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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 |
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