Shawn Alladio
01-30-2007, 02:31 AM
What You Need to Know Before You Tow
Towsurfing is a high risk sport. Because of this fact, safety precautions and equipment need to be the first consideraton prior to launching a personal watercraft.
The basic life support product, a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD) is the number one priority for your team. Generally Type V or Type III PFD's are used for Personal Watercraft use.
Many towsurfers complain about the use of a PFD, due to the lessening of physical mobility in comparison to surfing with just a wetsuit. The bulkiness and getting accustomed to wearing new gear inside the impact zone does take some getting used to. Nevertheless, a properly fitted PFD should be manadatory gear, but let's look a little further at this issue.
The law in the United States on boating rules and regulations varies from State to State, all are required to have on board or worn USCG approved PFD's for passengers and operators. However, there are also USCG inflatable PFD's that come under compliance, but this doesn't mean they should be used for this high risk activity.
Falls on board/overboard are the #1 boating accident fatality related issue due to drowning or being rendered unconcious by contact with the vessel. In towsurfing, oxygen deprivation, contact with the surfboard or impact with the surface of water can render an athlete unconsicous. Your head is heavy, it will fall forward face down into the water, it's only a matter of time before your body wants to gasp for air, but there won't be any.
Aerated water alters the buoyancy factor of a PFD, due to the amount of air, the PFD isn't as efficient in normal water conditions. And with an inflatable you have no additional flotation available. The heavy water action can rip the waist belt or chest harness of an infatable off of your body instantly. You need a proper fitted type that works under these diverse conditions.
Your head basically becomes a hinged bowling ball attached to your body, when you are being thrown around by the wave action. Remember, the wave energy has a mile per hour speed to it, angles, drops, resulting at some point released energy due to the underwater geomorphic terrain. There are many forces of action competing against your body language and equipment. How much do you value your life?
What precautions are you willing to invest in to protect and ensure certain levels of your safety? A lifejacket is an important piece of your aresenal. They do require maintenance and replacement when wear or tear begins. The materials of inner foam construction break down with UV exposure, the way you take care of them, and to harmful vapors.
The best Lifejacket is one that keeps your airway in an upright position. Many PFD's do not have the 'back neck pad' that helps keep your airway upright. These are a little bulkier and not popular for wear unfortunately. If you take in water to your stomach and lungs your body is heavier in the water, without the additional flotation of your PFD, your body may not come to the surface, especially in heavy aerated conditions.
There is a fine timeline for rescue and recovery in these conditions, give yourself every opportunity you can seize for the opportunity for resucitation in drowning or near drowning situations. Even with muscle cramps or burst ear drums it can be difficult on the surface of the water for basic swimming survival, a PFD can help you and your team mate. A properly fitted PFD also gives your partner a grab handhold for assisting you out of the water and it offers a little bit of protection for hypothermia, wind chill and reducing potential injury.
You only have a few minutes for survival under these conditions, give yourself every potential victory at your disposal. A lifejacket is just that, one of your greatest assets on the water, your life! Compliment it with the right PFD 'type' that understands the need of self survival and rescue.
It won't work if you don't wear it.
Shawn Alladio
K38 Water Safety
Towsurfing is a high risk sport. Because of this fact, safety precautions and equipment need to be the first consideraton prior to launching a personal watercraft.
The basic life support product, a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD) is the number one priority for your team. Generally Type V or Type III PFD's are used for Personal Watercraft use.
Many towsurfers complain about the use of a PFD, due to the lessening of physical mobility in comparison to surfing with just a wetsuit. The bulkiness and getting accustomed to wearing new gear inside the impact zone does take some getting used to. Nevertheless, a properly fitted PFD should be manadatory gear, but let's look a little further at this issue.
The law in the United States on boating rules and regulations varies from State to State, all are required to have on board or worn USCG approved PFD's for passengers and operators. However, there are also USCG inflatable PFD's that come under compliance, but this doesn't mean they should be used for this high risk activity.
Falls on board/overboard are the #1 boating accident fatality related issue due to drowning or being rendered unconcious by contact with the vessel. In towsurfing, oxygen deprivation, contact with the surfboard or impact with the surface of water can render an athlete unconsicous. Your head is heavy, it will fall forward face down into the water, it's only a matter of time before your body wants to gasp for air, but there won't be any.
Aerated water alters the buoyancy factor of a PFD, due to the amount of air, the PFD isn't as efficient in normal water conditions. And with an inflatable you have no additional flotation available. The heavy water action can rip the waist belt or chest harness of an infatable off of your body instantly. You need a proper fitted type that works under these diverse conditions.
Your head basically becomes a hinged bowling ball attached to your body, when you are being thrown around by the wave action. Remember, the wave energy has a mile per hour speed to it, angles, drops, resulting at some point released energy due to the underwater geomorphic terrain. There are many forces of action competing against your body language and equipment. How much do you value your life?
What precautions are you willing to invest in to protect and ensure certain levels of your safety? A lifejacket is an important piece of your aresenal. They do require maintenance and replacement when wear or tear begins. The materials of inner foam construction break down with UV exposure, the way you take care of them, and to harmful vapors.
The best Lifejacket is one that keeps your airway in an upright position. Many PFD's do not have the 'back neck pad' that helps keep your airway upright. These are a little bulkier and not popular for wear unfortunately. If you take in water to your stomach and lungs your body is heavier in the water, without the additional flotation of your PFD, your body may not come to the surface, especially in heavy aerated conditions.
There is a fine timeline for rescue and recovery in these conditions, give yourself every opportunity you can seize for the opportunity for resucitation in drowning or near drowning situations. Even with muscle cramps or burst ear drums it can be difficult on the surface of the water for basic swimming survival, a PFD can help you and your team mate. A properly fitted PFD also gives your partner a grab handhold for assisting you out of the water and it offers a little bit of protection for hypothermia, wind chill and reducing potential injury.
You only have a few minutes for survival under these conditions, give yourself every potential victory at your disposal. A lifejacket is just that, one of your greatest assets on the water, your life! Compliment it with the right PFD 'type' that understands the need of self survival and rescue.
It won't work if you don't wear it.
Shawn Alladio
K38 Water Safety