DIY inflatable float

[azapa]

Hey Calla, Welcome and congrats on that excellent DIY.

I have a standard commercial cloth covered inflatable, and the bladders never lasted. I now use 14" car tire innertubes (light commercial pickups I think) they cost U$7 here new.

As you can see and imagine, getting a round inner tube into a torpedo float involves folding the tube in the middle. The result is a slightly banana shape! It holds high pressures though, and of course comes with the standard car valve so inflating is easy with a bike pump etc. I burnt a round hole through the bladder insertion flap for the valve to stick through. I must say it has held up for 6 hard months now. The original bladders would puncture every month.

Looking at the size of your float a 15 to 17" tube would be better I guess.

all good fun

[calla969]

Thanks for the idea. How do you deflate the float? Do you have to unscrew the valve stem?

[azapa]

i am normally too lazy to be honest, and just leave it inflated. but it is 100% a car innertube and valve: unscrew the plastic cap and press the little valve in with a matchstick and in 2 seconds its flat as a pancake!

[settingsteel]

Originally Posted by azapa

Hey Calla, Welcome and congrats on that excellent DIY.

I have a standard commercial cloth covered inflatable, and the bladders never lasted. I now use 14" car tire innertubes (light commercial pickups I think) they cost U$7 here new.

As you can see and imagine, getting a round inner tube into a torpedo float involves folding the tube in the middle. The result is a slightly banana shape! It holds high pressures though, and of course comes with the standard car valve so inflating is easy with a bike pump etc. I burnt a round hole through the bladder insertion flap for the valve to stick through. I must say it has held up for 6 hard months now. The original bladders would puncture every month.

Looking at the size of your float a 15 to 17" tube would be better I guess.

all good fun

Also a very cool DIY Azapa...can you post some pix.

[azapa]

hey Tone, no DIY on my part, I just fixed up a regular commercially bought Beuchat torpedo tube by putting and inner tube in it! the original posters is Mr. DIY! I would love to see that float with a tire tube.

[calla969]

I am not sure the tire tube would reach all the way into the tapered front end of the float. I finally got my hands on some polyurethane film and have some sample material coming from a manufacturer. Polyurethane is VERY tough and durable, heat welds flawlessly, and stretches enough to fill small voids. This will be the perfect bladder material. The next float will be as good or better than commercially available floats, I think. It will definitely be cheaper and custom. I'll keep everyone posted.

[azapa]

you could fill a few inches of the pointy end with that gap filling spray foam, or a worked piece of old fishing float/expanded polystyrene, the tire tube would do the rest? just a thought.

keep us posted on your adventures!

[okamotoa]

i did pm you so il post this time i am interested in either making one or willing to buy one from you for the cost of many iv found

[calla969]

I did get your PM. Sorry I haven't got beck to you. I have been very busy and will be for quite a while. I am moving to a different house and am remodeling it. I would be glad to help you build one, but do not have the time to build any more right now. Let me know if I can help.

[okamotoa]

you can just let me know when you post the directions but i like peoples idea of useing a inner tube instead. lot of positive comments and havent heard of many breaks wat do you think?

[blaiz]

another material you might try is PVC waterproofing. Its a rubber like material used to seal showers and other applications. Its thick and heavy duty. comes in roles and its sold by the foot at Home Depot and Lowes. Im not sure if its heat weldable but you can glue it using pvc glue and primer. Might be worth a try. Im not sure how the price compares to that of the polyurethane film.

awesome work btw! My girl friend is a pretty good seamstress. Might have to put her to work here soon!

[calla969]

I have been out of commission for a while but I've made a new bladder out of 10 mil polyurethane. This stuff is unbelievable! I have had the float filled as tight as I can get it for a week now with no air loss. It takes all I have to tear a piece of this stuff. It's like leather. Like I said, I've been out of commission foR a while, but I am going to test the float this weekend in the Keys.

[Newbie_spearo]

How did you weld the polyurethane? and would it be possible to attach a car valve to the bladder? my rob allen bladder exploded on me coz I left it deflated and the end stuck to itself then when inflated again it ripped a great big hole in it. I just want a bladder for my inflatable float so I don't have to lug the foam filled on with a keel weight down the 600m of stairs I have to walk.

[Mongrel454]

Looking forward to the step by step instructions and pictures
Definately look as good if not better than a store bought float

[calla969]

I used an impulse bag sealer to weld the polyurethane. They are similar to the sealer on a vacuum bagger but much more industrial. It makes a 5mm weld and has an adjustable timer for different thicknesses of material. They cost about $70. I have emailed a tutorial to a couple of people but I was going to make another one with pictures when I build the next one. Still searching for the perfect valve. I think I will use a valve called a U-Stick for the next one. You may want to consider this valve for you're float repair. I don't think you could use a car tire valve with the polyurethane.