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Now I got a new Fat Cat. [  ][  ] Can't wait to try it out. Those D rings that are two on each side and four on the bottom for the back straps, how do u get the PVC (rod holders) tied to the FC?
Airing the tube, the manual shows the hand pump I kinda like that. Where do u get one like that? I would only fill it up at home with the big air compressure but when something happens far from home, lung power boy that would knock me out, what do u have? I did try the lungs for the first time to get an idea about it.
Son has the ODC 420 and me the Fat Cat so I'm gonna see how they compare with each other.
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You can get the Double action Pumps at Walmart for pretty cheap. If it has the Halkey Roberts valves, you might need a little rubber hose. The Halkey adaptors are great however if you can find them.
Careful with the compressor. I think I would still top it off by hand.
Good tube and enjoy...need pix
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[black][size 3]If you are using a compressor to pump up your craft, I would be a little concerned. Along with the air, a compressor will also input water and oil into the bladders. the water is not a concern, but I would be a little worried about the oil. Petroleum products do not always act well with bladder materials.[/size][/black]
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[size 3]Like FG said, the cost of a double action hand pump is relatively small. [/size]
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[size 3]It has always been my practice to top off my toons on site. Changes in altitude and temperature can pop a bladder in short order.[/size]
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[size 3]It is good to always transport and store your craft partially inflated.[/size]
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[cool][#0000ff]I think you will enjoy the Fat Cat. Lots higher seating, more pocket space, better maneuvering in the wind, etc.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Here are some pics of the valve adaptor you should have, if you don't have a piece of the plastic tubing to attach to the air pump. Also a pic of the two way pumps. You can find those almost anywhere inflatables are sold...including Walmart.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As has been suggested, do not use a power compressor. Too much opportunity for damage to the air chambers.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I am attaching a picture showing how I attach the rod holders to my Fat Cats, using the two D rings below the pockets. You will also notice that I cut grooves in the bottom of two of the tubes into which I fit a bungee cord that I tie between two of the D rings on the underside of the tube. You can also tie a piece of bungee cord to each of two tubes, with an S hook on the bottom, to stretch over to the underneath D rings. This is better and the way I do it now. I managed to find a picture that shows how that works.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You do need some kind of support to keep the bottom secure or your rod rack will flop around the the rods will lay over on top of you.[/#0000ff]
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(but I would be a little worried about the oil. Petroleum products do not always act well with bladder materials. )
Last time I drank some oil my bladder and everything else didn't feel to well[ ][ ][ ]
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I think you mistyped the site, the site you posted is a Greek newspaper i think.
FF462
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Yep, try [url "http://www.nrsweb.com"]www.nrsweb.com[/url] . that should work better
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Wasn't sure what that really looked like so I looked it up and yep it is the Halkey Roberts valve. Looked in NRS and yep they have it all and that air gage, I think I like that too.... (cut and paste...allowed?) [url "http://nrsweb.resultspage.com/display.php?p=R&srid=S2%2d2&lbc=nrsweb&w=Halkey%20Roberts&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2enrsweb%2ecom%2fshop%2fproduct%5flist%2easp%3fdeptid%3d1113&rk=3&uid=686574420&sid=2&ts=custom&rsc=R-jbi9SkabNvlHyx&method=and&src=champ"] ![[Image: 1709t.jpg]](http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/assets/prod_img/1709t.jpg) [/url] Shop Category: [url "http://nrsweb.resultspage.com/display.php?p=R&srid=S2%2d2&lbc=nrsweb&w=Halkey%20Roberts&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2enrsweb%2ecom%2fshop%2fproduct%5flist%2easp%3fdeptid%3d1113&rk=3&uid=686574420&sid=2&ts=custom&rsc=R-jbi9SkabNvlHyx&method=and&src=champ"] Pumps - Hand Pumps[/url] ... Rubber adapter molded to fit military and Leafield valves. Item# 1716.9 $4.00 2" Vinyl Hose for H-R Fill Adapters 2" Vinyl Hose for the Halkey- Roberts fill adapters. Item# 1473 $0.25 K-Pump Kwik Check Pressure Gauge The K-Pump Kwik Check Pressure Gauge takes the guess work out of boat pressure ... Related Searches: [url "http://nrsweb.resultspage.com/boating/carlson%20pump"]carlson pump[/url] | [url "http://nrsweb.resultspage.com/boating/pump"]pump[/url] | [url "http://nrsweb.resultspage.com/boating/raft%20pump"]raft pump[/url]
![[Image: spacer.gif]](http://nrsweb.resultspage.com/images/spacer.gif) [url "http://nrsweb.resultspage.com/display.php?p=R&srid=S2%2d2&lbc=nrsweb&w=Halkey%20Roberts&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2enrsweb%2ecom%2fshop%2fproduct%2easp%3fpfid%3d1719&rk=4&uid=686574420&sid=2&ts=custom&rsc=P4sKkItMqvazS2R0&method=and&src=champ"] ![[Image: 1719t.jpg]](http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/assets/prod_img/1719t.jpg) [/url] [url "http://nrsweb.resultspage.com/display.php?p=R&srid=S2%2d2&lbc=nrsweb&w=Halkey%20Roberts&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2enrsweb%2ecom%2fshop%2fproduct%2easp%3fpfid%3d1719&rk=4&uid=686574420&sid=2&ts=custom&rsc=P4sKkItMqvazS2R0&method=and&src=champ"] K-Pump Kwik Check Pressure Gauge[/url] - Item #1719 [url "http://www.nrsweb.com/default.asp"]NRS Home[/url] > [url "http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product_list.asp?deptid=1998"]Electric Pumps[/url]
... , durable gauge works on many valves, so you only need to carry one gauge. Use the regular tip on Leafield valves and use the adaptor with Summit, Halkey- Roberts, Innova and similar valves. Large, high contrast display reads from 0 - 15 psi and is easy to read in all conditions. The gauge freezes needle ...
![[Image: spacer.gif]](http://www.nrsweb.com/images/spacer.gif) Size Color Price In Stock? --------------------------------ONE GAUGE $32.75 Yes
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Never waisted money on a guage. I just sqweeze[][cool]
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Ok I see your point! No fishing today? I'm off work as there is no power as of yesturday afternoon. Big storms around here and more to come....
Pretty much floodings around here....MMMM...try the tubing on it...just kidding![sly]
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oh now you are just being a tease sis.. [sly][sly]
MacFly [cool]
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Made the rod holder as I only want for three rods. Follow TubeDude's way to hook it on. Looked good in the basement as it was sticking straight up...
While getting it worked I dried test everything to be sure it is all cutted right. Looked good and went ahead glueing it up...shoot one was way too long! I thought to stop the work until early in the morning I would run to the store for a part and have it done in time to go fishing at nine...but the glue says needs two hours of cure time. So off to the store at ten pm and got the part and finish it all before bedtime.
Got to the lake on time and test the rods....and the new tube. Noticed two of the striaght rods were just too much leaning into me in my casting way....only the angle rod was out of the way. Because I sat on it and it changes the striaght rods...
Got to redo the work again, I think that tube needs some sewing on d rings but I wonder about the air tube if that can be taken out of the cover? I thought it should had two tubes one on each side ....
Well that float tube is like a lazy boy chair! Fished for four hours and nothing to complain about it.
Fishing was pretty good but not the best day of it. Caught ten bass, small ones, ten bluegills kept five for eatting and had fun with those hard fighting channel cats, caught two of them.
Sitting high above than the old FishMaster and those carps spooked me by looking like they were swimming like sharks around me! Kinda spooky looking.
Any of you guys have the backstraps for those Fat Cats? I had one belonging to one of my other tube and used it on this one but it didn't carry it right. It felt a little heavy than the ODC 420. Fat Cat says it's weight is at 12 pounds and ODC at 16 but I left both and found the ODC lighter? Or FC was still wet?
