I know already that some of you have no need to store yours as you are in a warmer climate , but up here we get 4 1/2 months of winter so how do you store your toon for the winter? Do you deflate it completely or leave it half full? I have had rubber waders crack when stored folded and my poncho also cracked. Is this a problem with toons? I have a fishcat which I believe is quite a good brand. Should one spray them with something like armour all or leave well enough alone.
I put 2 threaded hooks through the dry wall, into the ceiling joists in my garage, Using a few NRS tie down straps, I hung it up by the frame. It is partially deflated. This way, it is completely out of the way, safe, and secure until next season. Best Regards…
Hang my Outcast PAC 9000 in the garage on a couple of overhead pullleys By The Frame; fully Assembled and Fully Inflated. I think this is best for the pontoon. Colder temperatures in the garage in winter will make the pontoons get a little soft.
I just back my long bed pickup into the garage and lower the pontoon to go fishing.
Several times a year I scrub the pontoon down with a mild soap, rinse well and apply “303 Protectant” made for inflatables. Keeps them slick to go through the water easier and provides UV Sun Shield.
I store my toons and cataraft tubes partially inflated in a rack I build to hold them in my basement. I hang the frames on bicycle hooks from the ceiling.
I have had several people tell me to NEVER used Armor All on tubes because it has an ingredient that will break down sewn seams over time.
Practically all major manufacturers will recommend 303 Protectant for their tubes. I’ve used it for several years now and it’s good stuff!
My Cardiacs go up in the rafters of the garage softly inflated and a fresh coat of 303 on them, and the Navigator II is fully deflated and in its back pack in the storage room. I also have the Adventure Outdoors Echo which is the perma bladders and can only deflate so much, they are in the rafters along with the fully deflated H3.
All of them I put a coat of 303 on and wipe off. Keeps them soft and pretty.
FG:
I was wondering about storing my 'toon in its own backpack, until I read your post.
My ‘toon is a “Creek Company” white water rated boat that comes with it’s own backpack for hiking into remote areas, etc.
I had already, figured, that; "Since it COMES in it’s own backpack, from the factory, then it SHOULDN’T hurt to keep it in storage that, way, too!’
Since you’ve been doing it a while, with your own packable boat, safe to say, “you’ve had no problems, storing it this way??”
Paul…
I will bow to Joni on this stuff…but… the NavII of which she speaks is new…I am not storing mine in it’s pack…though that is handy…I do not believe in folding/creasing for any length of time…I think we both have the same concerns…
Thanks, a lot, D-Man!
I, also, have a lot of reservations about storing my 'toon all “folded up”. Even, THOUGH, Creek Co. told me… “Sure, no problem, it’s designed to be stored for long periods in its own backpack!”
Of course, since the warranty on my boat is long expired, I’m sure they’d “sell me a new one, because it scraked from being folded too long”!?!
I’m going with the “partially deflated, hung in garage, supported by its frame”, method!
Thanks for the feedback!
Nice, rack, Jackster!
If ONLY, I had that kind of room in my garage/shop, but that’s one of the drawbacks of having to use your garage on a ranch… too many other things need to be stored!
Well, done, on yours though, nice job!
