06-06-2015, 11:47 AM
[#0000FF]Just to clarify...there have been on-the-water problems with float tubes. But most are caused by "thin-the-herd" mentality...or lack of mentality.
Like many tubers who fish for spiny-rayed species I have experienced pinhole leaks created from having a spiky fish (not only catfish) bounce off my tube in the heat of battle or when lifting aboard without a net. However, in virtually every case it has been a very slow loss of air and I have been able to notice it and make it safely back to shore without having to walk on water.
On the other hand, I have heard of tubers who used the surface of their inflated air chambers as a cutting board to cut bait or whatever. And, you guessed it, the knife went through and the air came out. Dumb and potentially dangerous if you are a long ways from shore in deep water.
Possibly the most dangerous times in float tubing are launching and beaching. This was especially so during the earlier days when all we had were round tubes (donuts). As my longtime friend Therapist will confirm, it was not uncommon for the donut to drop down around your ankles and topple you into the water. That often led to broken rods, waders full of water and injured dignity...especially if accompanied by fellow tubers. In some cases it almost caused drowning.
But, I can honestly say that I have never heard a verifiable account of someone flipping a tube over while out on the water...from weather or natural conditions. Howsomever...I did witness an incident in which an impatient tuber with a full bladder tried to "download" after pulling himself up on to a seated position on the back of his round tube. You guessed it. He went over backwards. Fortunately it was during the summer. The water was warm and only a few feet deep. And the "relieved" tuber was easily able to recover and get back to fishing...after he dived down to recover his rod.
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Like many tubers who fish for spiny-rayed species I have experienced pinhole leaks created from having a spiky fish (not only catfish) bounce off my tube in the heat of battle or when lifting aboard without a net. However, in virtually every case it has been a very slow loss of air and I have been able to notice it and make it safely back to shore without having to walk on water.
On the other hand, I have heard of tubers who used the surface of their inflated air chambers as a cutting board to cut bait or whatever. And, you guessed it, the knife went through and the air came out. Dumb and potentially dangerous if you are a long ways from shore in deep water.
Possibly the most dangerous times in float tubing are launching and beaching. This was especially so during the earlier days when all we had were round tubes (donuts). As my longtime friend Therapist will confirm, it was not uncommon for the donut to drop down around your ankles and topple you into the water. That often led to broken rods, waders full of water and injured dignity...especially if accompanied by fellow tubers. In some cases it almost caused drowning.
But, I can honestly say that I have never heard a verifiable account of someone flipping a tube over while out on the water...from weather or natural conditions. Howsomever...I did witness an incident in which an impatient tuber with a full bladder tried to "download" after pulling himself up on to a seated position on the back of his round tube. You guessed it. He went over backwards. Fortunately it was during the summer. The water was warm and only a few feet deep. And the "relieved" tuber was easily able to recover and get back to fishing...after he dived down to recover his rod.
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