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This is sorta a repeat report by me from a few years ago.
I luv my Cumberland ...
but she's not perfect.
I believe that a Cumberland is superior to all other float tubes out there for dimensional sizing and comfort. For being light weight and it has the BEST attached built-in dbl-zippered storage pockets and behind the seat storage out there!
It also has the beginnings for best and strongest DIY lap-tray design out there, see mine for an example.
Where Cumberland falters is in it's lack of quality material, where it's needed the most.
But it is still much lighter than most other FT's and with a few DIY's, IT CAN NOW BECOME THE BEST FLOAT TUBE out there, hands down!
No flimsy, weak lil" stilt-like tray legs or stripping aprons would work-out for me and the larger game fish.
My BIGGEST COMPLAINT IS THE FABRIC MATERIAL USED ON THE (2) TWO HEMISPHERICALLY ROUNDED BLADDER END-CAPS!
SO HERE'S MY SIGNATURE DIY TOUCH ...
NIB ... today 7-23-2020
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Inflate and stretch bladder skins over night.
Next day, deflate, shake bladders in the direction needed to get a good rounded end-caps.
Re-inflate the bladders, I use Isotope Alcohol and a linen towel to scrub the fabric on the two (2) end-caps and allow a few minutes to evaporate (dry), mask-off your desired area and spray applicate per the manufacturers recommendation for your own proper sprayed-on rubber coverage ... this is mine.
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I use "Flex-Seal" ... as seen on "TV".
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NOTE: ... this works best if you keep your float tube inflated all the time. Deflating it will cause the stretched FT fabric to shrink back to it's normal size and it could possibly pull-away from the hard formed rubber. just saying!
Note: VERY Important ... immediately after reaching your desired sprayed-rubber thickness and coverage ... remove all of the masking while the rubber is still wet and or weak (not running, moving or flowing) but still surface-wet enough to tear or rip-it while removing all of the masking tape.
NOTE: VERY Important ... DO NOT be tempted to touch the sprayed-on rubber for at least a couple of hours or best not until the next day.
And SHE'S now ready for her MAIDEN VOYAGE!
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Thank you everyone for checking out my DIY Cumberland improvement.
SP Dan
I luv my Cumberland ...
but she's not perfect.I believe that a Cumberland is superior to all other float tubes out there for dimensional sizing and comfort. For being light weight and it has the BEST attached built-in dbl-zippered storage pockets and behind the seat storage out there!
It also has the beginnings for best and strongest DIY lap-tray design out there, see mine for an example.
Where Cumberland falters is in it's lack of quality material, where it's needed the most.
But it is still much lighter than most other FT's and with a few DIY's, IT CAN NOW BECOME THE BEST FLOAT TUBE out there, hands down!
No flimsy, weak lil" stilt-like tray legs or stripping aprons would work-out for me and the larger game fish.
My BIGGEST COMPLAINT IS THE FABRIC MATERIAL USED ON THE (2) TWO HEMISPHERICALLY ROUNDED BLADDER END-CAPS!
SO HERE'S MY SIGNATURE DIY TOUCH ...
NIB ... today 7-23-2020
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Inflate and stretch bladder skins over night.
Next day, deflate, shake bladders in the direction needed to get a good rounded end-caps.
Re-inflate the bladders, I use Isotope Alcohol and a linen towel to scrub the fabric on the two (2) end-caps and allow a few minutes to evaporate (dry), mask-off your desired area and spray applicate per the manufacturers recommendation for your own proper sprayed-on rubber coverage ... this is mine.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
I use "Flex-Seal" ... as seen on "TV".
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
NOTE: ... this works best if you keep your float tube inflated all the time. Deflating it will cause the stretched FT fabric to shrink back to it's normal size and it could possibly pull-away from the hard formed rubber. just saying!
Note: VERY Important ... immediately after reaching your desired sprayed-rubber thickness and coverage ... remove all of the masking while the rubber is still wet and or weak (not running, moving or flowing) but still surface-wet enough to tear or rip-it while removing all of the masking tape.
NOTE: VERY Important ... DO NOT be tempted to touch the sprayed-on rubber for at least a couple of hours or best not until the next day.
And SHE'S now ready for her MAIDEN VOYAGE!
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Thank you everyone for checking out my DIY Cumberland improvement.
SP Dan
lol
