Tube packin' efficiency!!

[SHigSpeed]

So I posted up earlier about looking over the fence at the 'tooners and 'yakkers, but I thought I'd share what a well packed tube could/should look like?

I don't have a truck so cargo volume is of great concern to me...

Anyway, I've rigged my FC4dx with backpack straps that I cut off of an old pack and modified with clips. I FULLY deflate all bladders (the inflatable seat is critical in the tight pack here!) and fold in the "cones", fold over the pontoons, and fold over what's left. I can then fold up my "parcel shelf" flat, lay my stripping apron on that, and then my rod holder on top and carabiner the straps over the whole she-bang to make a nice totable package that easily fits in the trunk.

It's this aspect of tubing that is really getting me anxious about stepping up to a bigger craft...

Anyone care to share this sort of info on a small (8') pontoon boat?

Here are some pics to illustrate:








Enjoy!

_SHig
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Lookin' good. It would seem that you are gettin' serious (addicted) here.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I doubt you will get many folks showing pics of their toon stowing setup. Most either take them to the lake in a ready and aired up mode...in the back of a truck or trailer...or break them down and stuff them in a trunk or cargo section of their non-truck vehicle. Not as many creative possibilities with a toon.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Like the pack straps. If you only have a short trek to a honey hole, you can carry those tubes fully inflated with your pack straps. That is what the pack function is designed for. As long as you don't have to fight your way through a lot of brush or trees you are good to go.[/#0000ff]
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[macfly55]

[blue]TD,
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[blue]Your comment on the "lack" of creative possibilities on packing and transporting a toon brought to mind information I have found on line while looking around for options to use on the water.. whether it be a tube or a toon..

While I am not the expert on the subject I have seen what I would call the minute beginning of a trend from the manufacturers of toons.. I say minute because there are only a few on the market that I have seen.. the trend I am speaking of is one where they (the manufacturers) are selling toons that are specifically designed to be packed and hiked into wherever you are going…
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[blue]Here are a few examples..

[url "http://classicaccessories.com/product_detail.aspx?pid=53&cid=3"]Classic Accessories Arrow Backpacker[/url] - – and their [url "http://classicaccessories.com/product_detail.aspx?pid=230&cid=3"]Freemont[/url] -
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[blue]You also have the [url "http://creekcompany.com/indivdisplay.php?primaryAutoID=5&Cat=3"]Creek Company ODC 850[/url]. [/blue]
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[blue]While the the [url "http://www.outcastboats.com/outcastboats/discovery.shtml"]Outcast Discovery Trekker[/url] is not shown as packable like the previous models it is shown as being lightweight enough to be “trekked” in like a backpack.. [/blue]
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we have also had an advertiser on this site whose product (and the name escapes me for now) was a two person toon that when deflated could be rolled up and carried on the users back..

.. I know tubes in general are easier to pack and carry so to speak (you have posted pics of you carrying your old H3 and your sfc on your back via a headstrap and packstraps).. but I beleive a new "wind" is blowing in from the manufacturers that are trying to more reasonably accomodate users in tube, pontube, and pontoon markets..

I know part of an argument could be made on time needed to set up a tube vs a toon.. and in my case that would be very true. .but I have seen TN2 and his son TNtoo inflate my tube, TNtoos’ tube.. and a Classic Accessories Cimmaron (about 60% inflated while being transported) inflatable pontoon boat.. and in the case of the TN’s tube and toon … both were rigged with pvc rod holders and and in the case of the toon a pvc fish finder set up..

so I would say.. this minute beginning to a new trend is the budding of more options fishermen and women will be able to consider when making a decision on what to buy that is specific to their needs...



MacFly [cool][/blue]
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[tubeN2]

For the 10 millionth time I can say my Dad is right again.

The Pontoon is such a hassle on setup and take down that most of us Tooners would rather leave it as complete as possible just to avoid the hassle and time involved in the process.

Not to be lazy, but when possible, I will also bring my tube as close to full or at least %80 inflated just to get to the water a minute or two faster.

It is also beneficial when you plan to launch in dark hours.

That is one of the ways of Tube/Toon packing efficiency.[cool]
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[macfly55]

Never said what I used as examples was efficient.. just available.. [cool]

this is my point.. in todays business world .. any business that wants to stay competitive has to be proactive...they have to introduce new product that they feel meet the current needs of their consumers.. if a business keeps doing the same thing .. it becomes stagnant.. in this dynamic business world, if they become stagnant, they will lose business and eventually go out of business (not all but some)..

we all see how fishing, tubing, tooning manfacturers try new product all the time.. (if my memory serves me well you test some of those products)..they realize that what worked yesterday may not meets the needs of their consumers tomorrow..

my point is that as a newbie.. cursious to find new "stuff".. or think outside the box as many of us say, that while searching the net ... while out there looking for "IT".. I have found some "items" that are what I consider to be a beginning of what could be a new series of lighter weight ... more portable.. easier to use tubes, toons.. and pontubes..

have they perfected it yet.. no.. are they on their way to perfecting it.. maybe.. can we hope they will listen and perfect it.. you betcha.. []

MacFly [cool]

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[flygoddess]

[quote tubeN2]For the 10 millionth time I can say my Dad is right again.

The Pontoon is such a hassle on setup and take down that most of us Tooners would rather leave it as complete as possible just to avoid the hassle and time involved in the process.

Not to be lazy, but when possible, I will also bring my tube as close to full or at least %80 inflated just to get to the water a minute or two faster.

It is also beneficial when you plan to launch in dark hours.

That is one of the ways of Tube/Toon packing efficiency.[cool][/quote]

You are right to a point. Laziness does play into it however, just like those people that leave the shopping cart in the empty stall right next to their car instead of walking a few feet to the cart return[laugh]
Hassle to set up...yes, but so is inflating a tube, rigging up gear, and then putting waders on, followed by flippers.
We do travel and while the frames to our pontoons do stay put together due to the fact we added a deck to them, the toons are packed elsewhere.
At the water it is strap the toons to the frame and inflate...few minutes longer than pulling the Navigators out of there back pack and inflating them, but we don't have any PVC to attach, so not sure how long that takes.
There are those people that haul there float tubes and pontoons inflated to save time, but this post was or at least started out, the totally deflated, back packing models. McFly was gracious enough to point out that the Toons do come in the PACKABLE stage also.
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[macfly55]

...[] I would not say gracious enough as much as ... curious enough to be out on the net all the time looking around and stumbled on some new stuff that I thought might be interesting to the folks on this site.. [sly]

MacFly [cool]
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[tubeN2]

I still say that I am not lazy. Just Blonde. Duh.

I would seriously like the backpacking style.

I am currently working on another type of quick setup for my toon.

Pokymon got a chance to see mine when he was out here last time. It does hold a lot of beer too.
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[flygoddess]

I hear the seats on those packers is nice. The mesh seats.
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[smallmouth89]

[quote flygoddess]I hear the seats on those packers is nice. The mesh seats.[/quote]

Surely you jest!
God Bless,
Don
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[tubeN2]

They must be nice. I'm sure I may get into one of those in the near future.[cool]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]If you are used to wearing pantyhose, mesh might be okay.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have been wearing pantyhose ever since my wife found that pair in the back seat of my fishing car.[/#0000ff]
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