Air Bag

I've just bought my first cat, a Dart 16 and I want to take my little children (age 4&6) out on it when the weather gets warmer again. The Dart 16 is pretty tame and I'm pretty confident that I can keep it upright whatever.

The last thing I want to do is scare the little people off the water at such a young age and so I'm thinking about how to deal with a capsize if they're on board. I already have a righting bag and the boat came with a righting pole (haven't fitted it yet) 

What do you think of self inflating air bags? Like this one: http://www.sailboats.co.uk/Product~Anti_Inversion_Airbag_Mas t_Float_40L_Volume_Next_available_end_of_August_2007_KSK40.h tml

Do they slow down/stop you turning turtle? should I go for the self inflating version, the crewsaver manual inflate and hoist, or the hobie bob (air ship shape) type.

Views?

Simon
Dart 16
Hampshire

I can't see a problem with some masthead bouyancy.  The type of weather that you'll be sailing in with the kids you should be fine.  Even without them as the D16 is really forgiving and does take a bit of skill to knock them over!  The masthead bags are pretty standard in sailing schools.

You do need to watch for drifting when the boat is on its side when in windy weather.  But if its a good breeze, leave the kids on the shore and take a mate!!

I'd go for a pre-inflated bag.  The self-inflating version sounds like a bit of a scam.  You'll end up having to pay for a new one everytime you capsize.

Thanks. I think I'll get the crewsaver one. The £109 for the self inflating one was upsetting me a bit . The £20 to replace the cylinder less so because I hope never to use it! As Asok says, any more than about 12 knots of wind and the kids will have to go shopping with their mother!

This business of the boat drifting away from you worries me a bit. In another thread I read that if I can achieve zero weather helm and drop over the side, I'm going to be left in the water with D16 off to france on its own. In big boats we clip ourselves on (cruising dinghys do it too). I guess there are dangers in being clipped on too. I wonder which is the greater risk being left behind or being dragged under the water without being able to unclip?

I don't want to rely on rescue cover. Every windy weekend, whichever club you are at on this bit of coast (Weston, Warsash, Hill Head, LOS, Stokes Bay etc), you see a couple of ribs looking after a fleets of 20-30 boats often with beginners aboard. One big gust and its easy to see how inadequate the cover is.

I've sailed dinghys, yachts, and windsurfers almost every weekend since the age of 10.  I was once towed by a rescue boat after gear failure, racing lasers. I think that was the one and only time I've had help.