New to the forum☺

Hi all, my name is Terry and i hope all is well and thx for excepting me to this forum. I'm new to float tubing and live in Alberta Canada. I just bought a Fishcat 4 and love it. What are some recommendations on how to store them after use? Is there a good carry bag for when I travel from home to the lake? lastly how or what is a good wad to maintaining it? Thx for all that you guys do and I look forward to going through all the past for the knowledge you all share.

Welcome to the darkside. So lets start here I leave my float tube inflated year round. Just make sure you don't leave it completely inflated as it will fill in hot weather. If you have to deflate to store it I say its a good idea to reinflate it once a month. The reason if it sits folded for to long creases cam develope in the bladders and those will be potential weak spot to cause leaks. This is my 2 cents I will try to cover the rest soon.

Welcome to the forum therocktm2001.

I too leave my tube partially inflated. I like to have it ready to go as possible and if I have developed a leak I can see the tube loosing air on the shelf.

Great questions and welcome aboard therocktm2001!  

I also; like Jerdon and others, keep my float tubes inflated or mostly inflated; year round, probably a little bit more inflated than most.

I keep my tubes stored on my garage floor; leaning against my cabinets, and during the hotter late summer months, I’ll store them laying flat on the garage floor where it’s the coolest.
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While storing inflated in garage, when (not if) the bladder skins get tight with hot expanded air, always check your tube when the weather is warm, release the expanded hot air out thru your valves to where you can push inward on the bladders skins approx 1 1/2” or more. “Personal preference.”

I have heard in the past where zippers have failed due to the excessive air pressure built up inside of air bladders.
This has never happened to me.

I leave my float tubes inflated because I can just stuff one of my tubes into the back of my forerunner and I’m on my way fishing, anytime.

So whether you leave your float tube inflated or whether you choose to deflate it each time because of your situation ... whatever you decide to do ... it will work out just fine.

Tip [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ... Rinse off your gear and zippers with fresh water each time and allow your tube to drain and dry out completely in the shade before you deflate it for storage.

Tip [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] ... Spread Chapstick; or zipper lubricant, on all zippers to keep them lubricated and moving freely.
I fish 99% of the time in salt water and the salt water is extremely tough on all of my gear including the zippers and the bladder skins on my tubes.

I look forward to reading many fish reports from you in the near future.  

SP Dan