Can anybody recommend a PFD that works well with a waist harness? Now that we ride foils we're doing much longer coast runs and sometimes mixing it with yachts and doing runs a lot further out to sea then usual. There's also the risk of light winds dropping to nothing.
Apart from being safer, I want to be seen to be doing the right thing by using appropriate safety gear. I would feel like a dick having to get rescued without having the most basic safety gear.I am currently using the Neil Pryde High Hook model. It works ok for general riding, but a hard crash causes it to ride up and it becomes a bit of a bunched up mess.
I have seen the Forward WIP vest and it looks quite good. They claim it is designed to be worn with a harness. Does anybody know if these work as claimed?
The rest of the offerings look to be simple impact vests, or more horrible life jacket style vests.
The dakine impact vests are really thick and floaty...
And designed for a waist harness with cutaway.
Their not registered pfds but float very very well.
Preferably try one on before buying - there odd sizing.
Other than that - spend a quid on an ripcord inflatable. Some pretty cool ones available.
I'm sure that there are some special designs for kitesurfing which might suit but I found the kayaking PFDs from BCF most suitable for my needs. They are rated, are high cut for hook, lots of shoulder movement.
I've only used it for the odd race now and then and was suitable. I haven't considered it for everyday use but will do me for the occasional race that requires a PFD.
And as said above, always try them on and a rashie over the top helps hide all those clips so they don't get snagged on lines.
The Forward WIP harnes is very popular here in Perth within our foil racing club.
I bought a cheapie Fluro yellow one from Action Sports in Balcatta and it works but is as ugly as sin by comparison
Never needed to worry about anything more an than impact vest in the past. But as you have highlighted - it's not hard to clock up big distances and you end up travelling a lot further out to sea.
Longer foiling sessions now see me wearing the manual inflation, slim fit life jackets the fisherman get around in. Limtied runs with it, but so far it's been fine and out of the way. One positive is they are pretty cheap and only give buoyancy when activated.
After I was given this for xmas, I did see the WIP jacket and wondered if it might be better suited.
I bought a Forward WIP just recently (Got the safety knife as well). It's well made and fits really well above my waist harness, doesn't look too bad either. Would definitely recommend one.($150, knife $20).
It also satisfies the laws with regard to wearing a PDF for inland waters.
I could only find 2 sellers in the Melbourne area, one at Mornington and the other near St Kilda, so not a lot of options out there.
It hasn't stopped my waist harness riding up a bit which I was hoping, but as a newbie I am probably not wearing the harness correctly.
I find that my harness sucks the wind out of me, am I wearing it too tight or high?
25 dollars max...blow it up if you get into strife&cut loose...
Put yr fins sunnies and zinc, water&muesli bars in the handy pocket :-)
Think they are snorkle vests
Awesome duckdiving with it on too !!!
....well it suits me anyway..simple and light :-)..and only there if you truly need it..
i use an npx pfd . In regards to a plb i have this one . self inflating ones are pointless if you get knocked out
I thought a Type 3 PFD (like NPX) isn't enough buoyancy to keep you afloat unaided - so you'll still sink if you're immobile (i.e. out cold). I'm assuming that even if if does keep you afloat when you're out - you won't necessarily be face up either?
I'm thinking that if you're knocked out in the water the outlook isn't good.
Sam
I think the laws about life jackets mean once you are a certain distance offshore they need to be either the big bulky ones or the inflatable type.
I checked on google maps where I have been getting out to in corner inlet and I'll be using one of our Solas approved inflatables.
In Feb. January is great white drop pups season in corner inlet.
I'm also trying to sort out a harness / impact vest combination. My understanding is 50 and 50s have same flotation.
The only difference is 50s is a bright colour. The 50 stands for 50 Newtons which means if you hang 5kg of lead off it, it will still float. I tested my current NP combination vest and it floats a 5kg weight but is not approved as a type 50 vest.