Buying a float tube

Which one, and how much? I prefer one that is round, so if I have a problem
with it, I can replace the tube. Is that sound reasoning? Do the U shaped
boats have float problems? I live in Las Vegas, and most rubber items dry
rot here, so that's a consideration.

What are essential things to get on a float? What brands and models are
good? What is a good price?

Have to get a new one, cause my wife wants hers back ............

Steve

SteveB wrote:
Which one, and how much? I prefer one that is round, so if I have a problem
with it, I can replace the tube. Is that sound reasoning?

No. Tube punctures should be extremely rare.

The V-boats are the best if you are going to use fins or if you're
floating through streams with very shallow riffles. The doughnut-shaped
boats are best when you're using them without fins, to walk through
soft-bottomed water. Silver Creek is a perfect example.

The V-boats are much easier to get into and out of.

I recommend Buck's Bags, a fine Idaho company. They make very high
quality tubes for a fair price.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

SteveB wrote:
Which one, and how much? I prefer one that is round, so if I have a problem
with it, I can replace the tube. Is that sound reasoning?

No. Tube punctures should be extremely rare.

The V-boats are the best if you are going to use fins or if you're
floating through streams with very shallow riffles. The doughnut-shaped
boats are best when you're using them without fins, to walk through
soft-bottomed water. Silver Creek is a perfect example.

The V-boats are much easier to get into and out of.

I recommend Buck's Bags, a fine Idaho company. They make very high
quality tubes for a fair price.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

I'd recommend a U boat over a round, it does everything a round tube can do
only better.

U bladders are low pressure (3# max) and can be instantly repaired with tape
that's usually furnished with the tube.

More important, your selection of fins. The longer, narrower ones like
snorkeling fins are the best, the kind that go on the side of your boot and
supposedly propel you foreward are worse than useless.

Personally, I have a Caddis. Love it.

HTH LC



"rw" wrote in message
m...
SteveB wrote:
Which one, and how much? I prefer one that is round, so if I have a
problem
with it, I can replace the tube. Is that sound reasoning?

No. Tube punctures should be extremely rare.

The V-boats are the best if you are going to use fins or if you're
floating through streams with very shallow riffles. The doughnut-shaped
boats are best when you're using them without fins, to walk through
soft-bottomed water. Silver Creek is a perfect example.

The V-boats are much easier to get into and out of.

I recommend Buck's Bags, a fine Idaho company. They make very high
quality tubes for a fair price.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

I suppose I had better give a little better information, as I have been
getting input on conditions I do not fish under.

I always fish at small lakes. When I stream fish, they are small, and I
wear hip boots. The ingress at these lakes can be rocks, ramps, mud, sand,
everything.

I have seen lots of these on ebay. Some seem to be pretty good deals, and
there was one that just sold for $54 that didn't even have a tube or
backrest bladder. Guess you just have to read the fine print. And then the
seller has 36 negatives! duh.........

I think that if I go with a brand name, and then just shop for price that I
will be okay. Just trying to nail it down before I spring for one.

Thanks again.

Steve (Wolfgang's malicious armed fisherman)

I suppose I had better give a little better information, as I have been
getting input on conditions I do not fish under.

I always fish at small lakes. When I stream fish, they are small, and I
wear hip boots. The ingress at these lakes can be rocks, ramps, mud, sand,
everything.

I have seen lots of these on ebay. Some seem to be pretty good deals, and
there was one that just sold for $54 that didn't even have a tube or
backrest bladder. Guess you just have to read the fine print. And then the
seller has 36 negatives! duh.........

I think that if I go with a brand name, and then just shop for price that I
will be okay. Just trying to nail it down before I spring for one.

Thanks again.

Steve (Wolfgang's malicious armed fisherman)

On Thu, 8 Jul 2004, rw wrote:

The V-boats are much easier to get into and out of.

And I believe they are safer. Just last week a friend of mine in a donut
in shallow water got his leg turned in a position where he could not
extricate himself without the aid of another angler. In a V-boat you can
free yourself using only your arms.


I recommend Buck's Bags, a fine Idaho company. They make very high
quality tubes for a fair price.

I'll second that recommendation. - Mu
__________________________________________________ _____________________
\ Mu Young Lee
remove all dashes and underscores in reply address

On Thu, 8 Jul 2004, rw wrote:

The V-boats are much easier to get into and out of.

And I believe they are safer. Just last week a friend of mine in a donut
in shallow water got his leg turned in a position where he could not
extricate himself without the aid of another angler. In a V-boat you can
free yourself using only your arms.


I recommend Buck's Bags, a fine Idaho company. They make very high
quality tubes for a fair price.

I'll second that recommendation. - Mu
__________________________________________________ _____________________
\ Mu Young Lee
remove all dashes and underscores in reply address

Mu Young Lee wrote:

On Thu, 8 Jul 2004, rw wrote:
I recommend Buck's Bags, a fine Idaho company. They make very high
quality tubes for a fair price.


I'll second that recommendation. - Mu

I'll add the Wood River float tubes to the list. Excellent design, and
very lightweight.

brians

Mu Young Lee wrote:

On Thu, 8 Jul 2004, rw wrote:
I recommend Buck's Bags, a fine Idaho company. They make very high
quality tubes for a fair price.


I'll second that recommendation. - Mu

I'll add the Wood River float tubes to the list. Excellent design, and
very lightweight.

brians