ratherfish
Well-known member
First - is this the right place to discuss Float Tubes or am I overlooking a place?
Float Tube
- Thread starter ratherfish
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Rip Tide
Well-known member
I don't think that it matters all that much
mcnerney
Administrator
What's your question or discussion on float tubes?
Well now that all depends . Do you have a question or are you just teasing us ?
ratherfish
Well-known member
So probably 15 years ago I bought an old donut tube at a church sale. I bought some fins a couple years ago, working up to the courage (I am a very poor swimmer) I finally got the courage to use it yesterday on a very small local lake. Albeit very uncomfortable (from a male of view) I found it a most pleasant and enjoyable experience and caught fish too. One thing I discovered was when I paddled I tended to travel backwards, maybe I was doing it wrong, but if indeed you do travel backwards, why do the U style tubes have pointed fronts? I am considering upgrading....
Rip Tide
Well-known member
There are fins that will propel you forward instead of backwards, but they're not very useful.
I doubt anyone here uses them.. I know I don't
I doubt anyone here uses them.. I know I don't
mcnerney
Administrator
The old donut style float tubes don't move very well. The newer U tubes have pointed bows so that when finning you can travel a bit easier and faster, well worth the investment. If you can't swim I would highly recommend wearing a PFD while on the water. I wear one even though I can swim pretty good.
I looked for a pair of those water wings , where did you find them ?There are fins that will propel you forward instead of backwards, but they're not very useful.
I doubt anyone here uses them.. I know I don't
Rip Tide
Well-known member
They're called "Fishmaster Style Paddle Pushers"
That's funny , years ago I had a pair and they were called Water Wings . Also they were green in color . They worked good but weren't very sturdy , broke easily . I wonder if these are the new improved model ? I used them for duck hunting from a tube where I only needed to keep myself in place . I may get another pair . Thanks .
Tarpon Time
Well-known member
U shaped ones do not push water forward as much as the round ones do. U shaped lets you get closer to the fish
ratherfish
Well-known member
why are they not very useful and if you don't use them do you just travel backwards?There are fins that will propel you forward instead of backwards, but they're not very useful.
I doubt anyone here uses them.. I know I don't
Rip Tide
Well-known member
They're not very efficient. They don't push a lot of water and therefore you're not going far.
So you just go backwards and deal with it.
It's not a big thing, you get used to it real fast.
They're just not good for traveling long distances quickly they work fine for stalking fish the earlier ones I had were green and cheaply made had short straps these seem to be heavier with 13" straps Amazon has them for 39 99 and I'm going to buy a pair . Not sure what you mean by if you don't use them do you go backwards ? Is think that is self explanatory.
ratherfish
Well-known member
So if you use regular flippers and just deal with going backwards, what is the advantage to a U shape, wouldn't the back of it be comparable to a donut?
Rip Tide
Well-known member
Yes
The advantage of the open ended front is that they are easier to get in and out of.
The advantage of the open ended front is that they are easier to get in and out of.
ratherfish
Well-known member
That's where I figured you go because I looked a mess trying to get out of mine yesterday on a rocky grassy slope with my flippers on
ratherfish
Well-known member
So now I need to pick one - what is the good points and what is bad points?
Rip Tide
Well-known member
I can't help you with that.
The one that I use I found washed up in the woods (with a 6 of Bud in the pockets) after a flood.
It's the one that you'd find at the big box outdoor stores and it's barely adequate for my 220 lbs