05-06-2009, 03:13 PM
[cool][#0000ff]You are correct in your assessment that learning your craft, and how it operates, is the easiest way to know when "enough is enough". Newbie tubers and tooners are generally prone to put more air in their craft than really necessary. As long as the tube or toon rides firmly on the water, with no sagging, it is plenty full. Overfilling...especially early on a cool morning...can lead to the bladders expanding and becoming too firm later on a warming day.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have NEVER used a pressure guage. Even when I used to fish from donuts, with inner tubes, I did not use a tire pressure guage. I don't know what you would use to test the pressure on some of the modern valves on vinyl or urethane bladders. In most cases you will not be putting more than 3 or 4 psi pressure in your craft. And, there can be quite a difference in cover firmness with only a half psi. Just using your common sense and monitoring firmness is as accurate as any kind of pressure guage.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You also made a good point about the pointy ends of toons and some tubes being softer than the midpoint on the bladders. I actually use that as a part of my "feel for firmness" program to judge whether I am good to go. I keep checking firmness visually as I pump and then when it looks solid, I feel the pointed end of my SFC. If it is firm too, I know I am done. If it is very soft, I know that only a couple of strokes on the pump will probably finish it off. It is the last part of the bladder to firm up.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That being said, this system will not work for all tubes and toons. For example, the Outcast Fish Cat tubes have two bladders...with pointy ends. No matter how good you are at fitting them inside the cover, they do not always fill the cover as they are supposed to. It is common to have a soft point on one or both bladders when the main bladder is rock hard. So, again, use common sense and do not feel that all parts of the air chamber have to be equally firm.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There CAN be a difference in the "inflation tolerance" between different craft. A float tube with a thin vinyl bladder and a wimpy fabric cover is much more likely to "self destruct" under lower pressure. On the other hand, some river-worthy pontoons have heavy guage material and super stitching on their covers and could probably contain air bladders overinflated by twice the recommended pressure.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have watched the Versavessels on different websites. Good concept but haven't had the yearning or "net spendable" to put one in my personal arsenal yet. That is one thing about our little niche market...floatation fishing. It has grown enough over the past 3 decades that it has attracted more manufacturers into the field (lake). Hopefully they are successful enough to weather the initial reluctance of most folks to try something new...especially if it costs more.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Thanks for your kindly comments. I appreciate your appreciation.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have NEVER used a pressure guage. Even when I used to fish from donuts, with inner tubes, I did not use a tire pressure guage. I don't know what you would use to test the pressure on some of the modern valves on vinyl or urethane bladders. In most cases you will not be putting more than 3 or 4 psi pressure in your craft. And, there can be quite a difference in cover firmness with only a half psi. Just using your common sense and monitoring firmness is as accurate as any kind of pressure guage.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You also made a good point about the pointy ends of toons and some tubes being softer than the midpoint on the bladders. I actually use that as a part of my "feel for firmness" program to judge whether I am good to go. I keep checking firmness visually as I pump and then when it looks solid, I feel the pointed end of my SFC. If it is firm too, I know I am done. If it is very soft, I know that only a couple of strokes on the pump will probably finish it off. It is the last part of the bladder to firm up.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]That being said, this system will not work for all tubes and toons. For example, the Outcast Fish Cat tubes have two bladders...with pointy ends. No matter how good you are at fitting them inside the cover, they do not always fill the cover as they are supposed to. It is common to have a soft point on one or both bladders when the main bladder is rock hard. So, again, use common sense and do not feel that all parts of the air chamber have to be equally firm.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There CAN be a difference in the "inflation tolerance" between different craft. A float tube with a thin vinyl bladder and a wimpy fabric cover is much more likely to "self destruct" under lower pressure. On the other hand, some river-worthy pontoons have heavy guage material and super stitching on their covers and could probably contain air bladders overinflated by twice the recommended pressure.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I have watched the Versavessels on different websites. Good concept but haven't had the yearning or "net spendable" to put one in my personal arsenal yet. That is one thing about our little niche market...floatation fishing. It has grown enough over the past 3 decades that it has attracted more manufacturers into the field (lake). Hopefully they are successful enough to weather the initial reluctance of most folks to try something new...especially if it costs more.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Thanks for your kindly comments. I appreciate your appreciation.[/#0000ff]
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