04-06-2013, 07:27 PM
[cool][#0000FF]If you are dragging your tube through barbed wire and brambles it won't make much difference what kind of air bladder you have...unless you can go stainless steel. A direct poke with a sharp point will puncture vinyl, urethane or butyl rubber.
During the years I lived in southern Arizona I packed my tube into some remote launching spots along several desert lakes. I usually carried them inflated and balanced on my head. There were more than a couple of times I arrived at the water and plopped my tube in the lake only to see and hear a stream of bubbles. There are lots of stickery things along the way to assault the inflatables.
And I also had to look carefully along the edges of the lakes to be sure there were not some washed up cactus spines concealed in the shoreline junk. Laying a tube down...even carefully...was asking for a puncture unless I was on really clean sand.
All that being said, you should not have to worry as long as you exercise proper precautions. But also a good idea to carry a quick patch kit and an air pump if you are going any distance.
One other thing. I generally try to discourage anybody taking a float tube on flowing water, especially if there is a strong current and/or shallow stretches. Unless you are very experienced in launching, beaching and wading in flowing water with your float tube you invite disaster. Going butt over teakettle in shallow moving water can be hazardous to both you and your gear.
Always wear an inflatable PFD.
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During the years I lived in southern Arizona I packed my tube into some remote launching spots along several desert lakes. I usually carried them inflated and balanced on my head. There were more than a couple of times I arrived at the water and plopped my tube in the lake only to see and hear a stream of bubbles. There are lots of stickery things along the way to assault the inflatables.
And I also had to look carefully along the edges of the lakes to be sure there were not some washed up cactus spines concealed in the shoreline junk. Laying a tube down...even carefully...was asking for a puncture unless I was on really clean sand.
All that being said, you should not have to worry as long as you exercise proper precautions. But also a good idea to carry a quick patch kit and an air pump if you are going any distance.
One other thing. I generally try to discourage anybody taking a float tube on flowing water, especially if there is a strong current and/or shallow stretches. Unless you are very experienced in launching, beaching and wading in flowing water with your float tube you invite disaster. Going butt over teakettle in shallow moving water can be hazardous to both you and your gear.
Always wear an inflatable PFD.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]