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Hi All,
I have a Caddis Navigator U tube and was wondering what everyones thoughts are on these tubes. I have noticed that when air it up it seems to be fine, however when I get on the water the bags on the top of the pontoons slant inwards. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?
Thanks,
Kicker
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Does it have a stabilizer bar?
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[cool][#0000ff]The Navigator seat is a fabric "sling"...between the two sides. Even with a stabilizer bar, the natural tendency is for the two sides to collapse toward each other when you sit down in it. More modern (and expensive) craft...like the Fish Cats, Fat Cats, ODC 420, etc....have either foam or inflatable bottom seats that reduce the squeeze.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It may also be possible that you are underinflating your air chamber. Rigid air chambers will not fold up as much. Use an air pump to get them tight. If you are just inflating by lung power alone you are not getting enough air in the bladder.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Just be sure you do not overinflate...especially on a hot day when the air will expand even more as the sun gets higher. Also, be sure to drop some air pressure for the ride home.[/#0000ff]
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Ok, I wish that I would have known this before I bought it. [frown] [mad]
Thanks for your help!!
Kicker
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[cool][#0000ff]If you can find a piece of rigid foam, about 3 or 4 inches thick, you can cut it to fit and put it in over the other seat. That will both seat you higher and reduce the two sides pressing in on you.[/#0000ff]
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I will try that thanks.
Kicker
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as another option and along the same line as what TD said, when tn2 gave me my tube he suggested going to walmart or a similar store and look in their boating department and get one of their boat seat pads.. they are about 3 inches or so thick and have handles where you can attach them to the seat.. it raises you a little higher as TD said and it helps to keep the sides pushed out when you sit in it..
MacFly [cool]
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I will try that also, is this just a bad brand of tube or what?
Kicker
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It's not a bad brand, it's just an older design. The tubes all started off as donuts with baby slings in 'em, then went to "shaped" donuts, then u-tubes with low slung fabric/mesh seats, then to v-tubes with high rigid foam or inflatable seats. The newest tubes with the foam or inflatable seats are definitely the way to go.
The boat seat cushion mentioned above is a Class IV throwable floatation device you can find at most sporting goods shops. Not really rigid as it's made of layers of thinner foam so it bends like a deck of cards, but it helps.
_SHig
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I would like to add something to TubeDudes reply.
In order to keep the foam from slipping, you could cut a piece of that stuff RVer's use in their kitchen drawers and cupboards to keep silverware, etc. from slipping.
I don't recall the name but you can find a roll of it at Walmart. It's kind of a rubbery "fabric" that looks like a roll of wallpaper.
Hope this helps.
FT
P.S. Hey TubeDude, how do you get your fonts to appear in Blue?
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I will try all of these, thanks so much for all of your responses. I guess I will just have to get another tube in the future.
Thanks again,
Kicker
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All I can add to this is, I started off with a CADDIS DONUT. Tuff as nails because of the car tire. But heavy also.
I fly fish only and I didn't care for the donut or the "U" tubes because I sat too low and my arms were on the bags. A little hard to strip the line in with arms up. Not to mention the casting. Like trying to cast sitting on the ground versus sitting in a chair.
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