanks to TubeDude, but have yet to find an answer to my problem.
I also thought that maybe someone might have posted a video for "newbies" to watch, showing and explaining the basics, such as how to assemble their 1st tube correctly and how to avoid exactly the problem I have now.
I couldn't find anything like that. Hint, hint... If one exists, please point me in the right direction.
It would also be nice if posted pics in individual posts could be seen in a "slide show" style of format, instead of having to select each pic, one at a time, view, close that window, repeat, etc.
Anyway, here is my situation, hope someone can point me in the right direction. I am posting some pics also.
As of right now, being on a fixed income and all that that entails, I can't afford a top of the line float tube like a FishCat, Super FatCat, ODC 420, etc. along with the cost of the other necessary items in order to get started. So I figured to get a "starter" tube for use in the local ponds and see how that goes.
Using "Craig's List", I was able to buy locally, an "as new, unused, still in the sealed bag," W.W. Grigg, VP 8000, "Pond Tube, Pontoon Float Tube."
It came with a new set of Creek Company Fins, a new Coleman dual action manual quick pump, a new Coleman 12 volt, cordless, rechargable quick pump - all for $100.
Having read TubeDude's, and others, posts about WW Grigg's tubes, I decided it would have to be good enough to start with, for now.
Not the best quality of tube, I know, but I considered it a sign from the heavens to get busy and "just do it", so I "just did it."
The other night I tried, for 3 hours, to install the right side bladder as the inadaquate instructions said to, but never was I able to get the valve to stay centered in the cargo pocket upon any level of decent inflation and I had some parts I did not know how to install correctly, as described below.
Yes, I had the bladder the correct orientation, although I will have to admit, it was only after the second try at bladder insertion into the shell.
In my pics of the parts on the floor, it shows the right bladder on the left and the left on the right. That's just how they got laid out for the pics I took.
I also used the baby powder trick for ease of adjustment, as instructed. Moved the bladder forwards, backwards, rotated the bladder side to side, clockwise, counterclockwise, it made no difference.
Since the assembly instructions were sparse, at best, and I had some parts not even shown or mentioned in the instructions, I figured I was doing something wrong.
Calls to WW Grigg the next day were a waste of time. Both times I called, the 2 different individuals I spoke with couldn't be less helpful about float tube assembly procedures and their website has no information at all pertaining to the float tubes instructions.
The 1 sheet of printed instructions, actually titled "Helpful Tips", for installing the bladders into the shell are not at all helpful as to a step by step procedure for how the bladder / valve assembly is properly installed in the pocket.
However, the 2 large paragraphs about "Science Tips on Air Pressure," could have easily gone towards a more complete, step by step set of instructions, along with a couple of pics, just my opinion.
I have 2, thin, black plastic "washers", 1/32" thick, 5" in dia. with a 1-9/16" hole in the middle. These are not shown or described in the instructions in any way. Obviously some sort of protective device. Might go inside the cargo pocket, I'm thinking.
Do the "washers" go between the bladder and the underside of the shell pocket? Being that the outside diameter of the valve body is 1-3/4" and the hole in the "washer" is 1-9/16", maybe not.
Or does it go inside of the cargo pocket between the lower valve body and the valve section? It seems like a very loose, sloppy fit if that is so and that would also make it so the plastic lanyard connecting the 3
valve parts could not be used.
Maybe the hole in the washer is meant to be stretched over the lower valve body and is held in place with the plastic lanyard's large loop? I'm thinking this is the way, but I don't know for sure.
The "washers" also have a slick side and a textured side. Which side goes up and which side goes down? Does it matter?
The valve, consisting of 3 parts, the top cap, the middle one way valve and the lower threaded unit sealed to the bladder. Connecting the three pieces is the plastic "lanyard." I think that the lanyard has to be removed for installation of the "plastic washer" below the lower valve body in the cargo pocket? The cap / valve lanyard is not mentioned at all in the instructions anywhere.
The only other relevant thing that the instructions mentioned is was "Screw the middle section of the valve through the hole in the right pocket and into the threads on the bladder. Take care that there is nothing between the seal with the bladder." That's about all it says.
In the float tube package, there were 2 seat bladders and 2 back bladders, see pics, along with 3 patch kits. This seems very odd or perhaps somewhat ominous.
Is this WW Grigg's way of telling me that I will have a lot of problems with the seat and back bladders requiring constant patching and/or replacement of same?
I would like very much to hear from anyone with WW Grigg experience.
I am sure someone here can help me to "Get Wet."
Thanks...
Bumjelly, "tube-pup"
.
[signature]
]