Thread: Inflatable Craft - Safety Precautions / Tips

Hi Fellow Bassers !

I thought I might start this thread, to get a general opinion regarding safety on the water, when using an inflatable craft / float tube.

There are some major obvious differences between fishing in a float tube than fishing from an inflatable dinghy/ rubber ducky.

First being that you can easily wear a life vest when on a dinghy / paddle boat. but when it comes to a float tube, it becomes a different ball game all together.

My main concern is, that for those who wear the plastic / pvc type waders, that litteraly stick to your body when emerged in water, when your tube gets a major puncture, you are in trouble.... getting out of a wader in the middle of a dam, could be a very difficult task, and if it takes on water, well...glug glug...

Most float tubes have more than 1 inflatable section, which could assist in keeping you afloat in times of trouble.

Here is my view:

1. Fellow bassers should keep an eye out for one another, if you can see something going wrong, before your fellow basser does, inform them. Prevention is better than cure.

2. Check your equipment thouroughly before entering the water, make sure you have at least tripple checked all valves and potential problem areas.

3. Make sure you are visible, bright colors help obviously... Orange etc.

4. Launch where you are sure there are no sharp objects in the water, which might cause a possible tear / rip in your equipment.

5. make sure your tackle, especially hooks and cranks are secured in your tackle box, as not to puncture your vessel.

Another safety / health area, where I thought I might touch on, which directly affected me at the last Murray Park event:

Dehidration:

The sun CAN kill you ! Make sure you have enough liquid to last you the day out on the water. Keep yourself hidrated, or you WILL end up on a drip.

Make sure you wear UV protective sunscreen, the sun isn't 20 years old anymore.

Do not over exert yourself, don't rush to each possible spot, you think there is fish. You can tire out quickly on the water, and land yourself in a heap of trouble. If you need a break, get out of the water, rest 30 /45 min, then get back in if you feel your body cannot tolerate it anymore.

Food:

Don't take food with you that easily spoils in the sun, like meat / chicken, the sun can make your food vrot, when you eat it, you can get sick on the water, take snaks, zaamies and other quick to eat, wont spoil in the sun foods, biltong, crisps, sweets etc...

We are there to enjoy ourselfs, not to get injured. Some of us are noobs, and are likely to make the obvious mistakes, some of us had to learn the hard way.

You can learn from these mistakes, even the most experienced fisherman.

Guys, this is an open thread, I would like to hear what advice everyone has to offer, it can only help improve the safety aspects.

Well now, there could be many things one can add here. Here are just a few based on my experience on a float tube, and an inflatable.

- Always take a small patch repair kit with you.

- Always make sure your valves are screwed in properly. Don't cross-thread the thread .... If you hear air coming out the valve once you have pumped it, replace your valve ASAP. If you're at a comp, take a plastic bag/packet, tear a piece off, place it over the valve, then screw the cap on. It helps the air from escaping a little.

- Always take your pump with on your inflatable.

- On a float tube, pumps are too big to carry on your tube. No problem! A simple inflatable tool is a piece of standard garden hosepipe. This fits perfectly into most valves, even my inflatable. Always keep a piece in your zip compartment, about half a metre long piece should do. Should you get a puncture on the water, you can keep inflating your tube using the hosepipe while you kick to the nearest bank - this might just save you! When you reach the bank, fix the leak, blow up your tube using your hose-pipe, and you're good to go again!

- Should you accidentally get a hook / lure stuck in your tube bladder, DO NOT TAKE IT OUT. Pulling the hook out will let the air out. Rather kick to the side, then only do you pull out the hook/lure, repair the hole, pump up your tube and off you go!

- Indeed, a float tube with more than one inflatable compartment will assist in you staying afloat. Mine has 3 - main U-shape bladder, and 2 bladders for the backrest. Most V-boats only have 2 bladders - one on either side of the person. Some V-boats now come out with inflatable seats and back rests too, most are still foam. Not sure if the foam seat will hold you up in the water, I am sure it will though.

- On your float tube, you could leave the top back-rest bladder deflated, and put a jersey and a lifejacket in there instead. Getting to it may be a mission though, but teach yourself where the zip is by practicing opening and closing it when in the water, so that in an emergency you know what needs to be done.

- Keep a small whistle in the craft for life threatening instances only.

- Should you find yourself in a situation, alert the closest person near you, even if you think you will make it to the bank. If for some reason you DON'T make it (valve pops out and all air comes out in 2 seconds), at least the person near you is ready to react. Don't feel guilty for disrupting his fishing - they won't mind, I'm sure of it, if you ask them for assistance.

