08-10-2010, 03:03 PM
[cool][#0000ff]We live in a litigious society. Everybody is sue happy. Therefore the manufacturers often supply limits more as guidelines than absolutes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A tube rated as "350# capacity" is probably capable of floating at least another 100 pounds without blowing the air chambers or sinking under the weight. But, the manufacturer is not going to encourage routine overloading. Should there be a "misfortune" due to excess weight on the craft they need to cover their assets.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I weigh somewhat over 250# and after adding the weight of my rods, tackle boxes, sonar & battery, PVC addons...and now the motor and deep cycle battery...I am sure that the combined weight is over the 350# "capacity". But, I still float high and dry.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You may have missed a recent post where I put up pictures of the large boat bumpers I have installed on the bottom of my Fat Cat to help float the large series 27 battery I am using. Those bumpers definitely add lots of extra floatation in the place it is needed to offset the weight of both the battery and the motor. My tube floats almost level with both installed...before I get aboard. And I notice no additional drag or problems with propulsion or mobility when I use fin power alone.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=600267;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;page=unread#unread"]LINK TO BIG BATTERY POST[/url][/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]A tube rated as "350# capacity" is probably capable of floating at least another 100 pounds without blowing the air chambers or sinking under the weight. But, the manufacturer is not going to encourage routine overloading. Should there be a "misfortune" due to excess weight on the craft they need to cover their assets.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I weigh somewhat over 250# and after adding the weight of my rods, tackle boxes, sonar & battery, PVC addons...and now the motor and deep cycle battery...I am sure that the combined weight is over the 350# "capacity". But, I still float high and dry.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]You may have missed a recent post where I put up pictures of the large boat bumpers I have installed on the bottom of my Fat Cat to help float the large series 27 battery I am using. Those bumpers definitely add lots of extra floatation in the place it is needed to offset the weight of both the battery and the motor. My tube floats almost level with both installed...before I get aboard. And I notice no additional drag or problems with propulsion or mobility when I use fin power alone.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=600267;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;page=unread#unread"]LINK TO BIG BATTERY POST[/url][/#0000ff]
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