Float tube storage?

I have an ODC 420 tube, which is brand new in the box. I don't want to keep the box as it is to bulky to store. Does anyone know if they make storage bags to fit the tube? How do you guys store your tubes when not in use?

I have a prowler and a odc420 which I keep in there storage bags but my fish cat which I use to get into hard to launch spots i let it hang in my garage.

A duffle bag will get the job done. I just leave my tube in the bed of my truck with the cover closed...

.:LOLLY:. wrote:A duffle bag will get the job done. I just leave my tube in the bed of my truck with the cover closed...

Nice, your tube is on call 24/7!

You never know when there might be an emergency LOL

Hey dude welcome to the site!


My old tube I used to leave in my truck BEFORE I had a tonneau cover. I had a long cable wire that I'd wrap around it and lock it up so nobody could steal it....although a knife to it would be a lot worse in my opinion.




Now with my ODC 420 I have been really taking care of my tube, waders, fins, rods, etc. after EVERY trip. IT takes a lot of discipline but if you get into the habit of rinsing everything off after every use you will feel confident with your gear.


So I rinse mine off and hang my waders up inside the garage and the tube goes outside and is hung up underneath an awning in the back yard (so the sun doesn't get at it). This allows it to dry pretty fast as well. From there I'll either keep it hanging up till I need it or I'll put in my truck like Lolly does in case an : emergency arises" lol.

One thing I recommend with the ODC is to keep a SAFE amount of air in the tube if you plan on hanging it up. Unlike the Fish Cat the bladders on the ODC aren't connected in ny way to the shell of the tube....if you hang it up the bladders "sag" down and it can bea pain inflating it the next time around.


Make sure you only keep a small amount of air in it if you plan on doing this....as the outside temperature can cause your tube to inflate/deflate at a pretty fast rate.



Some of my buddies have a big tupperware container for their tube. I do this for my waders/fins/booties and it would work perfectly with the tube if you find one big enough. Makes it better to come back from the water with so water doesn't leak all over your truck/car/suv etc.


Kinda got sidetracked at the beginning....hope this helps

I like how you think brother!

My tubes hang in my Garage as well just clean and hang dry. They are partially inflated but watch it in the summer or hotter months as it will inflate on its own. But a storage bag will work just the same.

I have been following the forum for a while without posting but thought I would jump in on this one.

My float tube hangs, partially inflated in the garage for the winter season. This morning it was -22F. It probably would have shattered if I took it down.

Enjoying the vicarious tubing from your warmer climates

Dennis

-22F

We will think warmers days for you

We will think warmers days for you

I appreciate that!

Not intending to deflect from the theme of this thread, we do try to push the season as much as we can up here. Fishing the ice edge so to speak....

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Dear Northernfly,

I have a Waterskeeter too. I'm a big dude and it is the only thing I could find that will float me properly.

Lot's of people have given less than glowing reviews of the Waterskeeter, but I am really happy with mine.

What are you fishing for in the picture with the ice in it? Years ago I fished a couple of ponds in Colorado right at the tree line just after ice out in July. The fishing was good but even while wearing neoprene waders I could only stand to be in the water for about an hour or two before I was numb.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

I have two duffle bags.. When I get home, I rinse my waders, fins waders and so on. I hang dry then fold them neatly and store them in the bags. Works for me

Hi Tim,

I generally use breathable waders with several layers underneath including long underwear and fleece lined pants. I find keeping my feet warm to be the biggest challenge.

Last week we were fishing in water that was 53-55F at the surface and we were in the water for up to four hours at a time.

Cheers
Dennis Nazarenko

Tim Murphy wrote:Dear Northernfly,

I have a Waterskeeter too. I'm a big dude and it is the only thing I could find that will float me properly.

Lot's of people have given less than glowing reviews of the Waterskeeter, but I am really happy with mine.

What are you fishing for in the picture with the ice in it? Years ago I fished a couple of ponds in Colorado right at the tree line just after ice out in July. The fishing was good but even while wearing neoprene waders I could only stand to be in the water for about an hour or two before I was numb.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Storage? I am a fanatic who has carefully nursed a fleet of Wood River tubes into old age. So, always DRY, DARK, COOL, controlled temperature about 65F, hanging without creases in the basement from the rafters. NEVER dry in the sun. Fan indoors or in the shade in the ever blowing IA wind.

I also have a odc 420 and creek company makes a bag just for the odc 420 I keep my waders and fins in there too although most of the time I leave my odc hanging with some air.



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How do you guys keep your float tubes stored at 65F-75F in your garages, here in SoCal??
I can construct a galvanized pipe or wooden dowel rack to hang and store my new Outcast Fish Cat 4 Deluxe but the summers get pretty warm and so does the inside of my garage.

Shade, hanging and dry are not the problem .... is the heat going to be a problem for the longevity of the float tube??
My garage starts to feel like an oven when the temps outside reach about 90F+.

Should I be concerned about the heat during the summer storage??

Dan

I am in So Cal (Orange County) I have never put my tube away it hangs in the garage year round. I hang mine slightly filled with air at all times. Of course during the summer I check on them from time to time and if they feel with air..... and they will, simple let out some air. I have been storing my tubes like this for the last 10 to 15 years now, with no problem. Of course that is me no guaranty's

SP Dan wrote:How do you guys keep your float tubes stored at 65F-75F in your garages, here in SoCal??
I can construct a galvanized pipe or wooden dowel rack to hang and store my new Outcast Fish Cat 4 Deluxe but the summers get pretty warm and so does the inside of my garage.

Shade, hanging and dry are not the problem .... is the heat going to be a problem for the longevity of the float tube??
My garage starts to feel like an oven when the temps outside reach about 90F+.

Should I be concerned about the heat during the summer storage??

Dan

I live in the IE and we get quite a few days at 95 or more. It is a bit warmer than Pedro gets. The tube itself will be just fine. I had my old doughnut style for 20 years or so, the rubber innertube would go bad every 6 years or so.
I keep mine in the garage  on a wood shelf. I do leave it partially inflated. No problem for 2 years with my Cumberland.

My 2 cents.......had my cumberland hang from rafters in my garage, upside down, partially inflated, using a cargo net and open eye hooks going on four years in the OC. When transporting, use cargo net over pickup bed.

Just make sure it good and dry before you store it. I find that between the tube and the bottom seat is where you will find sand, vegetation and moisture collecting. And at least once a year I remove the foam seat and backrest and clean. Just water from the hose, no soap.

Its one of the items I have listed on my burial...........GT

Yup, like everyone mentioned...i hang mine in my garage half inflated....days that are hot i check it more often as the heat makes it expand......BAM!

Another person in agreement with just hanging it up and letting it dry.
I mostly fish freshwater so I'm not as concerned with salt and the issues with it on everything.

But I do try to rinse off my tube, waders and fins as I leave the water. And then hang everything up. If it's a hot day I might spin things around that day. But usually in a day or so I'll rotate or flip the stuff around to help it all dry out.

And I also try to leave about 1/3-1/2 filled with air to help maintain it's shape. I'm not sure it helps but I do it anyways.

My garage gets well over 100 degrees in our summers but I haven't had any problems with longevity (that I know of).

I have packed my float tube and related equipment in a large duffle bag for a good amount of time. But I find it a waste of time when I'm using it once or twice a week and it takes a good day to dry.

I have a double car garage with presently only on car at this time.
I have released 1/2 the air from all the baffles and set it down directly
on my garage floor.
I figured that it was the coolest and smoothest storage surface location in my garage.
I think that I'll skip the duffle bag and the hanging from rafters styles of storage.

Thanx for all the great input everyone!

SP Dan <"))><