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Garry View Drop Down
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Posts: 536 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Garry Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Bouyancy Aids
    Posted: 04 Dec 05 at 8:13pm
You can swim very effectively in a BA if you do lifesaving backstroke.

And if you do need to swim down (rather than push yourself under the obstruction) you can always take or cut your BA off.
Garry

Lark 2252, Contender 298

www.cuckoos.eclipse.co.uk
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tgruitt View Drop Down
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Posts: 2479 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tgruitt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 05 at 12:44pm
I dont wear a wetsuit so i coudl probably do with a b/a. I need one for yacht racing anyway, still haven't decided which one yet. I just want the smallest one possible.
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hurricane View Drop Down
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Posts: 1047 		Post Options Post Options   Quote hurricane Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 05 at 11:51am

has anyone discussed the counter arguements against buoyancy aids??

one of the points i have heard and i can believe is have u ever tried to swim down with a b-aid on? if u need to do this to get from under a capsized boat clear of the ropes etc can hinder your attempt!

 
lifes to short to sail slow boats!

RIP Olympic Tornado 1976-2007
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Ian99 View Drop Down
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Posts: 138 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Ian99 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 05 at 12:41am
All Buoyancy aids really do is counteract for the weight of wet clothes. Given that wetsuits have a fair amount of buoyancy in then in themselves, wearing a buoyancy aid is possibly overkill when just wearing a wetsuit (surfers and the like don't bother).
However, if you put a thick jumper over the wetsuit because it's cold and then fall in the water, staying afloat without the buoyancy aid is much more hard work.

The smallest buoyancy aid which could provide the required 50N of buoyancy would actually be inflatable and filled with hydrogen. This would be a lot smaller and lighter than anything available today, but unfortuately wouldn't pass the tests defined in the Euro Norm as I think one involves putting a knife through it. This was what probably outlawed those incredibly comfortable red and white stripy ones with the air filled vertical tubes as favoured by Enterprise sailors in the 1980s.

Whichever buoyancy aid you buy will not be buoyant by the time it gets comfortable - my circa 1993 first generation over the head type is by far the most comfortable I own because it's now nice and flexible. The foam in it has broken down so much, if it is left in water for too long, it would sink. The same rule seems to apply to most "safety" equipment - the hi-vis vests I have to wear at work are just getting comfortable when they need throwing away because they are no longer orange but black with brake dust and grease and the reflective strips are falling off....
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Bumble View Drop Down
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Posts: 302 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Bumble Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 05 at 3:08pm

I have a bouyancy aid/harness and it has enough bouyacy to float a loaf of bread. I do however prefer it to a bouyancy aid (rated at the 500+N required to float me) with a conventional harness underneath..... This is taboo, and I don't expect people to agree with me, but I don't like wearing the aid and I don't believe it can do anything to help me in difficulty. It stops you swimming effectively when your conscious, and allows you to sink more slowly when your not.

Reading back through these posts it strikes me many people lantently feel this also....... why else would they buy (and support manufacturers to develop) bouyancy aids where the selling point is in low mass/size/bouyancy. We all want our sport to appear as safe as possible, thus encouraging new comers, but isn't anything short of a 'life jacket' just a courtesy gesture???
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Jack Sparrow View Drop Down
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Posts: 2965 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Jack Sparrow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 05 at 1:08pm
Originally posted by Guest#260

So ... now you have no idea ... seems everyone is
happy with their own choice


There speaks someone who has just been told off for having a opinion
about a commercial product
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Jack Sparrow View Drop Down
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Posts: 2965 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Jack Sparrow Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 05 at 1:06pm
My Dick Batt harness has bouyance built into the panels. it's more than
adaquate for salt water but slightly lacking in fresh. But frankly better
than any bouyance aid I have ever had. I find that they are always a
nightmare to swim in. Fine if you want to float about for a few hours but
useless if you want to swim back to the boat. I preffer to swim than float
as if I get knocked out the aid doesn't help anyway and with rescue cover
it is very unlikey to be floating for ages. And in salt it gives me enough
bouyance. I am sure that other sailmakers do similar harnesses - P&B for
instance.

Edited by Jack Sparrow
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tgruitt View Drop Down
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Posts: 2479 		Post Options Post Options   Quote tgruitt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 05 at 12:44pm
might just strap a few small pieces of polystyrene to my chest and make do!
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Guest View Drop Down
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Posts: 0 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Guest Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Dec 05 at 6:26pm
So ... now you have no idea ... seems everyone is happy with their own choice
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hydrographer20 View Drop Down
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Posts: 867 		Post Options Post Options   Quote hydrographer20 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Dec 05 at 9:47pm
Well i have a henri lloyd one which is only 1 year old so is assumed they are still in production.  But it is extremely comfortable and i do like the handy little zipper pocket incase ofcourse whilst racing you suddenly decide to pull out a sandwhich .  But wouldnt change it at all its great
byte me!- GBR 814
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