Forums > Kitesurfing General

inflatable life jacket?

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Created by DutchRooster > 9 months ago, 23 Aug 2013
DutchRooster
NSW, 325 posts
23 Aug 2013 4:46PM
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Just wondering: has anyone ever tried one of those inflatable life jackets over their harness?

You know, the kind you wear on ribs www.windance.com/Onyx-Inflatable-Life-Jacket/14190/

I'd like some form of floatation insurance when kiting in some of the bigger waves, but I don't like impact vests as they ride up too much and are bulky - and sometimes you dont want too much bouyancy (ie duck diving under a wave).

Would it work? Anyone tried it?

lostinlondon
VIC, 1159 posts
23 Aug 2013 7:36PM
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These are inflating life jackets. I use one on a 40 foot yacht when I am working on the bow. They don't provide any flotation until you deploy them. They are pretty compact and I don't notice it over the top of my wet weather gear. The one I use also has a metal ring for a leash for ocean racing.

When they inflate you get a big orange or yellow balloon that pops out of the velcroed cover around behind your head (looks kind of like a Go Joe or the plane life jackets). Apart from providing buoyancy and a means of supporting your head and neck if you get knocked out I think they would be a real pain in the arse to swim a lot and sort out kite gear. You wouldn't be able to duck dive with it on.

The one on that website looks like an automatic unit - it will inflate when it is immersed in water - some use a dissolving tablet and some use a pressure switch to activate a CO2 cylinder (like a soda bulb) You would need to get a manual inflation PFD that lets you tuck the handle away, as you wouldn't want it catching on something and inflating accidentally.

One of the wetsuit majors now makes a big wave wetsuit with the same design principle as the inflating PFD - if you get held down for too long you pull a cord and the pfd inflates out of the wetsuit around the shoulders.

I think you would find it unnecessary - your wetsuit and harness provide a fair bit of buoyancy. If you are concerned about your safety in big waves I'd be taking up swimming to make yourself stronger in the water.

lostinlondon
VIC, 1159 posts
24 Aug 2013 2:33PM
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Here is a video about the invention of the self-inflating wetsuit. The unit sits inside the back panel of the wetsuit and inflates up inside the neoprene.



SaltySinus
VIC, 960 posts
28 Aug 2013 11:00AM
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That's a great idea! Especially if they can hold up to typically kiting abuse (harness, high impact from failed 'sent jumps etc. )

freedomtrail
QLD, 66 posts
28 Aug 2013 2:15PM
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this might also be an option - http://www.inflatablerashie.co.nz/



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"inflatable life jacket?" started by DutchRooster