How does cold affect a tube or toon?

[idahoron]

[font "Times New Roman"]When the weather is cold like in the freezing range will the air bladders get brittle when they get real cold? Is there a possibility that they could crack when they are inflated? If so what temp would it be ok to inflate them? Ron[/font]
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[peter805]

Thats one more good reason why NOT to go
with cheap vinyl bladders.

Peter
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[Madman25]

Cold effects everything
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[ydoc]

Well, unlike some of the more dedicated "tubers", I stop fishing out of my tube LONG BEFORE there's a chance of any freezing temperatures.

The coldest I've fished out of my tube are with water/air temps right around 40*... I primarily fish out of my tube for LMB in farm ponds and SMALL bodies of water. Here in Nebraska - the time span between air/water temps of 40* and ICE is just a matter of a week or two. If I decide to go during that time, I'll just use my boat.

That having been said... I keep my tube in the basement of my house. It's cool there, but - obviously - not "cold". What I HAVE noticed is the loss of air-pressure in the tube from the transition from "warm" basement to the "cold" air/water!

Right now I use "strap-around" rod-holders/tackle-boxes and have found that they have a tendency to slip/rotate on the tube once the "warm" tube hits the colder air, and especially after being on the colder water for a while.

I don't know about the impact - if any - of the cold on the longevity of the tube/bladders (as they actually make inflatable sleds/tubes/toboggans for sledding?), but I DO KNOW that the tube/bladders will "shrink" when exposed to the cold.

The solution to that would be to acclimate your tube to the colder conditions before hitting the cold water, and then adding air or tightening your "strap-on" accessories as necessary. BUT IF YOU ADD AIR, make sure to let some air out after you get it home to the warm air!!!

Bob


[quote idahoron][/quote][font "Times New Roman"][/font]When the weather is cold like in the freezing range will the air bladders get brittle when they get real cold? Is there a possibility that they could crack when they are inflated? If so what temp would it be ok to inflate them? Ron[/font][/quote]
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[flygoddess]

My tube/toon sits in an un-insulated garage. In fact, I had a bottle of water on my pontoon that is frozen.
YES all bladders are effected by temps. Sometimes mine looses air sometimes not and I have Urethane and right now, bladderless. My pontoon is on a trailer in the garage. It has lost some are in that you can push on the bladder, but still enough air you could float it. In other words, Urethan or Bladderless will loose some air.

As far as Vinyl, it is a little more delicate. I suggest, do not fold it, no creases. If you can leave it slightly inflated, great. Or, roll it up when it is warm.
I seriously doubt that just the cold can do any damage. I have been fishing on overnighters and woke up to frost on everything...didn't hurt the others Vinyl boats.
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[idahoron]

What I was wondering is if a guy has to fold them up for the winter because of storage space. At what temp can I unfold the inflate without damage? Ron
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[flygoddess]

Can't answer from actual experience, but I would warm them up so it would be soft and easy to unfold. I guess you could crack the bladder is you tried to unfold ice cold. Don't think I would try.
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[peter805]

If you are talking about VINYL them do your folding and unfolding in WARMER temp. Vinyl does not take freezing
temp. folding very good. When freezing cold vinyl gets
very brittle.
As to what exactly temp- don't know.
Hope this helps.

Peter
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Chemistry vs physics. Cold will not change the molecular composition of either vinyl or urethane. But, it will affect the properties of both. Almost any solid material will get more brittle in colder temperatures, and the more brittle it becomes the more likely it will crack or shatter. Try shooting some liquid nitrogen on something and then hitting it with a hammer...or bending it. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You have already been given the advice you probably expected to get. Basically it is a good idea to avoid total deflation and "hard" folding when you put your craft to bed in extreme cold condtions. Then, when you want to fully inflate it, bring it inside a warmer area and let it set for a while before full inflation.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Don't fully inflate it in the cold and then bring it inside...unless you want it to split out or explode. We found that out the hard way many years ago. Topped off a tube out in the cool garage and then brought it inside to be ready to load the following morning. Heard the sound of "popcorn" popping while watching the late news. Investigated to find that all of the interior stitching on the old donut had started popping...stitch by stitch. Live and learn.[/#0000ff]
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