That sinking feeling AKA. good use for a couch

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west77

Wake Whore
Location
Calgary, AB
After reading all about hood straps... I did not buy them for the new ski. I kept meaning to, but on flat water it seemed like a nice thing to have and not a necessity until I went for a nose stab tonight and heard a loud crack as I hit the water. Somehow the ski did not climb back out like it usually does and I found myself holding the nose up the best I could to keep it from sinking while ***trying*** to swim it to shore. Fortunately, a kid came out on a nice couch that I could climb onto and haul the nose up on the back while we drug it in. The best part is that the latch was still down and locked when I got a good look at it (I had instantly thought that I forgot to turn the knob over to lock as I have been paranoid of that for the last week with no good reason...)

I know... nothing new in the story- I should have learned from others. However, while trying to hold the nose up I found my life jacket is a really poor design. I bought it for white water kayaking and because the arm holes are very low (to prevent chaffing while paddling) I found my whole body sinking with the ski even while the jacket floated and realized that would be the result if I ever actually had to rely on it to save my life. I will just slowly sink under the surface while the jacket floats as a marker of where my body is.

So... any suggestions on a good brand? Around 6 feet, 230 (no, not fat) and really in need of something to possibly one day save my life. It was a good jacket for the river but really does not hold me up very well. It seemed at the time that if it provided the necessary buoyancy in rapids and freedom of movement in the arm for paddling that it would be ideal for the ski. I was mistaken.
 
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MADMAT

MADMAT

Location
Ohio
" I will just slowly sink under the surface while the jacket floats as a marker of where my body is."

LOL....
 
swapmeet

swapmeet

Brotastic
Location
Arlington TX
^^^ Not sure if trying to sell a life vest or just discussing....
I, on the other hand do have some life jackets to sell. Used Helium SWAT, XL... lmk, you need to get your post count up to send and recieve PM's.


Back on topic, So your hood stayed latched but let in water? I expected this to be a "need a hood strap" thread, not a "need a lifejacket" thread... i'm so confused lol.
 
jloria

jloria

Location
Jacksonville, Florida
I'm not selling mine, it was just info:)

OP: "So... any suggestions on a good brand? Around 6 feet, 230 (no, not fat) and really in need of something to possibly one day save my life."

The topic seemed to steer towards life jacket suggestions.
 
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west77

Wake Whore
Location
Calgary, AB
swapmeet said:
Back on topic, So your hood stayed latched but let in water? I expected this to be a "need a hood strap" thread, not a "need a lifejacket" thread... i'm so confused lol.
Click to expand...
It is a need hood strap thread... but I already knew that and was just too lazy (stupid?) to have put one on. I got a different ski at the end of last season and really have been meaning to put on hood straps and a pole limiter (I had already learned that lesson the hard way once in the past.) The latch itself remained down... the hood came off and down she went. The fellow who I bought it from put an aftermarket hood on it and, I suspect that the latch just does not pull it down hard enough. The gasket compressed allowing the bracket to just come free if that makes any sense.

After it happened I suspected it was just needing a hood strap. As I began to sink with the ski I quickly realized that my major problem had taken a turn from just needing to install the straps to really, desperately needing a new life jacket. Struggling to hold the ski up with one hand while attempting to pull my body up in the life jacket with the other and still needing to struggle not to inhale water really sucked more than anything else...

I will have to drive up my post count...
 
swapmeet

swapmeet

Brotastic
Location
Arlington TX
I'm strap free on my flat water boat, but the latch pulls down with authority.

Been there done that on keeping it afloat. I had the clamp between the bulkhead and the exhaust hose come loose and my FX1 turned into a submersible. Gotta have that foam in the gunnies.
 
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west77

Wake Whore
Location
Calgary, AB
No doubt the foam is the only thing that saved me. the nose was a few feet under water and pulling down with some real weight as I tried to keep it up. Fortunately the back end stayed (just) above the water and kept the whole thing from turning into a submarine. I am still left wondering if the foam would have been enough to keep the engine compartment from pulling the whole thing right to the bottom or not. If I got too tired and let go would it be at the bottom and leave me looking for scuba lessons and equipment?

As an update, I found that the bolts on the hood were not perfectly tight. Not enough that it should have let go... but not perfectly tight.
 
Sparkplug

Sparkplug

Location
Red Bluff CA
Ive completely filled my squarenose sj twice. To the line with the hood. They will not totally sink, they bob slightly under the water.

This is a stock tray sj, that I believe is semi waterlogged.
 
PWCSAR

PWCSAR

River Rat
Location
Wa
on the pfd topic.. The pull/release Co2 ones are nice for comfort on vessles (if required to be on) what if your unconcious?????? Not sure any type 3 pfd is designed to hold anything but the wearer in a upright (sometimes downright) position.. Trying to hold a ski that's sinking (things are lighter under water) , so ya got approx 300lb boat plus the water in it added to your weight and what's your vest rated at?? I'd say look at the JP, slippery and maybe jet tribe vest's designed for this sport... Try on some friends vest's , crank em down and float around in them.. If your lookin for a marker, add a strobe to your vest...
 
iangdesign

iangdesign

Cats, lots of cats!
Location
United States
My buddy did a few subs earlier this week on his SN, came back in and the engine compartment was about 2/3 full of water. The bilges had blown the fuse. He had just installed hood straps. I was impressed that they actually worked, I'll be getting a set here soon.
 
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