05-20-2014, 02:51 AM
Good report and pics, CP. How did you get the air seats and how much did they cost, as they are not listed on the site anymore?
Hope my comments below are of some help.
Pon
[quote cpierce]
I was also testing out a Creek Co 420 float tube. I have others, and I prefer my NFO Renegade or my Fish Cat. But I got this one and put air seats in it so that it would pack up small and light. That way I could leave it and some backpack fins in my camper. Along with a spare pump, pfd, and some old waders, it makes a good spur of the moment lake kit.
PON: Yep,small and light. I can pack 2 of the ODCs in an airline carry on bag.
PON:The maximum pressure for good firmness is well within mouth inflation limits for the ODC. I use a tiny high volume electric pump first and then a mouth tube.
The tube was okay, but I need to do a little "adjusting" on its seat back. To be fair I feel this tube is a great lightweight alternative to the heavier more rugged V tubes. I think that you need to treat it more gently, and it will preform great for many years.
PON: I have used the same one an average of once a week for around 4 years and it is faded compared to the new ones. There have been a couple of seam leaks at the floor straps due to chafing stress, that were easy to repair. I keep it inflated and adjusted perfectly, stored in my garage with sorted parts packed in pockets.
There are a few design features that I don't care for, but they aren't really deal breakers. I dislike that the air valves are in the bottom of the pockets, and that they aren't attached to the cover.
PON: Yep, pocket air valves are a negative for 99% of people. But I can reach and adjust pressure of the 2 pontoons and my reversed bottom cushion with my mouth tube for cold water shrinkage and comfort.
As you inflate you have to push and pull the inner bladder around to make sure that the valve stays lined up with the hole.
PON: The newer designs have too small, flimsy collars around the pontoon valves for stress relief which have to line up right near the center of the square opening. I replaced them with large stiff collars cut from thin plastic dinner place mats that are very flexible and strong, giving more leeway. I also mark the zipper line on the inside bladders to make this adjustment faster and easier to line up.
It also makes it so that I can't use the pocket easily for the base of my fish finder. And I don't really care for the divided pockets. Not really a design flaw, just not my personal preference.
Then there is the seat back issue I was having. I can't keep the seat back from slipping over the back of the bottom seat cushion. That makes the back very short. I tried all kinds of configurations on the straps. I think I will try putting a strap around the bottom of the back so that it will pull the seat back bottom forward enough to stay put.
PON: I use a 2nd bottom cushion for the seat back instead of the thin one which works for me, also more comfortable than the thin.
My initial rating for the tube is 4 out of 5 stars. It does what I wanted very well. It's light, packs small, and as a v tube, it's responsive and moves through the water easily.
PON: Good summary. It rates a 5 for me, but only because this includes all the mods I've done over the years to correct some bad issues...
The lake I was on is "no motors" so I got lots of kicking experience in.
[:p][/quote]
[signature]
Hope my comments below are of some help.
Pon
[quote cpierce]
I was also testing out a Creek Co 420 float tube. I have others, and I prefer my NFO Renegade or my Fish Cat. But I got this one and put air seats in it so that it would pack up small and light. That way I could leave it and some backpack fins in my camper. Along with a spare pump, pfd, and some old waders, it makes a good spur of the moment lake kit.
PON: Yep,small and light. I can pack 2 of the ODCs in an airline carry on bag.
PON:The maximum pressure for good firmness is well within mouth inflation limits for the ODC. I use a tiny high volume electric pump first and then a mouth tube.
The tube was okay, but I need to do a little "adjusting" on its seat back. To be fair I feel this tube is a great lightweight alternative to the heavier more rugged V tubes. I think that you need to treat it more gently, and it will preform great for many years.
PON: I have used the same one an average of once a week for around 4 years and it is faded compared to the new ones. There have been a couple of seam leaks at the floor straps due to chafing stress, that were easy to repair. I keep it inflated and adjusted perfectly, stored in my garage with sorted parts packed in pockets.
There are a few design features that I don't care for, but they aren't really deal breakers. I dislike that the air valves are in the bottom of the pockets, and that they aren't attached to the cover.
PON: Yep, pocket air valves are a negative for 99% of people. But I can reach and adjust pressure of the 2 pontoons and my reversed bottom cushion with my mouth tube for cold water shrinkage and comfort.
As you inflate you have to push and pull the inner bladder around to make sure that the valve stays lined up with the hole.
PON: The newer designs have too small, flimsy collars around the pontoon valves for stress relief which have to line up right near the center of the square opening. I replaced them with large stiff collars cut from thin plastic dinner place mats that are very flexible and strong, giving more leeway. I also mark the zipper line on the inside bladders to make this adjustment faster and easier to line up.
It also makes it so that I can't use the pocket easily for the base of my fish finder. And I don't really care for the divided pockets. Not really a design flaw, just not my personal preference.
Then there is the seat back issue I was having. I can't keep the seat back from slipping over the back of the bottom seat cushion. That makes the back very short. I tried all kinds of configurations on the straps. I think I will try putting a strap around the bottom of the back so that it will pull the seat back bottom forward enough to stay put.
PON: I use a 2nd bottom cushion for the seat back instead of the thin one which works for me, also more comfortable than the thin.
My initial rating for the tube is 4 out of 5 stars. It does what I wanted very well. It's light, packs small, and as a v tube, it's responsive and moves through the water easily.
PON: Good summary. It rates a 5 for me, but only because this includes all the mods I've done over the years to correct some bad issues...
The lake I was on is "no motors" so I got lots of kicking experience in.
[:p][/quote]
[signature]