float tube question

gonefishn · 10-18-07, 09:09 PM

If you were going to buy a float tube, would you get a round or "U" shaped model? What are the advantages of open as opposed to closed front?

skibum · 10-18-07, 09:23 PM

Most people think of the u-shape as a pond or stillwater tube and the round for moving water.. To each his own I guess.. I've used a round tube for years and never had a problem with it. Except this one time I somehow managed to wrap my foot around the line and no shallow water to help me out of the tube to fix the problem.

Anyone else have thoughts on the U-shape??

Gatorbyte · 10-18-07, 09:33 PM

The U shape is less stable in fast water, but i see plenty of people use them. I just recommend going with quality as in a Buck's Bags. They are more duarable and have a little more room.

nu2trout · 10-19-07, 07:03 AM

I had similar questions when I started thinking about tubes, and the answer I was given was do a search for tubes on the board and you should get plenty of information.
I personally like my BPS tube, round, and have had a few times where I thought I was going to tip over but did not. I am not so sure I would have stayed dry (from the waist up) had I been in a U tube.

My only issue with the BPS tube is the seat. My first one had been in a box for about a year before I bought it from the swap shop and the stitches busted after some pretty vigorous use. I took it back and they exchanged no question. I now have a new one and it is doing the same thing. I am sure they will exchange this one as well.

GB has a Buck's Bag, as do some others, and they may be able to attest to some better quality.

Good luck and what ever you decide to get you will be amazed at how much it opens the water up to you. I LOVE mine!

Jack Hise · 10-20-07, 10:37 PM

gonefishing;
Whatever you decide on consider the strength of the cover. I recently sold a Wood River Stealth Rider with 1000 denier Nylon all round. Almost indistructable! Some tubes have a heavy underside cover and a lighter top cover which may not hold up well when running into a overhang.
I also suggest a cheap pair of dog collars to be used as tethers for the flippers. Chasing a lost flipper around a lake with only one on can just about kill the rest of the day! I put the dog collar around my ankle with a loop of paracord tied to the flipper strap.
Mine was a V tube and very easy to propel around a warm water pond.
You may want to take a look at some of the tubes Scadden has to offer.
Another tip, put the flippers on AFTER getting the tube in the water and sitting in it.

Bows2Bones · 10-24-07, 06:10 AM

As skibum said, the general rule is a u-shape for ponds/lakes and round for faster water. I've used a round tube for about 8 years, the same one actually, and never had a problem. Knock knock.

A friend of mine just bought a u-shaped tube and absolutely HATED it. It sat too low and got water in his waders. There's no feeling of support when trying to move around in it. I'm constantly resting on my elbows on the bow of mine, which he couldn't do.

My original tube, bought at Bass Pro, has a real inner tube, like a bike, and I've never once had to put air in it. However, I recently replaced my 2nd tube with the $69 White River tube at Bass Pro and it has this gray inner tube that appears stronger but will not hold air. Twice I've had to go back to the store after losing too much air before getting in the water. My buddy has a battery operated pump that's great to keep in the car.

My vote is definitely for the round.
Good luck.

nu2trout · 10-24-07, 07:05 AM

I have an air compressor I use to pump my tube up with, but Gatorbyte has this awesome little multi purpose double action pump he uses. He said it was about 15$ and it allows him to have a little more room in the car going and coming from the water. I would definitely look into one of those as well. It takes about 2 minutes to completely inflate the tube wince it pumps on the up and down stroke.

gonefishn · 10-24-07, 07:22 AM

I will definitely get a round tube as I didn't think the U boat would be as stable in the bow for a larger guy. With the colder weather coming on us I think I'll wait until Spring to get the tube. Only $300 more to save up and that shiny new fishing kayak will be all mine!!

trout slim · 11-13-07, 01:38 PM

I've also been looking into getting a float tube, mainly for fishing the Hooch, and was wondering if the fins are necessary for floating. I can understand in a stillwater pond or lake you would need them to propel yourself, but is there any advantage to using them on a river?

skibum · 11-13-07, 02:07 PM

Fins help more to move you from one side of the river to the other.. Sure in some slow sections you can kick to speed things up. Just dont plan on doing it for very long.. Another often used item is a dustpan.. I've even used flip flops

10-18-07, 09:09 PM	#1
gonefishn Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Athens, Ga Posts: 1,433 Blog Entries: 4	float tube question If you were going to buy a float tube, would you get a round or "U" shaped model? What are the advantages of open as opposed to closed front? __________________ tracy "Everyone ought to believe in something; I believe I'll go fishing."

10-18-07, 09:23 PM	#2
skibum Hall of Fame Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Duluth, Ga Posts: 3,448	Most people think of the u-shape as a pond or stillwater tube and the round for moving water.. To each his own I guess.. I've used a round tube for years and never had a problem with it. Except this one time I somehow managed to wrap my foot around the line and no shallow water to help me out of the tube to fix the problem. Anyone else have thoughts on the U-shape?? __________________ Dennis C...""Giving Trout everywhere a sore lip!!""

