John,

The one thing I can tell you about float tubing and inflatable pontoon, the fastest you can go is really slow. I have had thunderstorms get above me before I recognized the sound in the distance was thunder and headed for the shoreline. Knowing the 3 ft. of you sticking above the water is the tallest thing on the lake is not a reassuring feeling during a thunderstorm. Winds at 104 is when you get under something substantial and hope for the best.

Several years ago, a friend and I were at Earl Park Lake on the Ft. Apache Reservation, there was a guy and his wife who got there shortly after we did. As he stepped into his float tube, it exploded. We figured he aired it up in Phoenix or some other lower altitude, as we were somewhere around 8,000 - 9,000'MSL. It's always best to wait until you get in close proximity of the lake for final inflation, a friend also learned not to leave his tube in the sun.