Doughnut Questions.........

Ian M · 17 April 2011, 17:12

Not quite good enough to eat; but I have been given one of these blow up toys to tow behind Jianna. The slight problem is that the inflation valve is missing. Has anyone any experience of these things, where is a good place to go for spares for them? I have googled it, and a few places come up, but a recommendation is worth a thousand somethings

Do they normally come with a towing bridle? Any ideas on the length they are normally?
As you might have guessed, I am not clued up on these things, but having been given it the family now want to go and play on it, so I have to sort it

PeterM · 17 April 2011, 17:15

Ian , pretty sure I have a spare valve about you can have ( assuming I can find it ..)

I'll find it & PM you.. (found it now ! )

Tow ropes are 'off the shelf' as are the bridles..

They are great fun as long as you remember that in turn the inflatable will do 30+ knts when you are only doing 15 !!

Sportsstuff makegood quality ( i have 2 - one now 8 years old).

Downhilldai · 18 April 2011, 18:14

Take care when doing turns - as Pete says, the donut will build up a lot of speed and when it hits the wake, it's easy to throw the occupant out.............well, after a bit of practice, it is.

Bern Hanreck · 18 April 2011, 18:57

I could be wrong here but you may also need to check your insurance

bosun · 18 April 2011, 19:04

When I was young and daft(er) I had a 16 foot concorde with a 115 suzi on the back,one day we were towing my mate in a donut who insisted that he wanted to see what it was like flat out (50 knots)
We came round a bend in the Cleddau river from Llangwm towards Lawrenny (You were allowed to plane up there in those days) and hit rougher water,We then watched fascinated as the donut hit the first wave ,took off ,flipped over and dumped him from about 12 feet in the air.
On the basis that we were flat out and turning and he was on the outside of the wake, god knows how fast he was going.
He came up gasping and seeing stars,funnily enough he didn't want to try that again.
Lucky will didn't kill him really.

Ribshop · 18 April 2011, 19:44

Hi Ian, most of the time these use our 24mm inflation valve http://rib-shop.com/prodtype.asp?PT_...ageHistory=cat

If im wrong you can always send it back.

Downhilldai · 18 April 2011, 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by bosun

(You were allowed to plane up there in those days)

Happy days.

Bigmuz7 · 18 April 2011, 22:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

the donut will build up a lot of speed and when it hits the wake, it's easy to throw the pilot out

I fixed your post

Ian M · 21 April 2011, 21:13

Thanks for all your help and advice guys, and an especially big thanks you to PeterM, who not only gave me his spare valve, but delivered it in person. Thanks Pete, you are a diamond. Sorry I could not be here to meet you in person.
Well with the thing now inflated, you can see that it is HUGE. I can only just get it diagonally through my garage door, and I can get a disco in there!
One further question for those who know about such things - I have made up a bridle to go between the towing eyes on my transom, but I am not sure whether I should allow the tow rope to slide free along the bridle, or be fixed in the middle of the bridle. I cannot figure out which would be best, any ideas

Downhilldai · 21 April 2011, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian M

I have made up a bridle to go between the towing eyes on my transom, but I am not sure whether I should allow the tow rope to slide free along the bridle, or be fixed in the middle of the bridle. I cannot figure out which would be best, any ideas

You need to have the tow rope attached to a pulley rolling along the bridle rope.

PeterM · 21 April 2011, 22:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

You need to have the tow rope attached to a pulley rolling along the bridle rope.

No problem Ian. Yep as DHD says pulley is best but a fixed bridle will work .......( i use a fixed ) ... DHD - hows the canoe ? All OK ?

Crusher · 21 April 2011, 23:01

Blimey! And some say size doesn't matter! that certainly is a whopper! I have played with dome donuts in the past but never even seen one that big!
Be great if u can get some video of it in action!

Downhilldai · 21 April 2011, 23:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterM

DHD - hows the canoe ? All OK ?

Still in the bag, Pete - been flat out since last weekend.

Hope to get it into action soon, .......very soon.

bedajim · 22 April 2011, 04:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian M

Well with the thing now inflated, you can see that it is HUGE. I can only just get it diagonally through my garage door, and I can get a disco in there!

You'll do anthing to kill the grass

Jim

Ian M · 22 April 2011, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by bedajim

You'll do anthing to kill the grass

Jim

treerat · 25 April 2011, 08:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bern Hanreck

I could be wrong here but you may also need to check your insurance

You are not wrong - water skis and knee boards are fine on mine but inflatable toys are excluded.

Just means we have to be carefull

Ian M · 25 April 2011, 21:30

If I was feeling less than charitable, I might say that I have found out why the doughnut, ringo or what have you was given to me. 1) it is bloody big, and 2) the floor bladder has a leak. However, as those that know me will testify, I usually allow the benefit of the doubt

The floor bladder appears to be made from a PVC material. Is there any repair method, glueing or otherwise, that stands a creditable chance of permanency? My suspicion is that the floor bladder has had it, but on the chance that someone might know better.....................