BayAreaKiteboarding.com

Hi,

I was researching safety equipment such as PFDs, impact vests, helmets, radios, whistle and whatever else people are taking with them on the water, especially at Crissy. Many of the posts are already a couple of years old, hence I would like to invite you to comment on what equipment you are taking with you and if it ever helped.

I'll give it a try:

• PFD: No name vest. Too big, planning to replace it.
• Impact: None
• Helmet: None, considering to buy one.
• Radio: Uniden MHS235. Too clunky, planning to replace it.
• No finns, whistle etc.

Use:

• Got good use out of my PFD in Canada and sometimes here at Crissy. Do not get out without it.
• I once had good use of a helmet in Tarifa (Spain), when I new to the sport and was grabbed by the Levante wind and tossed around. Afterwards never experienced a situation where it was required.
• Radio: I do not always have it with me, as it feels very clunky. Was always close to others, so no need thus far.

Helmet/Radio/Whistle/Light/Buoyancy Vest are standard for me but for Crissy I have a small plb/epirb which I would carry just in case.

Dakine Impact Vest. Got it after badly damaging my ribs after a high speed impact on the water. I know what I did wrong, probably don't need to wear it anymore, but it also helps keep me warm.

Sliced open my scalp in a wipe-out and board bonked my head. Never have worn a helmet and not ever planning to, especially with the potential for whiplash in a crash.

Just got helicopter insurance. $65/year.

dwaynej,

I was looking into an EPIRB as well, but could not see an immediate benefit over a radio (e.g. with a GPS functionality).

Is the use case for an EPIRB at Crissy that you might get dragged out into the ocean? How did you arrive at the decision?

Hanseatic wrote: Is the use case for an EPIRB at Crissy that you might get dragged out into the ocean? How did you arrive at the decision?

Great question. I owned a 31' cabin cruiser and did a bunch of scuba diving of the boat - many hours late at night. The plb/epirb was purchased for this environment. Once the boat was gone, I still had the plb/epirb.

plb/epirbs are to be used when your life is at risk and should be considered a last ditch effort device after you have exhausted all other options. So if you are thinking of a radio vs plb/epirb, definitely a radio and if you have money left over, then purchase a plb/epirb.

This is what I have... http://www.westmarine.com/buy/acr-elect ... --11046612

What about the Nautilus lifeline device? Any experience or thoughts about it?

www.nautiluslifeline.com

kitet wrote:What about the Nautilus lifeline device? Any experience or thoughts about it?

http://www.nautiluslifeline.com

It's a VHF radio with built in marine VHF distress capability. The button interface is difficult to use as a marine Radio although a software update about a year ago improved its ease of use slightly - Changing frequencies and adjusting volume/squelch are difficult to do from the water.

The pouch the radio comes with is not built for kiteboarding and the radio will be pushed out of the pouch due to water pressure if you fall. I started using a scuba diving weight pocket for the Nautilus.

Once you open the cap, the radio has minimal water resistance and if the usb port cover comes loose, the radio will be trashed which is what happened to mine. One day it's working and the next time I checked on it, it was dead.

Much easier to use a regular marine radio and many are waterproof together with a waterproof pouch for additional protection than try to use the Nautilus.

Thank you for the feedback. That's too bad about the Nautilus device. I was hoping for some good reviews.

I find VHF radios too big and cumbersome to carry and only the high end models have GPS.

Any recommendations for VHF radios?

I'm a huge fan of the Icom M72/M73 although Icom now make a M25 with a USB charging port. M73 is built tough. Put it in a water proof electronics dry bag and stick it down the front of your wetsuit. The buttons can be operated through the dry bag.

What about the Spot Global Sat GPS messenger devices? I know they require a subscription plan but they are smaller and easier to carry than a VHF and battery lasts longer. Does anyone have any feedback or experience about them?

Thanks.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk