help with tubes collapsing in on me!!!

[duffygould]

I've been searching all over this morning for some tips or info and to no avail I end up with nothing... I'm trying to find some tips on keeping the tubes of my fish cat 4 from collapsing in on me when I sit down in the water. I've made proper adjustments for the rod holders to be at the angle I want them when I enter the water... but still I would like just a little more leg room when I sit down. So if anyone knows what I should do or has a previous post that I could just not find please help out.

Thanks!
[signature]

[cpierce]

Is yours an air filled or foam seat?
[signature]

[duffygould]

It's the foam seat
[signature]

[mattpeace]

I just took my fc4 out for the first time and didn't seem to have a problem with it collapsing in on me. i would imagine that if you got rid of the lap basket and made something a little more rigid than what it came with that should help.
[signature]

[duffygould]

hmmm thats strange, I did find a thread from TD about foam seats vs. inflated and on there he demonstrates the proper placement of the foam cells and I checked my tube and they are inserted correctly. I guess I'll have to do some research on the lap thing and make something more rigid as you've suggested.
[signature]

[cpierce]

Excuse the personal question, but how big are you? Are you pushing the weight limits for the tube?

Is it a new or a used tube? If it is new, the foam may not be put in correctly.

If used:
Overtime I guess the foam gets less ridged and somewhat compressed. You can try to add some foam inserts on the sides in you seat pocket to make the seat more ridged from side to side. You need the seat to be quite tight across its width. You may have to glue the foam pieces together to keep things in place. Or use some other stiffener to make it more rigid across the seat area. You may have to do a lot of experimenting.

You can put in an inflatable seat bottom, but currently they are about $50. http://www.outcastboats.com/outcast/prod...=19&id=395

I know that TubeDude and some others add plastic chair seats to theirs, but I don't know that it was because of the problem you are having.
[signature]

[pontoonman]

Good post cp. The only other thing that might be a consideration is under inflation. Need about 1.5# pressure.

Pon

[quote cpierce]Excuse the personal question, but how big are you? Are you pushing the weight limits for the tube?

Is it a new or a used tube? If it is new, the foam may not be put in correctly.

If used:
Overtime I guess the foam gets less ridged and somewhat compressed. You can try to add some foam inserts on the sides in you seat pocket to make the seat more ridged from side to side. You need the seat to be quite tight across its width. You may have to glue the foam pieces together to keep things in place. Or use some other stiffener to make it more rigid across the seat area. You may have to do a lot of experimenting.

You can put in an inflatable seat bottom, but currently they are about $50. [url "http://www.outcastboats.com/outcast/products/accessories.aspx?cat=19&id=395"]http://www.outcastboats.com/...px?cat=19&id=395[/url]

I know that TubeDude and some others add plastic chair seats to theirs, but I don't know that it was because of the problem you are having.[/quote]
[signature]

[cpierce]

I looked at your profile and I see that you have a new tube. You aren't 500 lbs either. [sly]

Two things:

One try taking you seat foam out and turning it 90 degrees and put it back in. It should be really pretty tight in the pocket. Do that with the sides deflated.
Here is how they should be in http://www.outcastboats.com/outcast/imag...LCS_2L.pdf
If they are already in correctly try a small piece of foam as a spacer on the sides.

On the water also make sure that you are inflating it properly. If the water is really cold, I usually set my tube in the water if I can and then add a pump or two of air to each side if it needs it. The water cools the air in the chambers and most of the time I will need to add a little air. I'm not saying to over inflate it -- most wrinkles should be out, and your thumb should be able to push in an inch or so.
[signature]

[pa]

cut a piece of plexi glass to fit and insert it under the foam seats. Make sure the sharp corners and edges ore smoothed out and rounded off[]

Pa
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I have had tubes with both inflated and foam seats. One of the advantages of the inflated seats is that they completely fill the seat pockets. Rock solid. No folding in at all. The foam seats SEEM to fill the pockets but there is still SOME play no matter how tight they fit. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]It does not take much when you sit down to allow the sides to creep in on you. Extra inflation might help but not it it overinflates the air chambers and causes damage. Adding a piece of plexiglass or even stiff plywood (doesn't last) will increase rigidity. Slide it under the foam.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Some of us are using molded plastic chair seats to create the rigidity and the seat width we need for comfort. The firm chair back helps too, especially if you are tall or have a back problem.[/#0000ff]
[signature]

[duffygould]

well thanks for all the input there. Oh and to answer a few questions... I'm about 6'1" and only 165#. I've checked out the foam inserts in the seat and I do have them inserted the correct way demonstrated in the instructions. I'll have to try to find some plexi or something to insert on the bottom or just throw in a seat for rigidity. I'll do some experiments next week and post the results. Thanks everyone!
[signature]

[mojorizing]

I'm going to third the CHECK YOUR AIR PRESSURE idea. That's the only thing I can think of is underinflated toon's will fold up inwards towards the seat. You could be as small as me (120 lb and 5'1") and it would still collapse inwards.
[signature]

[TubeDude]

"You could be as small as me (120 lb and 5'1")"

[cool][#0000ff]Which leg?[/#0000ff]
[signature]