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Gasp! I've bought a donut... Been more than 20 years since I bought my original Buck's Hi 'n Dry.
I asked about the Lunker Hunter in another thread but I decided to jump in. I wanted a super lightweight boat for hike-in high country lakes. 3 lbs!! Fins will weigh more.
At any rate, anyone ever installl a foam or inflatable seat in a donut to boost up the rider and to increase comfort? I'm considering dropping my Outcast inflatable seatbottom in the diaper/sling and seeing how that works out. Wonder if it'll get tippy?
Comments?
_SHig
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I just remember that someone here was talking about someone that tipped over in his donut and did not
make it a live............................
Something about every muscle in his neck was ripped
from trying to get his head above the water.
Just saying. Be careful with that thing.
Peter
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Don't let my wife hear that!
Yeah, it's always been a concern of mine about the donuts. I do have an inflatable PFD that I may be tempted to use in that case, though the weight somewhat negates the lightness of the tube...
_SHig
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[cool][#0000ff]Since I fished from round tubes for MANY years before graduating to the V boats, you can bet I have tried a bajillion ways to get more altitude. I have tried everything from parially inflated small inner tubes to specially cut pieces of foam to fit in the space alloted. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The good news is that almost anything will work to add a couple of inches in height. The bad news is that most of these things add more discomfort than they eliminate. The seats in round tubes are designed to allow your legs to protrude below the lower edge of the tube, with just the right clearance. If you add too much height, that changes the dynamics. And, if you are of "ample proportions" the problem is magnified. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Some potential solutions...like the partially inflated small tube...kept shifting and created a funky ride. Others, like the high density rubber foam, soaked up a lot of water and compressed over time so that they did not really solve any problems.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The inflated bottom seat from your Fish Cat might work, since it will form fit. But, it will probably compress outward against the backs of your legs and create pressure points. Just a guess.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Anybody who has experienced the higher ride of a modern craft is spoiled for fishing in a donut ever again. But, if you are looking for a lightweight pack in craft, the new toy you got is probably ideal. My thought is that you will likely have to sacrifice or make compromises. You can't have everything in one craft. If you are going for lightweight, you will have to endure the low seating of a donut. Many of us handled it quite nicely for many years...before we knew there were options. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Good luck in your search for more height. Don't be discouraged about the "legends" of bad things that happen to tubers. Balderdash. Never heard of such a thing. Your center of gravity is much lower in a tube and unless you really do something stupid you are safer than in a higher riding position.[/#0000ff]
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But it can and does happen:
In rare situations, float tubes can in-
vert and drown you, particularly the
“donut”kind. This happened on Lake
Crowley just a few years ago when a father
drowned within sight of his son after los-
ing consciousness due to a heart condition.
The U-tube and pontoon boat designs
that allow you to exit forward are safer.
Specially longer torso people. Plus we had a member here flip in a "V" tube but because he couldn't undo the apron (making the same scenario as a doughnut) almost drown.
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I've used a round tube for years without any problem.
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If you are packing it in a ways then you aren't in danger of any large wakes or waves to tip you.
If you are very tall and the tube is a very small in diameter you might could tip it. I have never managed to do that myself, but I guess is might be possible. If you did, just remember the release belt and to let yourself slide down and out.
If you are packing in, I wouldn't bother with toting extra stuff to sit higher. I have fly fished for a lot of years from the low seated tubes and it really isn't a problem, other than your backside is going to be cold! Wear you long johns under some light weight waders, or go in shorts and take LOTS of warm up breaks.
I like the light fins that Cabelas has for toting into places. They aren't the best but they get you there and they don't weigh a lot.
[url "http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0036073318635a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&Ntk=Product_liberal&QueryText=lightweight+fins&sort=all&Go.y=5&_D%3AhasJS=+&N=0&Nty=1&hasJS=true&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form23&Go.x=11&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1"]http://www.cabelas.com/...yncharset=ISO-8859-1[/url]
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If you want a weight for the fins I could weigh mine.
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I have those fins as well. They weigh close to nothing, but are nice in that then lay flat. The uppers are cloth. Perfect for packing.
When I do any hike ins at all, I inflate my SFC or the H3. Use the back pack straps. I load the side bags with fly boxes and even a rod (4 piece 7'er)
I put the fins under the inflatable seat (in the seat pocket)
Put my waders and boots on and maybe carry one rod.
Oh, I use one of those inexpensive around the neck orange PFDs
Usually clip it in the back area of the tube.
If that lake is in that remote of a place that I can't do this, I don't and shore fish or wade.
Everyone always thinks the fish are out in the middle, when in truth they are cruising the shore lines 9 out of 10 times.[crazy]
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![[Image: fins_sff.jpg]](http://www.caddissports.com/Images/fins_sff.jpg)
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