[Jim F.]

After 3 years and a lot of use, my adjustable height/new-style/folding strut apron started folding-up like a wet towel, dumping my fly line over the front edge. I looked at the "old style" aprons, but don't believe those will work. So . . . I cut a plastic door-sweep to 21-1/2" & fit it inside of the front of the apron lip. I'll test drive it on the next calm day, but the front lip no longer flops-over & the apron web remains relatively flat & fully-functional. At present, I attached it with 2 large binder spring clips & removed the clip handles. If it works as intended, I'll pop-rivet it in place if the binder clips slip, but it's held pretty tight. The rubber, finned gasket laminated to the underside of the sweep will serve to protect the apron mesh from abrasion.

 

[Alex MacDonald]

for some reason I can't stand these things. I've tried them on my little `toon, and the Watermaster, but they go in the bag now. the line gets constantly tangled on them. It's probably something I'm doing wrong, but it's easier not to bother for me.

 

[Mark Mercer]

Great solution to a problem I also had and I'm sure others as well. I cut a small slit on one side in the front and slid a small dowel across the front of the apron to keep it rigid then sewed it closed, has worked perfectly for quite a few years now.

 

[Jim F.]

I thought about that, Mark, but figured I'd eventually forget & snap the dowel. Plus, I can easily remove the impromptu gusset if necessary. I reckon I'll always operate in "I see what it can do for me, now what could it do to me" mode . . .

 

[KerryS]

Love a good "MacGyver" fix.

 

[Jim F.]

Love a good "MacGyver" fix.

Me too! $9.00 & the only fabrication required a pencil, tape measure & pushing the "ON/OFF" button of my band saw. I stashed a pair of binder clip handles against future need in the patch kit I carry on the tube.

 

[Jim F.]

My McGyver apron fix works well - nothing slipped. On a couple occasions I flipped a loop over the apron that hung on 1 clamp, but that was my fault. I adjusted the padded top edge of the apron front border up a bit - makes a nice, soft rest for my rod while I'm stripping back a long cast. Outbound Short line worked well too - no more false casting when I'm in my float tube; pick it up & fire it back out. Only thing that didn't cooperate was the carp - where there were literally 100's or more in a spawning frenzy last week, there were very few to be seen today, water was up on the big flat & I was fishing blind or ahead of bubble trails. One hook-up that I lost. Water was dead calm & I quit when it started getting hot. It was still a good morning!

 

[Jeff Dodd]

@Jim Ficklin

Do you know what kind of stripping apron I should buy from Outcast? My garage sale Outcast did not come with one. I don't see pockets for the stand-up apron used on the newer boats.

I am float tube newbie!

 

[Jim F.]

I'd guess either the Commander or the Old Style apron, judging by the position of the D-rings on your tube, Jeff.

http://www.thefloattubestore.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6_24

 

[Jeff Dodd]

Thank you Jim. Cool website!

 

[Ricardo O.]

Old style looks like what I have on my Outcast.