05-24-2007, 04:45 PM
[reply]
.... the difference between the handling of the two was night and day. The V-tube outperformed the U-tube by far. Another factor, as was mentioned, was that this time I had a much bigger and more efficient pair of fins which gave me a lot more thrust per kick. ....My wife didn't struggle too much in her Uboat, but she weighs half of what I do so the drag wasn't as big an issue for her as it was for me. However, she was pretty worn out by the time we hit camp again. ..... I believe that the maneuverability and handling of the V-boat far outweighs the factor that it rides higher out of the water and catches more wind. [/reply]
thanks jnbsigma :
So we have
1 The size of the tuber should match the weight carrying capacity of the tube - a shallow draught tube is very important to reducing water resistence drag and making the most movement from energy expended.
2 In Wind: Vee boats beat U boats beat round boats - better streamlining is potent enough to more than compensate for the increased (Vee section) surface area that might catch wind.
[reply]
... [blue]there have been several small "floatilla" fishing trips in which there were a variety of tubes present...my SFC, at least one FC4 and an ODC 420. [/blue][blue]...[/blue][#0000ff] Happily, I can say that all of the pointy-ended tubes seem to perform well in the sloppy water. [/#0000ff][#0000ff]...The size of the craft vs the size of the angler is probably one of the major variables. [/#0000ff][#0000ff]... Heavyweight tubers in lightweight tubes tend to lean backward as they kick against the wind. That causes the bow to dip lower in the water and creates more drag. But, a "middleweight" tuber, with strong kicking legs, can make a Fish Cat fly. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]...[#0000ff]The ODC 420 has greater weight capacity than the FC4, but slightly less than the Fat Cats. If budget is a consideration, the ODC 420 is a good choice for heftier tubers but not as good as the Fat Cats if there is a bit more money in the budget.[/#0000ff] [/reply]
TD: There's a mine of information in that [
]
So I suppose we confirm all of the info above and also add:
3 Fitness, stamina, training, finning technique however you wish to put it ... let's say tubing technique and practise - contributes when the conditions are not as good as we would like.
It is becoming very clear that for every float tuber, the "best tube" is based very much on themselves, and what suits their personal circumstances.
[reply]
... The FC4 handles beautifully in the salt and handles mild swells with no problem.
... The newer Pontube by Water Skeeter on the other hand, I have only taken it out 1 time and took it in the salt and purposely in the wind just to solve my curiosity of the taller crafts handling abilities.
It is just like everyone described as far as the wind goes. It sucks. Still water is still the best friend of any tube ... [/reply]
Thx TubeN2: So for windy conditions - pontoons are not the way to go ... toons are best for distance / speed in low wind ... for the wind it's all down to vee tubes. And the manufacturers more recent efforts seem to be the best answer so far for the windy day.
To follow up a bit more on the fins - I am using Deep See fins myself right now, and they are pretty stiff utilising most of my strength so I've no complaints there. Force Fins might be a bit more efficient, providing more motion for a similar level of energy expended. This would be more important on marginal days.
Possible the next factor is
4 Fin choice ... another important area that affects performance.
So - just wondering? would I be right in saying that most serious tubers who cover distance - go out in stronger winds - have gotten Force Fins?
[signature]
.... the difference between the handling of the two was night and day. The V-tube outperformed the U-tube by far. Another factor, as was mentioned, was that this time I had a much bigger and more efficient pair of fins which gave me a lot more thrust per kick. ....My wife didn't struggle too much in her Uboat, but she weighs half of what I do so the drag wasn't as big an issue for her as it was for me. However, she was pretty worn out by the time we hit camp again. ..... I believe that the maneuverability and handling of the V-boat far outweighs the factor that it rides higher out of the water and catches more wind. [/reply]
thanks jnbsigma :
So we have
1 The size of the tuber should match the weight carrying capacity of the tube - a shallow draught tube is very important to reducing water resistence drag and making the most movement from energy expended.
2 In Wind: Vee boats beat U boats beat round boats - better streamlining is potent enough to more than compensate for the increased (Vee section) surface area that might catch wind.
[reply]
... [blue]there have been several small "floatilla" fishing trips in which there were a variety of tubes present...my SFC, at least one FC4 and an ODC 420. [/blue][blue]...[/blue][#0000ff] Happily, I can say that all of the pointy-ended tubes seem to perform well in the sloppy water. [/#0000ff][#0000ff]...The size of the craft vs the size of the angler is probably one of the major variables. [/#0000ff][#0000ff]... Heavyweight tubers in lightweight tubes tend to lean backward as they kick against the wind. That causes the bow to dip lower in the water and creates more drag. But, a "middleweight" tuber, with strong kicking legs, can make a Fish Cat fly. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]...[#0000ff]The ODC 420 has greater weight capacity than the FC4, but slightly less than the Fat Cats. If budget is a consideration, the ODC 420 is a good choice for heftier tubers but not as good as the Fat Cats if there is a bit more money in the budget.[/#0000ff] [/reply]
TD: There's a mine of information in that [
] So I suppose we confirm all of the info above and also add:
3 Fitness, stamina, training, finning technique however you wish to put it ... let's say tubing technique and practise - contributes when the conditions are not as good as we would like.
It is becoming very clear that for every float tuber, the "best tube" is based very much on themselves, and what suits their personal circumstances.
[reply]
... The FC4 handles beautifully in the salt and handles mild swells with no problem.
... The newer Pontube by Water Skeeter on the other hand, I have only taken it out 1 time and took it in the salt and purposely in the wind just to solve my curiosity of the taller crafts handling abilities.
It is just like everyone described as far as the wind goes. It sucks. Still water is still the best friend of any tube ... [/reply]
Thx TubeN2: So for windy conditions - pontoons are not the way to go ... toons are best for distance / speed in low wind ... for the wind it's all down to vee tubes. And the manufacturers more recent efforts seem to be the best answer so far for the windy day.
To follow up a bit more on the fins - I am using Deep See fins myself right now, and they are pretty stiff utilising most of my strength so I've no complaints there. Force Fins might be a bit more efficient, providing more motion for a similar level of energy expended. This would be more important on marginal days.
Possible the next factor is
4 Fin choice ... another important area that affects performance.
So - just wondering? would I be right in saying that most serious tubers who cover distance - go out in stronger winds - have gotten Force Fins?
[signature]