New RA 11 & 20 Litre Inflatible Floats.

[florfreediver]

Hi Spearos,
Rob Allen used to make a 11 liter inflatible float. This was several years ago.
However it suffered from leakage due to relying only on a latex coating inside the vinyl to air seal the system. This was problematic and caused me some headaches and thus I stopped importing.

Well, Rob and Jeremy at the Dive Factory have recently produced a 11 liter float with an internal bladder system. This is similar to the 35 liter "Hippo Float"
The bladder is so good that it has also allowed them to develop a 20 liter inflatible as well.

I have a shipment of these about to be shipped, or hopefully already en-route, to Florida.

Regards,
Mike.

[Southern Cross]

Let us know how the testing goes.

Thanks,

[florfreediver]

Let us know how the testing goes.

Thanks,

Hopefully Southern Cross, they will not require much testing.

I think they have already been well tried out in South Africa.

However, I will sell FF's first batch, at a special introductory price, to get them into the USA Market Place.

As soon as I receive, and I know their landed cost, I will post the special offer details.

Thanks,
Mike.

[FishFighter]

Hey Mike, my buddy King Neptune has one of the older 11ltr RA floats and it is brand new (never used) and it leaks. I'm sure he's gonna kick himself when he reads this. On the old floats didnt you have to remove the stem from the valve and fill the float with warm water??? What does that do? Does it react with the latex powder and form a seal inside?? Also, it appears the older floats have some form of butyl in the stem is this to prevent air leakage as well?

[florfreediver]

Hey Mike, my buddy King Neptune has one of the older 11ltr RA floats and it is brand new (never used) and it leaks. I'm sure he's gonna kick himself when he reads this. On the old floats didnt you have to remove the stem from the valve and fill the float with warm water??? What does that do? Does it react with the latex powder and form a seal inside?? Also, it appears the older floats have some form of butyl in the stem is this to prevent air leakage as well?

Hi Fishfighter,
It is the first I have heard about both ideas. ie warm water and butyl.
Maybe the water idea comes from what i describe below. As far as the valve goes, I believe that just to be a straight forward inner-tube valve.

One can stop or at least slow down the leak considerably, by pouring some diluted latex inside the float (after removing the valve stem) and rolling it aound to coat the inside with the latex.
I still have some bottles of this and King Neptune can PM me for a free bottle.
If he wishes to return the old style float I will consider trading it in on a new one.

Mike.

[FishFighter]

Hi Fishfighter,
It is the first I have heard about both ideas. ie warm water and butyl.
Maybe the water idea comes from what i describe below. As far as the valve goes, I believe that just to be a straight forward inner-tube valve.

One can stop or at least slow down the leak considerably, by pouring some diluted latex inside the float (after removing the valve stem) and rolling it aound to coat the inside with the latex.
I still have some bottles of this and King Neptune can PM me for a free bottle.
If he wishes to return the old style float I will consider trading it in on a new one.

Mike.
Thanks Mike, I think that is what he meant about the latex sealing. I'll talk to him and have him pm you tomorrow about making a trade. I have not seen the stem yet but from what he described it sounds like the valve stem is somewhat tacky inside and will not let the float fully deflate.

[florfreediver]

Thanks Mike, I think that is what he meant about the latex sealing. I'll talk to him and have him pm you tomorrow about making a trade. I have not seen the stem yet but from what he described it sounds like the valve stem is somewhat tacky inside and will not let the float fully deflate.

Hi FF,
Replacing the valve stem would not hurt and costs really next to nothing.
That latex they put inside the float sometimes screws up the valve and partially blocks the entrance.
You do need that little tool for removing the stem but that is also less than a buck I imagine.

Whilst the valve stem is out, suggest to your buddy that he takes a small diameter drill bit and dig out any latex that may be blocking the air passage, below the valve stem. Do it by hand and make sure the drill bit is a size smaller than the thread inside the valve.

Hope this helps.

Mike.

[FishFighter]

Thanks Mike.

[Tedbudion]

The latex may or may not work. But a killer solution (particularly if you don't need to deflate the float for a while) is to inflate it with tire puncture sealant spray, sold in gas stations or car part shops. It holds up pretty good, but sometime it clogs the valve. But it's best I tried so far, tip also thanks for another Durbanite, Colin Chester, who tought me.

[florfreediver]

The latex may or may not work. But a killer solution (particularly if you don't need to deflate the float for a while) is to inflate it with tire puncture sealant spray, sold in gas stations or car part shops.

Hi Ted,
Thanks for that useful tip!
Mike.

[DarenDeath]

Checking the Fl. Freedivers site, I can't find these 10-20L inflatable floats. Are they available anywhere?

[GivmeGills]

as it says on FL Freedivers website the true store inventory is'nt listed online, HOWever one call to Mike will solve this. The first time I walked in to their store was like a six yr old walking into toys r us, and on top of that Mike has always treated my friends and I first class..

[sailcrazy]

as it says on FL Freedivers website the true store inventory is'nt listed online, HOWever one call to Mike will solve this. The first time I walked in to their store was like a six yr old walking into toys r us, and on top of that Mike has always treated my friends and I first class..

:stupid: flfreedivers is the best

[grouperdude]

its always a pleasure to deal with florida freedivers... although they probably get tiered off me, since i cannt ever seem not go for less than a half hour



daren death. their site only show a millionth of there actual stock

[kjflyfish]

The latex may or may not work. But a killer solution (particularly if you don't need to deflate the float for a while) is to inflate it with tire puncture sealant spray, sold in gas stations or car part shops. It holds up pretty good, but sometime it clogs the valve. But it's best I tried so far, tip also thanks for another Durbanite, Colin Chester, who tought me.

I did this recently. It saved the day, but that's it - only one day later and the float was back to leaking.