1 - Washing your float tube
At the end of a fishing day, when you take the float tube out of the water, it is important to take 2 minutes to rinse it and remove the algae, grass, soil and other contaminants that may have stuck to the boat. It is a good idea to do the same thing once you get home, this time with clean water. Washing your boat with clean water allows you to clean and above all, prevents any contamination that could be carried from one body of water to another (algae, bacteria).
2 - Dry it well
It is important to always dry your float tube before storing it for a long time, especially when it is stored in a bag, without air to evacuate the humidity. This avoids the formation of mould and the degradation of the materials.
When you dry your float-tube, you have to be careful if you put it on the ground, but you have to be even more careful when you put it in a vertical position, inflated, ideal position to dry it and to allow the water to flow out. However, in this position, its weight is only distributed on these two ends and the slightest thorn can easily pierce it.
3 - Store it
If the two previous points are well respected throughout the year, i.e. washing and drying your float-tube, the life of this one will be prolonged. But in addition to this, it is necessary to respect some rules concerning its storage.
For short term storage, during the season, the main thing is not to leave it for days in the car interior, exposed to direct sunlight. The UV rays may dull its color and degrade the PVC. It is the same with the cold, you should not leave a wet float-tube in a car exposed to sub-zero temperatures, which could make the joints work. Even for a short time, it is recommended to store your float-tube indoors, at a stable temperature.
To store a float tube for a long time, like during the winter break, it is possible to leave it folded in its bag, but the fact of folding the float tube and leaving it a long time in this position can create a weakness of the PVC at the fold. Therefore, you should not put any load on a folded float-tube, in order not to accentuate the phenomenon and to give it some freedom. The best thing to do, but you need to have the space to do it, is to keep your float-tube slightly deflated, so that it keeps its shape.
4 - Storing accessories
Regarding the equipment necessary for the use of a float-tube, such as fins, waders or the pump, I recommend to store them all together, to facilitate their transport and to avoid any forgetfulness. A big waterproof bag, on the picture below it is a 90 liters model, allows to carry all the equipment together, and to protect the car from residual water.
In addition, the purpose of this bag is to protect the equipment. Indeed, fins should always be stored flat, as they can take a bad shape if kept in a bad position. The same goes for waders, which are protected in the bag and are less likely to be pierced accidentally.
