PFD safety gear

I looked at those, Greg. Only problem I could find was this:

Non-hazardous lithium. 5 year life(not replaceable).
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Finally just ordered two of these:

http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1&id=9357

Not automatic, but they use standard AA size lithium batteries.

I have to ask: is that small, yellow "flare" a smoke signal? If so, where did you get it so small. Only ones I've been able to find are the standard size; too big.
 
Aurelia":1kxvzy7x said:
I would recommend one of these in the local sun challenged region.

http://www.greatlandlaser.com/rescue-laser-light.html

I have used them along with many other methods for aircraft signaling with great success. After testing them ourselves, our rescue group was full of converts. These are not just laser pointers as they emit a flattened beam for sweeping and now include an aiming ring as well.

40 hours of day or night signalling outweighs a few minutes of pyro devices. I don't own one myself but intend to change that.

Don't forget to tether it or otherwise make it bouyant.

Greg
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This link does not work anymore, but clicking on "products" will bring up the green lasers. When I first saw these I thought I really liked the idea of having one in a ditch bag. With the recent news coverage of the laser flashings of: aircraft, news helicopters, and even WA stae ferries, we obviously know they can attract attention >>=====> Will it land us in a bad place?

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I was wondering about that as I read this thread. I was also wondering about how cumbersome a vest with so much "stuff" attached would be. Since it is "cold" here in the PNW most of the time, how about a survival jacket? Would it be too bulky, too heavy, etc.?
 
I have not tried a Float Coat. I have thought about a vest with pockets to wear under my PFD. Might be an option. I like Greg's idea of the small accessory bag below the PFD. If you have ever had on an inflatable when it inflated due to immersion, by the CO2 cartridge, you know it can be pretty abrupt. I have wondered about getting hit with a flying VHF or Strobe so like the idea of having the inflatable over top of those devices not under.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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I have a float coat. It's pretty bulky but not too bad, I can still fish in it. However it is quite warm. I can't wear it except in the winter months.
 
The pouch is not in the way or even noticeable unless I run with my PFD on which is not normal boating behavior. The self inflating pfds are not very fast to inflate. I have set a few off myself and they take about 5 seconds to inflate so there is no reason any safety gear will get thrown anywhere.
We have made a couple of updates including moving the small 3 watt VHF into the ditch kit and now carrying a Standard Horizon HX300 in its place. It was about the most compact 5 watt, floating, USB rechargeable unit I could find and has water activated lighting as well. I have been using it for over a year for kayaking and I am really happy with it.

I also replaced all three of the small water activated strobes with these.

http://www.sportco.com/store/pc/Ust-Spl ... p75598.htm

We will have to give them a quick twist now to turn them on but with Aven getting older, she is capable of doing that now.

They take a normal AAA battery, glow, flash, and make a very good task light as well so they replaced small lights we had as well.
 
YES!

Thanks Greg, good reminder. I had heard a bit of this on the news and now it's nice to get more of the story.

Seems like 9 people in a 21 foot boat, with complementary dive gear might be pushing the limit just a bit, maybe.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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hardee":2rilkf7q said:
This link does not work anymore, but clicking on "products" will bring up the green lasers. When I first saw these I thought I really liked the idea of having one in a ditch bag. With the recent news coverage of the laser flashings of: aircraft, news helicopters, and even WA state ferries, we obviously know they can attract attention >>=====> Will it land us in a bad place?
Click to expand...

No... for a couple of reasons. The lasers made by this company are specifically designed to be signalers - they fan out over distance, and therefore are not concentrated enough beyond a few feet to pose a hazard to anyone. This fanned out beam also makes it significantly easier to "paint" a target that you're trying to signal. It would be very difficult to get someone's attention with a regular laser pointer while bobbing in the water... you have to be really accurate for them to see it. With the fanned out beam, you've got a broad brush to sweep across the area of the plane, helicopter, etc.

And... the Federal law that makes it illegal to point a laser at a plane, etc has a provision that allows for signaling in emergencies:

18 U.S. Code § 39A - Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft

(c) Exceptions.—This section does not prohibit aiming a beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft, or the flight path of such an aircraft, by—

(3) by an individual using a laser emergency signaling device to send an emergency distress signal.

BTW... I personally prefer the red models due to battery life. The green model burns through batteries a lot faster. The red models still have plenty of attention-getting ability. The green beam has greater range, but the range of the red should be plenty, I think. Probably the biggest advantage of the green beam is you can see the beam itself in the air (at night) a lot easier than the red beam, and that might help you aim. Aiming with the red beam isn't horribly difficult - but, like anything, you should spend some time getting familiarized with it when you first get it.
 
Gary, thanks for your post and the info. I tried to use the "links" to get the rest of the quotes, but then discovered you just put them in blue for emphasis I guess.

Would you mind posting the source link for this:
"18 U.S. Code § 39A "

I would like to explore that some more.

On the colors; my understanding is that the green is "less" liable to be harmful if caught in the eye than the red.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/39A

Spectrum-wise, green might be a better color... I'm not sure. I'm guessing your point is that red is closer to infrared? Many green lasers actually emit a significant amount of infrared due to the internal conversion steps they go through to get to the color green.

The green lasers are generally more powerful, though, and I think that'd trump the spectrum point anyway. I have a green laser that can light a match and/or piece of paper. I'm not aware of a commonly available red laser pointer or signaller that can do that.
 
Informative link. Lots of info, sounds like the green might actually be more dangerous than the red given the same power -- has to do with the color filtration, if I understand that right.

With all the sightings by pilots they are getting pretty good at pinpointing the source, which might not be a bad thing if you are drifting around in the ocean someplace.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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