Open water swim question

Lifeguard rescue tube.

Radioactive Man said:

Anyone have ideas as to what would be a good towable personal flotation device for doing an open
water swim? What I'm looking for
is (1) something that I can use for flotation in the event of an emergency (cramp, extreme
fatigue, etc.), (2) something that provides extra visibility, even though I try to avoid
high traffic areas, and
(3) something that can be pulled with minimal drag, discomfort, and interfence with my stroke.

One possible solution that comes to mind is one of those lifeguard rescue tubes from Kiefer.
Another possibility is to make something myself, but the question is how to carry of pull it: tied
to the ankle or waist? Or maybe something like a back pack that can be taken off easily? The
downside of the back pack would be that it would prevent me from doing back strokes and might even
interfere with front crawl strokes if I roll too much.

Lifeguard rescue tube.

Radioactive Man said:

Anyone have ideas as to what would be a good towable personal flotation device for doing an open
water swim? What I'm looking for
is (1) something that I can use for flotation in the event of an emergency (cramp, extreme
fatigue, etc.), (2) something that provides extra visibility, even though I try to avoid
high traffic areas, and
(3) something that can be pulled with minimal drag, discomfort, and interfence with my stroke.

One possible solution that comes to mind is one of those lifeguard rescue tubes from Kiefer.
Another possibility is to make something myself, but the question is how to carry of pull it: tied
to the ankle or waist? Or maybe something like a back pack that can be taken off easily? The
downside of the back pack would be that it would prevent me from doing back strokes and might even
interfere with front crawl strokes if I roll too much.

gwydion at said:

Lifeguard rescue tube.

Agreed, but:

1) They do tend to get tangled in one's legs a bit when worn with the strap slung over the shoulder.
Tying it to the ankle is a bad idea (chafing, too slow to release if needed), but if you can get
a Velcro fastener (like boogie boarders use for their boards), then that would make sense.

2) Be aware of the aquatic life in the area. If you're in a region with sharks or other top-predator
fish, it's generally not a good idea to attach a bright red, orange, or yellow object to yourself
with a rope. If you can find tubes in darker colors (unlikely), those would be safer--but then
you lose the benefits of higher visibility to boats.

--
Shalom, Peace, Salaam

George Grattan

(This post is intended for a Usenet newsgroup only. Its appearance in any other forum that does not
clearly identify it as originally posted to Usenet is therefore a misrepresentation, is done against
my wishes, and may indicate other unauthorized distortions of content and/or context. Correctly
attributed and/or unedited copies of this post in other forums do not necessarily indicate my
willing participation in them.)

gwydion at said:

Lifeguard rescue tube.

Agreed, but:

1) They do tend to get tangled in one's legs a bit when worn with the strap slung over the shoulder.
Tying it to the ankle is a bad idea (chafing, too slow to release if needed), but if you can get
a Velcro fastener (like boogie boarders use for their boards), then that would make sense.

2) Be aware of the aquatic life in the area. If you're in a region with sharks or other top-predator
fish, it's generally not a good idea to attach a bright red, orange, or yellow object to yourself
with a rope. If you can find tubes in darker colors (unlikely), those would be safer--but then
you lose the benefits of higher visibility to boats.

--
Shalom, Peace, Salaam

George Grattan

(This post is intended for a Usenet newsgroup only. Its appearance in any other forum that does not
clearly identify it as originally posted to Usenet is therefore a misrepresentation, is done against
my wishes, and may indicate other unauthorized distortions of content and/or context. Correctly
attributed and/or unedited copies of this post in other forums do not necessarily indicate my
willing participation in them.)

gwydion at said:

Lifeguard rescue tube.

Agreed, but:

1) They do tend to get tangled in one's legs a bit when worn with the strap slung over the shoulder.
Tying it to the ankle is a bad idea (chafing, too slow to release if needed), but if you can get
a Velcro fastener (like boogie boarders use for their boards), then that would make sense.

2) Be aware of the aquatic life in the area. If you're in a region with sharks or other top-predator
fish, it's generally not a good idea to attach a bright red, orange, or yellow object to yourself
with a rope. If you can find tubes in darker colors (unlikely), those would be safer--but then
you lose the benefits of higher visibility to boats.

--
Shalom, Peace, Salaam

George Grattan

(This post is intended for a Usenet newsgroup only. Its appearance in any other forum that does not
clearly identify it as originally posted to Usenet is therefore a misrepresentation, is done against
my wishes, and may indicate other unauthorized distortions of content and/or context. Correctly
attributed and/or unedited copies of this post in other forums do not necessarily indicate my
willing participation in them.)

Radioactive Man said:

Anyone have ideas as to what would be a good towable personal flotation device for doing an open
water swim? What I'm looking for
is (1) something that I can use for flotation in the event of an emergency (cramp, extreme fatigue,
etc.), (2) something that provides extra visibility, even though I try to avoid high traffic
areas, and
(3) something that can be pulled with minimal drag, discomfort, and interfence with my stroke.

I think you have to choose between visibility and low drag for continuous use.

I'd suggest a rollup inflatable diver's tube - I have one that is bright red, about 4' long by 3"
diameter fully inflated, but rolls up to 3" by 1" diameter and has a oral inflator.
--
Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com

A yellow helium ballon, doesn't touch the water = zero drag and quite visble. Tie it around your
waist with string.

"Jason O'Rourke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Radioactive Man said:

Anyone have ideas as to what would be a good towable personal flotation device for doing an open
water swim? What I'm looking for
is (1) something that I can use for flotation in the event of an emergency (cramp, extreme
fatigue, etc.), (2) something that provides extra visibility, even though I try to avoid
high traffic areas, and
(3) something that can be pulled with minimal drag, discomfort, and interfence with my stroke.

I think you have to choose between visibility and low drag for continuous use.

I'd suggest a rollup inflatable diver's tube - I have one that is bright red, about 4' long by 3"
diameter fully inflated, but rolls up to 3" by 1" diameter and has a oral inflator.
--
Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com

Thomas Elliott at said:

A yellow helium ballon, doesn't touch the water = zero drag and quite visble. Tie it around your
waist with string.

That's a great idea. Have you actually tried it to see how it works? The great thing about this is
that it wouldn't attract any unwanted aquatic friends.

On the other hand, I wonder if you'd end up brining area boats too close for comfort-- I can see
some folks motoring over to see why this odd balloon is hovering at the same height over the
water.... :-)

And, of course-- the balloon will be useless as flotation device if one gets in trouble. But one
shouldn't be swimming alone in open water anyway, especially if there are no guards around anywhere.
(I know, I know-- we all break this rule all the time, but it's a good one....)

--
Shalom, Peace, Salaam

George Grattan

(This post is intended for a Usenet newsgroup only. Its appearance in any other forum that does not
clearly identify it as originally posted to Usenet is therefore a misrepresentation, is done against
my wishes, and may indicate other unauthorized distortions of content and/or context. Correctly
attributed and/or unedited copies of this post in other forums do not necessarily indicate my
willing participation in them.)