Need leaky float tube advice - Bluegill - Big Bluegill2024-03-28T12:57:47Zhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/forum/topics/need-leaky-float-tube-advice?groupUrl=floattubers&commentId=2036984%3AComment%3A283442&groupId=2036984%3AGroup%3A2928&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHeed the advise of Jesse Dent…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2013-08-20:2036984:Comment:4216422013-08-20T21:11:04.170ZMichael J. Searlhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/MichaelJSearl
<p>Heed the advise of Jesse Denton, Contact the company . Explain first how much you enjoy the product , and how shocked you were to find a manufacturing defect.</p>
<p> Explaine that where you would normally return the entire tube for replacement , a replacement bladder would save Creek Co. fund overall ,and keep a customer happy.</p>
<p>The Outcast tubes have a 5 year guarentee, and I would imagine Creek Co. would be similar.</p>
<p>Heed the advise of Jesse Denton, Contact the company . Explain first how much you enjoy the product , and how shocked you were to find a manufacturing defect.</p>
<p> Explaine that where you would normally return the entire tube for replacement , a replacement bladder would save Creek Co. fund overall ,and keep a customer happy.</p>
<p>The Outcast tubes have a 5 year guarentee, and I would imagine Creek Co. would be similar.</p> I have had good results from…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2013-08-19:2036984:Comment:4212872013-08-19T00:53:43.991ZJesse Dentonhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/JesseDenton
<p>I have had good results from calling companies and explaining the issue. They may have had a run of bad valves and are waiting for you to call, but it is probably a one in a thousand. My most recent success came from writing the CEO of a company and I got what I wanted, which was for them to honor a lifetime warranty. Creek Company also has a liability issue, a customer being endangered by a manufacturing defect. Just be sure to carry and wear a pfd, it could save your life.</p>
<p>I have had good results from calling companies and explaining the issue. They may have had a run of bad valves and are waiting for you to call, but it is probably a one in a thousand. My most recent success came from writing the CEO of a company and I got what I wanted, which was for them to honor a lifetime warranty. Creek Company also has a liability issue, a customer being endangered by a manufacturing defect. Just be sure to carry and wear a pfd, it could save your life.</p> I found problem. The tube is…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-06-25:2036984:Comment:2834422012-06-25T18:33:39.702ZJBplusThuyhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/JonathanByrne
<p>I found problem. The tube is a Creek Company ODC 420L, and the problem is with the valve. Unfortunately, it's not on the replaceable-for-cheap screw in Boston valve, but the base that it screws into, which is part of the bladder. There is a hard, raised ring on that base, and a soft gasket in the screw-in Boston valve forms a seal against it. That raised ring has two indentations in it, on the outboard side, about and inch apart.<br></br><br></br>I can't imagine how they got there, it could be a…</p>
<p>I found problem. The tube is a Creek Company ODC 420L, and the problem is with the valve. Unfortunately, it's not on the replaceable-for-cheap screw in Boston valve, but the base that it screws into, which is part of the bladder. There is a hard, raised ring on that base, and a soft gasket in the screw-in Boston valve forms a seal against it. That raised ring has two indentations in it, on the outboard side, about and inch apart.<br/><br/>I can't imagine how they got there, it could be a manufacturing defect that never manifested this much before. I remember that the left bladder would very slowly lose a little air over a day's fishing, but nothing like this in the past. I've had the tube for maybe three years, haven't used it more than a half dozen times. I've found that if I get the tightness just so, it doesn't leak much, but if lateral stress is put on the valve, it will leak a lot.<br/><br/>I'm going to try using either something like JB Weld or a silicone sealer to build up those indentations. Probably JB Weld, because this in a hard plastic ridge. The only other option is to replace the bladder. At $60 for a new bladder or $200 for the cheapest Creek Company pontoon boat, I'll have to think that over if the repair doesn't work. OTOH, pontoon boats are heavy and hard to carry to walk-in places.</p> It would help considerably to…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2012-06-25:2036984:Comment:2828522012-06-25T00:36:22.501ZMichael J. Searlhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/MichaelJSearl
<p>It would help considerably to know what brand the tube is. If it is an outcast Fish Cat 4 or Fat cat model it couldn't be more than barely broke in. I gave away a couple Fish Cat"4s a couple years ago that were 7 yrs old and used heavily the first couple years. Patch kit and-or Aquaseal should have you good to go quickly. Wish you the best. </p>
<p>It would help considerably to know what brand the tube is. If it is an outcast Fish Cat 4 or Fat cat model it couldn't be more than barely broke in. I gave away a couple Fish Cat"4s a couple years ago that were 7 yrs old and used heavily the first couple years. Patch kit and-or Aquaseal should have you good to go quickly. Wish you the best. </p>