Float Tubes

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Float tubes were originally nothing more than inner tire tubes. These donut-shaped floatation devices are used by anglers, as improvised personal watercraft, so that they are able to fish in areas inaccessible from the shore banks. They were very crude in the beginning.

They only had the inner tube with some baskets, to store things in, strapped on to the side of it. It was also very uncomfortable to be in after a few hours. They were clumsy and hard to maneuver since they were donut-shaped. This meant that there really was no front or back and you just kind of floated around and rotated with every little movement. But apparently the idea was good enough that it caught on. Pretty soon the idea was being commercialized and manufactured by big sporting goods manufacturers.

Modern float tubes are now designed with stability and comfort in mind. They are no longer donut-shaped but u-shaped or v-shaped with both sides acting like pontoons. This is to facilitate better stability. Most of them are inflatable and some also mimic inflatable chairs with back rests that are quite comfortable and suitable for long hours of sitting. This also means that the whole float tube is easily portable as everything can be deflated and folded up. Compartments for equipment and tools are now standard built-in on the arm rests, and usually there is a tray in front of the chair which acts as a table.

For propulsion, some float tubes have paddle racks so you can attach paddles or have them already as part of the package. For easy maneuvering it allows you to move forward where you are facing instead of moving like a squid. Still some require you to get your feet wet and move using diving flippers and of course your legs. An alternative propulsion method is a “paddle-pusher” or “duck fins” which are strapped to the angler’s feet and fold back when the legs are moved forward and they open when the legs are moved back which at least allow you to move forward.

Float tubes are still the best personal transport for fishing off shore since boats are too bulky too carry around, and sometimes unable to get in to smaller rivers or marshy territory.