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redback View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote redback Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Bouyancy Aids
    Posted: 31 Jan 07 at 11:35pm
If you look at the Higher & Faster video you'll see Peter Greenhuagh wears a trapeze harness with a panel in the back that is about 1cm thick and 1/3m by 2/3m in area.  I like the look of that since a) the panel extends down below his waist and b) it can't ride up.  I'd say that is a very effective bouancy aid and virtually snag free.  Can somebody work out the number of Newtons?
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Offshoretiger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jan 07 at 11:55pm
Not without knowing whats in the panel, no 
...yesterday I couldnt spell enginner...now I are one!......
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Post Options Post Options   Quote 49erGBR735HSC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Feb 07 at 10:32am
My magic marine harness provides me with enough bouyancy, and I would happily sail with only the harness on as it allows me  to swim quicker and less restrictive to my movement. However, I can't be bothered with the hassle of explaining this fact to most sailing clubs, being in chance of breaking the rules and the responsibility of a very young sailor seeing me not wearing a bouyancy aid, thinking its alright not to do so and copying me and not having any bouyancy as they are not wearing a harness. I see my bouyancy aid as a necesary evil and whenever judging a situation, I always judge it from the worst case scenario and in that instance, a bouyancy aid gives me slightly more confidence. My aid has draw chords at the bottom which loop and are tied through my trapeze spreader bar as it prevents the aid from riding up. Would be quite easy to retro-fit an aid without the draw chords, like some of the new high cut aids to achieve the same purpose. 
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Post Options Post Options   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Feb 07 at 11:45am
What happens when you're cat sailing and the boat goes turtle and your underneath?  Your bouyancy aid lifts you into that flat trampoline and can potentially trap you there.......Thanks bouyancy, good job. 
Whether the bouyancy is placed relative to your front back or side, it can still cause issues as well as solve them so we may aswell try to make them as comfortable and least restrictive as possible.
To me, a harness integrated bouyancy aid sounds to me like an ideal prospect and getting knocked out is just another issue that we contend with when we choose to sail or not. 

Lets just hope mr health and safety doesnt come along and ruin our sport.  If the H&S department get a look in, we'll all be wearing full bouyancy suits, looking like a bright orange michelin man

Doug
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Post Options Post Options   Quote jeffers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Feb 07 at 1:22pm
Originally posted by turnturtle

 

good concept redback, but surely this be garuanteed to float you face down in the event of being knocked-out? 



TT if you want to float face up when unconcious wear a life jacket that is what they are designed to do. Bouyancy aids are design to help you float thats it!

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Post Options Post Options   Quote WildWood Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Feb 07 at 2:10pm

I've windsurfed without a buoyancy aid for years and have never found that I lacked buoyancy.  It's pretty standard practice not to wear on when windsurfing - not entirely sure why... maybe it's because we're such crazy guys... although I believe it is supposed to be more to do with how it affects waterstarting.

I guess the reason you need to wear them for dinghy sailing is maybe because of liability.  Race organises need to specify a minimum standard of saftey equipment to ensure they aren't liable if something goes wrong.  When windsurfing unless you're racing there isn't anyone else who can be held liable so it isn't an issue because as already said, a wetsuit does provide adequate bouyancy, especially when also wearing a harness.

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Post Options Post Options   Quote 29er397 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Feb 07 at 4:55pm
Originally posted by jeffers

Originally posted by turnturtle

 

good concept redback, but surely this be garuanteed to float you face down in the event of being knocked-out? 



TT if you want to float face up when unconcious wear a life jacket that is what they are designed to do. Bouyancy aids are design to help you float thats it!

Paul


I think i'd rather have no bouyancy aid at all than something thats going to garuntee my body is floating face down when unconcious. Fair enough its not sepcifically designed to keep your face up but it may aswell be as safe as possible. Theres no point in having something floating you if its going to drown you anyway, i think it should cover a middle ground between praticality and saftey - they seem to have done pretty well on design so far.

I might be wrong but i thought that on the higher and faster DVD they are wearing B' aids but underneath their rash vests?

I personally hav never had an issue with my henri lloyd one riding up at all. its seems to fit just fine. Could this be more to do with people not finding the right size for themselves?
 

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Post Options Post Options   Quote jeffers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Feb 07 at 9:58am
Originally posted by 29er397



I personally hav never had an issue with my henri lloyd one riding up at all. its seems to fit just fine. Could this be more to do with people not finding the right size for themselves?
 


That is a very good point. When I go out to buy one I take forever trying them on to ensure I get one that fits me well and is comfy. I used to have the P&B copy of the Gul Garda but was forever having to pull the zip up round the course and reattach the velcro straps. I now have one that goes over the head and has a wide webbing strap on it to keep it tight to the body. I get full movement and a bouyancy aid that moves with me.

Take time when buy, I see a lot of people who turn up and just grab the first one that takes their fancy.

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Post Options Post Options   Quote BBSCFaithfull Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Feb 07 at 10:25am
I would be more than happy not to wear one! I dont when windsurfing and its fantastic! But yes it would be a bad example to set to young kids! Maybe an age should be set when you don't have to wear one. Say 18?

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Post Options Post Options   Quote English Dave Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Feb 07 at 3:12pm
Originally posted by WildWood

I've windsurfed without a buoyancy aid for years and have never found that I lacked buoyancy.  It's pretty standard practice not to wear on when windsurfing - not entirely sure why... maybe it's because we're such crazy guys... although I believe it is supposed to be more to do with how it affects waterstarting.

If you fall out of a dinghy it can sail on without you, leaving you stranded without anything to hold onto. If you fall off a board the rig falls into the water and it stops pretty quickly. You then have 100+ litres of foam slab within arms reach which is more buoyancy than any PFD. Waterstarting is actually easier with a bouyancy aid. Being slightly higher in the water gives you a better angle for applying MFP and you can fly the rig higher, which is useful in waves and light breezes. The main reason w-surfers don't wear them is that they make you look a bit geeky. Oh, those crazy guys!

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