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[cool][#0000ff]Looks like you are getting there. Glad you like your new ride. I'm sure you will like it even better once you get everything set up right.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]On the rod holders, you need to have them pointing slightly outward when the tube is fully inflated but before you sit down in it. Your weight will pull them inward. Keep adjusting them until they ride vertical while you are on the water. Don't make anything permanent until it fits right.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]What kind of glue are you using for the rod tubes? PVC cement bonds almost instantly...not two hours. But, you need to be sure that it is cut right and fits properly before glueing. Once you put it together, it is forever. If you are prone to mistakes, then some kind of slower drying epoxy might be a better idea.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]What makes you think the D rings need extra stitching? They are pretty secure. I have never had one fail.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I do not use the backpack straps. Instead, I rig a wide strap with two clips and attach it to the widest set of D rings on the bottom...as in the pictures. I can then swing the whole tube up and put the strap across my forehead with one hand...even when fully loaded (not me...the tube). TubeBabe and I have used this arrangement to haul our Fat Cats for long distances to the water, leaving our hands free to carry rods, fins, etc.[/#0000ff]
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The glue is for those PVC plumbing that I used for my remodeled kitchen and bathroom. Yes, they set right away when u put them together, yep as my buddy tells me "you only have one change and don't goof up." But the can says "two hours" so I didn't want to see what happens... I couldn't tell which end to left the tube to the back so I started with the pointy side up. Both walks in and out didn't feel right. At home I played around with it to see what works and put the pointy side down and it seems to carry it pretty good but still it was the wrong straps for it. I see your photo, pointy side down and carry it with your forehead mmmm isn't that kinda heavy on your neck or hers? I'm going to see what I have around here to test that forehead carrying idea. No, I didn't mean resew the d rings but add two more about six to eight inches down from the top's side d rings instead of using the d rings way under the boat. That was a question about getting the air bladders out of the cover to have it sewed. I can do this in off season if it can be done like that.
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I was an Electrical and Plumbing contractor for many years. The 2 hours that you are referring to is generally on the Clear medium bodied glue. That 2 hours is the time needed to cure before pressurizing.
There is no pressure on a lake. I have built some rod racks, assembled them on site at a lake, glued them and floated in less than 10 minutes from the time of glueing. I used a faster setting glue for PVC.
The rod racks are still in tact today. As long as your pipes fit correctly, you are usually good to in less than 10 minutes.
Simply assure that the parts fit, glue the inside of the female and outside of the male fitting. Assemble and give a 1/4 turn on the pipe. Repeat the steps for the remaining pipes.[cool]
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[cool][#0000ff]As with most things in fishing, it will be a matter of personal choice in how you carry your tube...shoulder straps, forehead strap or whatever. We all have different body types, levels of physical conditioning and individual likes and dislikes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The Fat Cats have only one air bladder, which fills both sides of the craft. It can be completely removed, but that involves using a special tool to dismantle the valve where it connects to the cover. I have opened the zipper all the way around and pulled the entire air bladder free for finding and fixing a couple of pinhole leaks. I was surprised to find that the air bladder is just one long cylindrical tube...and not a form shaped double bladder arrangement. It expands to fit the shape of the cover when you zip it in and air it up.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I personally do not see the need for more D rings on a Fat Cat. I have found that there are plenty for most attachments. You just need to be creative and use the ones you have. It is definitely better than the old "ringless" Fishmasters.[/#0000ff]
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On the top front of the rod holder I left the 45 degree free of pvc glue so I can turn it any way I wanted and glued the striaght last two. I was thinking of doing that for the other two, I would have to cut the already glued part and use the 45 elbow and tuck it on just like the front. I wonder if any of you guys did glue the whole thing or left the 45 elbow or whatever u did freed?
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[cool][#0000ff]I glue all of the connections on my rod holders. Don't want anything coming loose and sacrificing a rod while on the water. I do not use the angled tubes on the main rod rack. I set up separate "bait rigger" tubes for that.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I mount these on a 2" by 2" wooden block, inside the front of the pocket, which I screw into place through the fabric of the pockets.[/#0000ff]
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