I have two buoyancy aids, my "best" one is a Delta Ranger, a comfortable Ba with a shed load of pockets. My other Ba is a basic Palm Ba, bright red with one mesh pocket.
Which is more suitable? I am inclined to think that the Palm Ba would be as with a lack of pockets surely this would mean less to snag? And being red it would show up more? I know WW specific Ba's have built in rescue harnesses but is this the only main difference? as for comfort I have yakked in the surf for hours on end in it with no discomfort anyway also I guess the adrenalin would over come any discomfort (it has done in the past).
Another reason for me to use the Palm is that I already have two Ba's do I really need a third as I NEED a dry suit.
Your thoughts Please......
Cheers
Tim
Personally, I would, and do use the Ranger, the risk of snagging on a pocket is soo miniscule and the branch would have to be sooo small it would be unlikely to hold you, a branch is far more likely to get between the straps, which both have...
I only use my Palm for K1 because it's shorter, tighter and less likely to catch on gates...
Cheers
Red.
(11-11-09 05:14 PM)redframe Wrote: [ -> ], a branch is far more likely to get between the straps,
Cheers
Red.
Oh Yuss and it did,however I was thinking more of a self rescue, not really trying to replace the ranger more so getting more use outa the Palm one, just seeing if there is any good reason why I shouldn't...If you know what I mean.
And I didn't want the colours to clash, y'know green boat green BA, red boat red BA
Cheers
Tim
Sadly Palm have stopped doing the River-Tec PFD which was one of the best WW vests on the market,
their new range does not include a front zip on any of them
If you can find anyone with a River-Tec in-stock I would plump for one of those
personally i think theres nothing wrong with the delta
i use mine for everything and have never had a problem
ive swum in it a few times on WW including low force
stick with whichever you feel suits you and spend the money saved on something else
the buoyancy aid i had 30 years ago had no pockets, rescue rings, only one adustable waist strap, no chest strap, no reflective strips etc etc and it did fine on some big water in the austria/switzerland.
the extra safety features on modern BA's are great if you are a creek boater or paddle serious water but for the most part are not essential in a big open boat ( same as a knife--who has had to use one in anger recently)
then again be prepared? how far do we go? inflatable splints? sat nav? spare clothing for the entire group?
its a question of what you are happy with
just my personal thoughts im sure others will disagree
I'm with you andy....
Cheers
Red.
(11-11-09 09:10 PM)andym Wrote: [ -> ]the extra safety features on modern BA's are great if you are a creek boater or paddle serious water but for the most part are not essential in a big open boat ( same as a knife--who has had to use one in anger recently)
Guy on t'other channel had to use one to cut out his kneeling thwart recently. Can't remember who it was.
Good ol' Bill Mason used a homemade one by the looks of things and he swam a plenty.
(11-11-09 09:10 PM)andym Wrote: [ -> ]its a question of what you are happy with
I'd agree with this one also. As always with personal safety, what one paddler accepts as a suitable risk others may think reckless. How far you are willing to compromise is a very personal choice.
Mike
(11-11-09 09:45 PM)WillowMagnet Wrote: [ -> ] (11-11-09 09:10 PM)andym Wrote: [ -> ]the extra safety features on modern BA's are great if you are a creek boater or paddle serious water but for the most part are not essential in a big open boat ( same as a knife--who has had to use one in anger recently)
Guy on t'other channel had to use one to cut out his kneeling thwart recently. Can't remember who it was.
Hi Mike,
That'd be a pruning saw, not a knife...
When on WW, I think you'll always find a pruning saw under the right hand side of MaryMary's, and since she told me about it, my, Yolk......
Cheers
Red.
(11-11-09 10:02 PM)redframe Wrote: [ -> ]Hi Mike,
That'd be a pruning saw, not a knife...
When on WW, I think you'll always find a pruning saw under the right hand side of MaryMary's, and since she told me about it, my Yolk......
Oh dear, less than a week as a gramps and my brain is failing...
Thought it might have been the serrated side of a rescue knife ... but I've read so much lately that its all rolling into one ... need more
and then I have more excuses for my failing memory
Mike
LOL, you certainly deserve more...
Cheers
Red.
In a WW environment a chest harness can be very useful for implementing rescues
Dope on a rope
![[Image: 2802584541_002fc7304e.jpg]](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3132/2802584541_002fc7304e.jpg)
![[Image: 2803430220_e423b07e45.jpg]](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3122/2803430220_e423b07e45.jpg)
It will also serve as a belay harness for rescues in gorges or to extricate a paddler from a poor location.
If you ever want to do a WWSRC you will need a BA with a chest harness
(11-11-09 09:10 PM)andym Wrote: [ -> ]personally i think theres nothing wrong with the delta
spend the money saved on something else
the buoyancy aid i had 30 years ago had no pockets, rescue rings, only one adustable waist strap, no chest strap, no reflective strips etc etc and it did fine on some big water in the austria/switzerland.
the extra safety features on modern BA's are great if you are a creek boater or paddle serious water but for the most part are not essential in a big open boat ( same as a knife--who has had to use one in anger recently)
then again be prepared? how far do we go? inflatable splints? sat nav? spare clothing for the entire group?
its a question of what you are happy with
just my personal thoughts im sure others will disagree
Andy, I agree there is nothing wrong with my Delta, in fact we took ages and a couple of canoe shows to choose them for open boating. Just that I was thinking that when we camp with the CCC at Mordiford I use my Delta for runs (dry) and the Palm for mucking about and getting wet, I was thinking of carrying on this theme for WW and apart from the chest harness couldn't think of any noticeable difference between a WW BA and a standard one so long as it was comfortable. Further more with the Ranger being stealth
green and the Palm being
red I guessed that it would stick out more. As for saving up the readies I want.....no let me rephrase that I NEED a dry suit and the wonga not spent on any thing will be going towards that.
Cheers
Tim
This was a good thread, I hadn't even realised such things existed as BAs with harnesses.
Yet more to go on the list ... I'm sure someone said that this paddling malarkey was inexpensive...
new smiley just for this occassion ...
Mike
Care needs to be taken when considering such things as knives on adventure activities. There is a tendency to be influenced by the civil discouragement of them, when they can be a boon in there proper place.
Elsewhere, there is an article about a teenage girl who was seriously hurt on Kielder water when her dingy capsized and she became tangled in the rig. Her father drowned trying to rescue her from under the boat.
Remember a knife can often be handy as a piton on slippy banks or as a belay in rivers. If you do not have one, you can often manage without. There can be a time when it becomes critical.
There is a fashion to store knives between the floats of BA’s that is against the ribs. It is not really a good idea to have solid objects against bone as this can contribute to injury in the case of a hard knock.
Regards
Care needs to be taken when considering such things as knives on adventure activities. There is a tendency to be influenced by the civil discouragement of them, when they can be a boon in there proper place.
Elsewhere, there is an article about a teenage girl who was seriously hurt on Kielder water when her dingy capsized and she became tangled in the rig. Her father drowned trying to rescue her from under the boat.
Remember a knife can often be handy as a piton on slippy banks or as a belay in rivers. If you do not have one, you can often manage without. There can be a time when it becomes critical.
There is a fashion to store knives between the floats of BA’s that is against the ribs. It is not really a good idea to have solid objects against bone as this can contribute to injury in the case of a hard knock.
Regards