03-07-2019, 04:45 PM
[#0000FF]I have suffered a few panfish pinhole leaks on my craft over the years too. Seems like when you try to lift a spiny one aboard it always drops off the hook and lands spines down on an exposed spot on your tube...kinda like buttered bread always falls on the buttered side.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]When I was still kicking around in a round tube I used to fashion "aprons" from Naugahyde strips and drape them over the vulnerable front part of the tube. Had a lot of spiny drops that were unable to cause damage with those simple fixes.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]Two things for you to do to find the leak. First is to take your air bladder out of the tube, air it to the max and then use a spray bottle of soapy water all over the bladder until you find bubbles. Believe me, even the tiniest pinhole will show up.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]The other potential is that you might have a bit of dirt or sand in your valve that is keeping it from making a tight seal after you air it up. Try the soapy bubbles on your valve before you strip down your tube. If a valve is leaking you can take it apart and clean it thoroughly and remedy the situation. If that doesn't work, get a replacement valve.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]Snapping turtles are not your friends...but they do seem to want to get "friendly". Over the years I have had some encounters with fresh water turtles. But also a couple of big green sea turtles. They do not bite or get aggressive but they are inquisitive. And at the "right time" of year they may be looking for love. I just tell them I have a headache.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]When float tubing in the Sea of Cortez I have had a couple of times when young seals came out from the rocks near where I was fishing. They are very playful and would swim circles around me, trying to get me to join in. But I kept a watch out for the big males. They are territorial and aggressive. They don't come out to play...but to munch.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]When I was still kicking around in a round tube I used to fashion "aprons" from Naugahyde strips and drape them over the vulnerable front part of the tube. Had a lot of spiny drops that were unable to cause damage with those simple fixes.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]Two things for you to do to find the leak. First is to take your air bladder out of the tube, air it to the max and then use a spray bottle of soapy water all over the bladder until you find bubbles. Believe me, even the tiniest pinhole will show up.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]The other potential is that you might have a bit of dirt or sand in your valve that is keeping it from making a tight seal after you air it up. Try the soapy bubbles on your valve before you strip down your tube. If a valve is leaking you can take it apart and clean it thoroughly and remedy the situation. If that doesn't work, get a replacement valve.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]Snapping turtles are not your friends...but they do seem to want to get "friendly". Over the years I have had some encounters with fresh water turtles. But also a couple of big green sea turtles. They do not bite or get aggressive but they are inquisitive. And at the "right time" of year they may be looking for love. I just tell them I have a headache.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]When float tubing in the Sea of Cortez I have had a couple of times when young seals came out from the rocks near where I was fishing. They are very playful and would swim circles around me, trying to get me to join in. But I kept a watch out for the big males. They are territorial and aggressive. They don't come out to play...but to munch.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]