I need some help/advise. In the late '70's, my father and I helped the
owner of the Wood River Company design a float tube specifically for larger
guys (both my father and I were over 6'3" and 250 lbs). We tried a number
of prototype designs, offered suggestions and ideas and after a number of
months, we received the finished product. They were identical float tubes
with all of the design features that we wanted and were tubes with a larger
volume than any currently in his product line. He named the tubes "Bull
Riders". We had "Bull Rider #1" and "Bull Rider #2"...the first two
produced. I don't know if they ever made it into his product line or not.

After almost 50 years of fly fishing together, I lost my father to heart
failure exactly two years ago. Our tubes have seen a lot of use and we've
caught a lot of fish using them. Both are in great shape except for the
bladders. While they still hold air, they are in danger of cracking. I
would like to replace the bladders and be able to continue the "tradition"
by taking my grandson float tube fishing with me...with him using his great
grandfather's float tube (when he gets big enough g). There is so much
nostalgia associated with these float tubes that I want to keep them both
operational. My tube has a lightweight bladder and my fathers a heavier
bladder (inner tube rubber thickness). The float tubes look similar to the
"Gliderider" by Wood River that I have seen advertised in the past. Our
tubes are in a similar color and design but are larger versions. It's my
recollection that the bladders in our tubes were merely the same bladder as
the smaller float tubes. We just inflated them more.

I have been advised that the Wood River Company is out of business (although
I still see some Glideriders advertised by some shops). Is the company out
of business? If not, do they have a web site and/or how can I contact them?
If they are out of business, does anyone know how to contact the former
owner or a company representative? Does anyone have a suggestion on
replacing the bladders on our tubes? I'm assuming they are probably the
same bladders used in the Gliderider...but am not 100% sure. I'd like the
air filler tube to be in the same position so that I don't have to alter the
float tubes. I'd like to keep them as original as I can. Any
help/suggestions would be appreciated !

Thanks
Barry
Hiouchi, CA