- If your tube / inflatable is losing air during the day, but you're not sure where, keep pumping it up now and then. Then pump it up when you get home, take a solution of dishwash liquid and rub it all over your seams and valves, and then on the bladder itself. If you see bubbles, you have found your leak (like ). Most holes I have had were on the seams and valves.

- Try putting a THIN layer of PTFE tape (plumbing tape) on your threads of your valves if you suspect leaking valves.

- Try fish with waders on if possible, on a float tube. Even in summer.
a) If you're freezing cold on your tube, you may not be able to rescue yourself if you find yourself in an emergency situation. Hypothermia can't be too lekker I reckon, and can hit you before you know it. Even I eventually get cold in summer if I'm in the water for long periods of time.
b) There are many bugs and leeches in some waters / dams - bilhaerzia and other waterborne diseases are difficult to get rid of once in your system. Take care.

- Always, ALWAYS assist a fellow fisherman in distress. Next time it could be you that needs help.

- Don't drink on your float tube or inflatable . That's just looking for trouble! Nobody thinks of the poor sucker that has to try rescue a drunk - they innocent person might land up losing his own life because of the other guy's stupidity. Be responsible, or go home!

- Take a lifejacket with you on an inflatable, especially if you have kids on board. And if you're fishing alone, wear the life jacket and zip it up - if you black out for any reason without it on, you're safer with it on, than it sitting on the boat.

There are probably more tips and tricks. These are what I could think of at the time of going to print ....... hehehe

Good thread you've started here, thanx.

There are two things I'd like to add to contribute my 2 cents worth if I may.

I have as yet to purchase my float tube but within the past 2 months that I have been considering the best option for what I would like to catch up to in the water. I have decided to look for a v boat type with 2 separate bladders just as a safety precaution. If one goes there is always the other to hang on to while kicking your way back to the shore.

The second thing I would like to offer is that I always keep a sharp pocket knife on my person for those moments that you have to cut yourself loose and in thinking over a situation where you are in the water and your pvc water is taking on water, life over property is my motto. If you can stay calm enough to work your hand back into your wader after unclipping the buckles to reach the knife in your pocket, open it and use it to stab outwards as low as you can possibly get your arm into the wader and cut upward to try and release some of the resistance the wader offers by holding onto your body. The biggest hurdle to me in this situation is getting your feet out of the boots.

Easier said than done though, I hope we never get into this type of situation though but trying to think it over logically might save you or one of our fellow bassers.

Nice guys, keep the suggestions comming !

I have been thinking about this for a while...have any of you guys with pools ever climbed in with your neoprene waders and filled them with water to see if they have any boyancy.....yes you may be able to float....because a wetsuit keeps you boyant,why wouldnt the wader...

Any thoughts on this?

Problem being is that a Neoprene wader is more like a diving wetsuit than anything else, and has it's own unique boyancy factor, due to the materials it is made from. But with a PVC wader, you will suffer. It has no bouyancy whatsoever, and clings to you like glue. For those of you who also gooi die pap, you will know what I am talking about. I once fell in the water with my pvc snobee wader on, and water filled it up like a baloon, I was probably about 30kg heavier... so glug glug with a PVC wader, 80% better chance of survival using a neoprene wader.

These are some great idea, thank you for that.

It has never crossed my mind that I may get a puncture while on the water ...... I need to steal Rikkie punture repair kit from his garage ;-)

Good thread you've started, thanks. Some pretty solid advice offered here that is worth taking note of.

Is there a massive price differance between pvc and neoprene waders, thinking of the chaps that are first time buyers or would like to kit up for float tubing. If so, spend a little extra and go for the neoprene or go the path I now face wanting the safer option and having to purchase my second pair of waders.

Hi BBH,

No there is not much of a price difference between, PVC and Noeprene, but...

1. Some people might have bought their PVC wader prior to owning a float tube, using it for papgooi, so use what you have?

2. Some people do not like neoprene, it can become very unconfortable after long periods of wear / personal preference.

3. From a safety aspect, I fully agree, it will be the safer option, and warmer in winter water ! It will keep your legs warmer than a PVC wader.

4. The money aspect? Well... it all depends on the brand. You can buy a "Snowbee" Neoprene wader for double the amount of a PVC wader, also in the "Snowbee" range.

5. What is your total budget? What do you need? If you are new to the sport, you will need a few items, which limits your budget to a certain amount, and you will have to downscale in certain areas.

6. Neoprene waders don't have big 'Gum Boots" so your feet are much lighter, and kicking is easier, and doesn't make you tired too quickly.

7. You can spend millions, if your budget allowes, or spend the minimum required, and still enjoy the sport.

Totally up to you ~!