01-29-2003, 05:18 PM
[cool] How many times I gotta tell you kids? You put too much air in those balloons, they gonna pop. I know, because I have proved it myself.
There have been more than a few donuts pop their seams due to the law of physics that says air expands when it gets warmer. Whenever you air the tube up tight, in cool surroundings, and then leave it in the sun...or a hot room, there is the potential for disaster. I was toolin' down the road, on the way home from an early morning trip one time, and didn't think to let some air out of my craft before putting it in the back of my vehicle. The hot sun beat down on it, through the back windows, and all of a sudden it sounded like I took a hit from a missile. Took me a few seconds to restart my heart, get my rig running straight down the highway again and to check for damage in my "laundry".
Another time I brought in a tube from the cold garage, aired it up tight and let it sit in my hall, ready for a fast getaway the following morning. After it had been sitting in the heated house for awhile I started hearing a POP...POP...POP. It sounded like someone throwing rocks against my door so I went to look. Just then, the rest of the stitches on the cover cut loose and it resigned from active duty.
In Arizona, it is not uncommon to launch in 80 degree morning temperatures ...for both air and water...and then have the air temp rise to a hundred by mid morning. If your craft swells too much in the hot sun, you could be walking back to shore. Split air bladders don't allow you the same time to beat a retreat as a slow leak. Hasn't happened to me, because I watch it closely, but I "heard tell" of it happening to another guy last year.
So, Tomegun, my friend, watch what you are doing when airing up your tube. Don't be watching the young girls. Remember...an old dog doesn't need new tricks.
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There have been more than a few donuts pop their seams due to the law of physics that says air expands when it gets warmer. Whenever you air the tube up tight, in cool surroundings, and then leave it in the sun...or a hot room, there is the potential for disaster. I was toolin' down the road, on the way home from an early morning trip one time, and didn't think to let some air out of my craft before putting it in the back of my vehicle. The hot sun beat down on it, through the back windows, and all of a sudden it sounded like I took a hit from a missile. Took me a few seconds to restart my heart, get my rig running straight down the highway again and to check for damage in my "laundry".
Another time I brought in a tube from the cold garage, aired it up tight and let it sit in my hall, ready for a fast getaway the following morning. After it had been sitting in the heated house for awhile I started hearing a POP...POP...POP. It sounded like someone throwing rocks against my door so I went to look. Just then, the rest of the stitches on the cover cut loose and it resigned from active duty.
In Arizona, it is not uncommon to launch in 80 degree morning temperatures ...for both air and water...and then have the air temp rise to a hundred by mid morning. If your craft swells too much in the hot sun, you could be walking back to shore. Split air bladders don't allow you the same time to beat a retreat as a slow leak. Hasn't happened to me, because I watch it closely, but I "heard tell" of it happening to another guy last year.
So, Tomegun, my friend, watch what you are doing when airing up your tube. Don't be watching the young girls. Remember...an old dog doesn't need new tricks.
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