Inflatable Kayak Blog

By Guest Author, Victoria Adams

A float tube or Belly boat is an inflatable flotation device used in fly fishing. They are basically a seat for a fisherman to sit in while he fishes a lake that is inaccessible by boat, and they generally allow a fisherman to fish more area on a lake than he would from a boat. Float tubes are also better for the environment because they are man powered by using a pair of fins or flippers, rather than gas powered. They are economical and come in a range of prices as low as $60.00. They have a compact portability fitting into a space no bigger than your average back pack. They can go from packed to lake worthy in less than 15 minutes depending on the type of air pump used. Many different styles offer different storage options, so where ever you go, your gear can go with you too.

One of the basic styles of float tubes is The Round Boat Float Tube made by the Creek Company. It looks like a doughnut with a back rest and a seat in the center. It is made of a 14 gauge PVC main bladder and has a separate backrest bladder; the outer cover is heavy duty 420 denier nylon, with a 20” interior diameter and 3 pockets for gear storage. It’s like having your own personal foot powered yacht. With its 225 lb capacity and fishing rod holder straps you don’t have to worry about losing anything to the water.  Its 6 pound weight makes it very portable and enjoyable to use on any lake fishing trip.

A different option would be to go with a U style boat like the Original U-boat Float tube, also made by the Creek Company. U style boats have an easier accessibility due to the open front style so there is no stepping into it. The tension straps keep the boat from collapsing on the water. The 14 gauge PVC main bladder and separate backrest bladder seat you higher above the water and give you a better maneuverability when you are on the water. The side pockets and one large rear top pocket give you plenty of storage space for everything you will need so you don’t have to get out of the water, multiple rod-holder straps for hands free use. It has a weight capacity of 275lbs, and weighs about 7 pounds so it is very packable. It is also designed to be carried on your back fully inflated so you can switch lakes without having to deflate it.

A pontoon style float tube is another option you could take when looking for stability, visibility, and safety as comfort and portability. The Kennebec Pontoon Float Tube has some very nice features like a Hydrodynamic hull shape for maximum stability, buoyancy, and tracking. It has a unique sculpted design, and a high back stadium seat with adjustable backrest for support and comfort. The horizontal rod holder assures that you’re not going to drop your rod as you get in or out of the lake, and the roomy armrest storage with additional pockets are a bonus for keeping other things as well as your gear in, plus the additional rear storage pocket and exterior mesh storage pocket make it easy to pull a day trip out on a lake. The Kennebec has a weight capacity of 300 lbs it has a 48” width and a 54” length. It is heavier than the Round boat at 12.75 lbs, but still reasonably easy to maneuver to those remote area lakes.

Shopping for a float tube can be difficult in some areas of the country. Float tubes for fishing are often easier to find in online stores than even the big outdoor sports retail outlets. All of the fishing float tubes I’ve mentioned in this article are available online at PortableKayaks.com.

Whatever style you choose; wherever you go fishing a float tube is a fun, affordable, comfortable way to enjoy and relax in the water. Always remember to fish responsibly, legally, and safely. Follow the proper channels find out if float tube fishing is allowed on the venue you choose to take, clean up after yourself and leave the environment as undisturbed as possible. There are some videos on YouTube that show some examples of fishing from a float tube, if you want to check them out.

Thank you, and happy fishing.

With varying gas prices and economic changes over the past year, a trend has developed toward more portable and economical fishing crafts. If you’ve been considering a move in that direction, Creek Company is making the decision a little easier. This holiday season (through 12-31-09) they’re offering some really big discounts on all of their float tubes and several of their inflatable pontoons. Some of these discounts are up to 40% off the regular prices.

Float Tubes: The Original U-Boat is only $79.99 ($50 Off), the U-Boat Super Combo, with pump and fins, is only a penny more ($80.00)! The very popular ODC 420 Lightweight Combo that also includes pump and fins is just $200.00 ($89.99 Off) and it qualifies for Free Shipping.

Inflatable Pontoons: The ODC (8 Foot) Sport XR is marked down to $349.99 ($50 Off) and the ODC Super Sport XR is just $399.99 ($100 Off).

Creek Company has been designing innovative watercraft for over 20 years. This is a great time to purchase one of their excellent quality inflatable pontoons and float tubes for fishing.

For those of us who don’t live in the sun belt, there’s a time of year when kayaking is not an option because of the weather conditions. We call it the “off season”. A customer, who lives in Michigan, recently purchased a PakBoat folding kayak hoping he might have time to get out on the water only to fall victim to an early rush of winter. He asked what to do about the new boat he received and I suggested that he should try to assemble it indoors just to see if all the parts are there and they fit together correctly. A quick inspection of the surface will also turn up any defects. That’s a good idea no matter what type of product you purchase in the “off season” or the “on season”. It’s always disappointing to get your inflatable or folding kayak or portable fishing craft (i.e pontoon or float tube) out to the water and find that you’re missing a small part like a valve cover or wing nut that might keep you out of the water. Check it out ahead of time. Also, especially in the case of a folding kayak or inflatable pontoon, it’s a good idea to practice the assembly so you know what to do when you’re ready to hit the water.

The “off season” is often a good time to buy a kayak because of manufacturer’s discounts, clearance pricing and holiday gift specials. But remember to check out your purchase before you use it. Most of the time everything fits together and all the parts are there. But, if not, you’ll be happy you inspected your purchase instead of standing on the shore wishing you had.

Often, in the process of shopping, there comes a time when I like to jot down the specs of the items I’ve been looking at so I can review them side by side. That way I can make a more educated decision when I finally make my purchase.

If you are shopping for any type of portable watercraft, most of that work is done for you at PortableKayaks.com. We’ve listed all our boats … inflatable kayaks, folding kayaks, inflatable fishing boats, pontoons and float tubes on our Product Comparison page. They are broken down into separate categories and all of the pertinent specs are listed in easy to follow charts. You’ll find the width, length, carrying weight, weight capacity, material specifications, assembly time and other important specs that you can use to make your decision. And every model number is linked to it’s full product page for easy navigation. So if you’ve been searching for a portable fishing craft or folding or inflatable kayak review page, check out the Product Comparison Charts at PortableKayaks.com.

Occasionally I get a question about the ways to find leaks in an inflatable kayak, pontoon or float tube.

Probably the best way to find a small leak in any type of inflatable bladder is to mix up some dish soap and water and spray it on the bladder, watching closely for bubbles where the air is escaping. It sometimes takes awhile to notice where the problem is, but it does work. I read somewhere that adding some glycerin to the soap solution will give you better “bubble retention”. The writer used a formula of 1/3 cup of dish soap, 1 tablespoon of glycerin and 1 gallon of water.

Another method is to fill the bladder completely and get into a large swimming pool with it, forcing it under water while looking for leaks. Only problem with this method is finding a large swimming pool you can put your inflatable kayak, pontoon or float tube into. But if you do, this method should work fairly well, too.

One other place to look for leaks is around the valves. Be sure that the valves are completely tightened. Then spray some soapy water around the valves themselves. There could be a slow leak there.