Need leaky float tube advice

[JBplusThuy]

I got my float tube out of storage today after a long hiatus today (since last year) and inflated it. To my dismay, one of the two bladders will go from solid to feels-like-a-down-pillow in 30 minutes.

I haven't yet taken it out of the cover to look for the leak, and before I invest any time into that (and into finding my patch kit; it might be at my desk at work for some reason :p) I wanted to get the opinions of seasoned tubers here as to whether I should bother trying to find the leak and patch it (tube is 3 years old) or just assume that at this age it will leak again soon and just:

A) Order a new bladder

-or-

B) Replace it with a low-cost pontoon boat, which has the advantage of being able to put my trolling motor on the rear deck. I think I know what Leo will say to that one already :-)

Thanks!

Jonathan

[Michael J. Searl]

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. 

[JBplusThuy]

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.

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.

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.

[Jesse Denton]

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.

[Michael J. Searl]

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.

 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.

The Outcast tubes have a 5 year guarentee, and I would imagine Creek Co. would be similar.