10-18-07, 09:33 PM	#3
Gatorbyte President Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 7,608	The U shape is less stable in fast water, but i see plenty of people use them. I just recommend going with quality as in a Buck's Bags. They are more duarable and have a little more room. __________________ "Laughter is my drug of choice" - B. Nelson, HSD, AA, BS, MS, LPC, LMHC, NCC, FFF CCI, ACI, TAG, OPP, OCD, ADHD, ODD, PIB, MIB, PBR, PB & J " I didn't know you could spell a number. " - The Dutchman

10-19-07, 07:03 AM	#4
nu2trout Native Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Metro Atlanta Posts: 4,204	search I had similar questions when I started thinking about tubes, and the answer I was given was do a search for tubes on the board and you should get plenty of information. I personally like my BPS tube, round, and have had a few times where I thought I was going to tip over but did not. I am not so sure I would have stayed dry (from the waist up) had I been in a U tube. My only issue with the BPS tube is the seat. My first one had been in a box for about a year before I bought it from the swap shop and the stitches busted after some pretty vigorous use. I took it back and they exchanged no question. I now have a new one and it is doing the same thing. I am sure they will exchange this one as well. GB has a Buck's Bag, as do some others, and they may be able to attest to some better quality. Good luck and what ever you decide to get you will be amazed at how much it opens the water up to you. I LOVE mine! __________________ Far better it is to dare mighty things to win glorious triumphs even though checkered with failure, than to take ranks with those poor spirits who never enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.

10-24-07, 06:10 AM	#6
Bows2Bones Stocker Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 17	As skibum said, the general rule is a u-shape for ponds/lakes and round for faster water. I've used a round tube for about 8 years, the same one actually, and never had a problem. Knock knock. A friend of mine just bought a u-shaped tube and absolutely HATED it. It sat too low and got water in his waders. There's no feeling of support when trying to move around in it. I'm constantly resting on my elbows on the bow of mine, which he couldn't do. My original tube, bought at Bass Pro, has a real inner tube, like a bike, and I've never once had to put air in it. However, I recently replaced my 2nd tube with the $69 White River tube at Bass Pro and it has this gray inner tube that appears stronger but will not hold air. Twice I've had to go back to the store after losing too much air before getting in the water. My buddy has a battery operated pump that's great to keep in the car. My vote is definitely for the round. Good luck. __________________ "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Wild at Heart by John Eldredge - A MUST READ

10-20-07, 10:37 PM	#5
Jack Hise Native Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Tullahoma, TN Posts: 62	gonefishing; Whatever you decide on consider the strength of the cover. I recently sold a Wood River Stealth Rider with 1000 denier Nylon all round. Almost indistructable! Some tubes have a heavy underside cover and a lighter top cover which may not hold up well when running into a overhang. I also suggest a cheap pair of dog collars to be used as tethers for the flippers. Chasing a lost flipper around a lake with only one on can just about kill the rest of the day! I put the dog collar around my ankle with a loop of paracord tied to the flipper strap. Mine was a V tube and very easy to propel around a warm water pond. You may want to take a look at some of the tubes Scadden has to offer. Another tip, put the flippers on AFTER getting the tube in the water and sitting in it.

10-24-07, 07:05 AM	#7
nu2trout Native Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Metro Atlanta Posts: 4,204	pumps I have an air compressor I use to pump my tube up with, but Gatorbyte has this awesome little multi purpose double action pump he uses. He said it was about 15$ and it allows him to have a little more room in the car going and coming from the water. I would definitely look into one of those as well. It takes about 2 minutes to completely inflate the tube wince it pumps on the up and down stroke. __________________ Far better it is to dare mighty things to win glorious triumphs even though checkered with failure, than to take ranks with those poor spirits who never enjoy much nor suffer much because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.

10-24-07, 07:22 AM	#8
gonefishn Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Athens, Ga Posts: 1,433 Blog Entries: 4	I will definitely get a round tube as I didn't think the U boat would be as stable in the bow for a larger guy. With the colder weather coming on us I think I'll wait until Spring to get the tube. Only $300 more to save up and that shiny new fishing kayak will be all mine!! __________________ tracy "Everyone ought to believe in something; I believe I'll go fishing."

11-13-07, 01:38 PM	#9
trout slim Native Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 54	What's up with the fins? I've also been looking into getting a float tube, mainly for fishing the Hooch, and was wondering if the fins are necessary for floating. I can understand in a stillwater pond or lake you would need them to propel yourself, but is there any advantage to using them on a river? __________________ "Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another." Proverbs 27.17

11-13-07, 02:07 PM	#10
skibum Hall of Fame Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Duluth, Ga Posts: 3,448	Fins help more to move you from one side of the river to the other.. Sure in some slow sections you can kick to speed things up. Just dont plan on doing it for very long.. Another often used item is a dustpan.. I've even used flip flops __________________ Dennis C...""Giving Trout everywhere a sore lip!!""

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