A few months ago I threw out an idea, the original being from an old buddy in Canada, for an automatically deploying helium filled ballon to be used during a MOB event. Since then I have discovered that the idea has already been patented but the pantenter doesn't seem to be making any move to commercialise the idea, which is a shame. On to plan 'B' which any handyman can make himself for five or six bucks.It's not quite as good, but should help in emergency. I bought a 1/2" cockvalve from Lowe's. A car dealership gave me a few 2' diameter blaze orange ballons which they use in advertising. About 1" of 1/2" plastic tubing was glued in to one end of the valve, enough to get my mouth around.I then filed a shallow groove on the circumference of the other end of the valve, slipped on the balloon and tied it in to the groove with a very strong twine. Fishing line would work too. I put a strong pin on the other end of this 10' length of twine which can then be pinned on to my jacket or life vest. In emergency, blow up the balloon and close the cock.( The big ones blow up easily so don't pre-blow the ballon before use it so as to keep everything compact ). Probably punching the ballon up in to the air would help it be seen better but even just bouncing around itself it makes a beautiful sight. As my buddy said, if this idea saves just one life it's been worth our effort in putting it out here. Jim G.
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It is a good thought
just not very practical. If it was a worthwhile idea, they would be in use. You can just make out a Volkswagon at three miles from the air. On deck it is even less range to see something in the water. It would make a lot more sense to deploy a floating streamer if you want to be seen from the air. If you are determined to do this, attach a long streamer to it and let it out.
just not very practical. If it was a worthwhile idea, they would be in use. You can just make out a Volkswagon at three miles from the air. On deck it is even less range to see something in the water. It would make a lot more sense to deploy a floating streamer if you want to be seen from the air. If you are determined to do this, attach a long streamer to it and let it out.
Happy Birthday streamer....
how about that reflective tape. I thought I had seen some 10' happy birthday reflective stuff at the party store...
how about that reflective tape. I thought I had seen some 10' happy birthday reflective stuff at the party store...
Ten feet of streamer
is not nearly long enough to see from very far away. It would help but I would suggest fifty feet of it would be a lot easier to spot. Orange or unnatural contrasting multicolor would be best. Try it sometime and see how close you have to be to see something in the water. I for one would like to hear how that works out. The balloon should show up on radar if you aluminize it. It makes sense in that case to fill it with helium but that is a problem too.
is not nearly long enough to see from very far away. It would help but I would suggest fifty feet of it would be a lot easier to spot. Orange or unnatural contrasting multicolor would be best. Try it sometime and see how close you have to be to see something in the water. I for one would like to hear how that works out. The balloon should show up on radar if you aluminize it. It makes sense in that case to fill it with helium but that is a problem too.
Patrick
I think a good benifit of the balloon is that it helps to find those who have fallen overboard. I read a story of a man who fell overboard while his wife was on the head. I can't remember if they ever found him but I know they had several boats searching for several hours to find him. They even used the GPS on board to backtrack. That was off the shore of Chicago. Now imagine if it happened in the Atlantic with larger waves. I think a 50' line on a nice sized balloon is a great idea. Just don't know if it can be made to were everybody onboard would actually wear one and how to inflate it so it will rise enough above the waves for people to see. If it can easily been seen from just 1/2 a mile away, that's great if the waves are higher then 2' and would help greatly. I remember practicing my MOB this past fall with a white pillow and I kept loosing site of the damn thing and it was never more then 200 yards away with 6" waves. The cool thing about it being airborne is that if something comes near like a ship or helicoper or a plane, you can grab the line and yank on it so it will move easily. Moving targets are much easier to catch someone's eye then a still targer. Try moving something floating in the water while your floating in the water.
I think a good benifit of the balloon is that it helps to find those who have fallen overboard. I read a story of a man who fell overboard while his wife was on the head. I can't remember if they ever found him but I know they had several boats searching for several hours to find him. They even used the GPS on board to backtrack. That was off the shore of Chicago. Now imagine if it happened in the Atlantic with larger waves. I think a 50' line on a nice sized balloon is a great idea. Just don't know if it can be made to were everybody onboard would actually wear one and how to inflate it so it will rise enough above the waves for people to see. If it can easily been seen from just 1/2 a mile away, that's great if the waves are higher then 2' and would help greatly. I remember practicing my MOB this past fall with a white pillow and I kept loosing site of the damn thing and it was never more then 200 yards away with 6" waves. The cool thing about it being airborne is that if something comes near like a ship or helicoper or a plane, you can grab the line and yank on it so it will move easily. Moving targets are much easier to catch someone's eye then a still targer. Try moving something floating in the water while your floating in the water.
Franklin, I got the idea
and I do search for people missing overboard from time to time. Never found one yet. We did find a missing plane but the fact is that the FAA had a radar track and knew where it went down. It is extremely difficult to see something as small as a person from the air. A balloon would be about the same problem. The best thing would be to have some way to find them from the boat and real soon if possible. An inflatable pole with a flag or something might give you the best chance. I think that some company makes something like it - an inflatable man overboard pole. If you are within a mile or so and can retrace the course, the balloon might help. So would an air horn. So would an EPIRB. So would a marine radio or a radio which would work on 121.5. So would a few flares, strobe light, a bell, Cell phone, streamer, etc. etc. There is a commercial product which activates an alarm if the person falls overboard. It uses a radio signal and can be tied to the engine or autopilot (I think). That sounds like the best solution to me.
and I do search for people missing overboard from time to time. Never found one yet. We did find a missing plane but the fact is that the FAA had a radar track and knew where it went down. It is extremely difficult to see something as small as a person from the air. A balloon would be about the same problem. The best thing would be to have some way to find them from the boat and real soon if possible. An inflatable pole with a flag or something might give you the best chance. I think that some company makes something like it - an inflatable man overboard pole. If you are within a mile or so and can retrace the course, the balloon might help. So would an air horn. So would an EPIRB. So would a marine radio or a radio which would work on 121.5. So would a few flares, strobe light, a bell, Cell phone, streamer, etc. etc. There is a commercial product which activates an alarm if the person falls overboard. It uses a radio signal and can be tied to the engine or autopilot (I think). That sounds like the best solution to me.
inflatable devices....
are not new.. inflatable units (see the link) similar to the MOB pole/flag devices have been reviewed by practical sailor and others... the biggest problem with them is they have a tendency to be blown over by the wind quite easily. Significant ballast is needed, such as the traditional pole type has, to keep them from laying over. Even the pole types lay over fairly easily in high wind. In conditions where you need visibility in high waves it would seem that the wind that accompanies the wave would cause the balloon so simply lay down on the water. Another thought: If one made the balloon larger and more bouyant to keep it above the water in high wind, wouldn't it act like a kite or parachute and drag the victim through the water? So... why not use a small kite with a balloon on it?
are not new.. inflatable units (see the link) similar to the MOB pole/flag devices have been reviewed by practical sailor and others... the biggest problem with them is they have a tendency to be blown over by the wind quite easily. Significant ballast is needed, such as the traditional pole type has, to keep them from laying over. Even the pole types lay over fairly easily in high wind. In conditions where you need visibility in high waves it would seem that the wind that accompanies the wave would cause the balloon so simply lay down on the water. Another thought: If one made the balloon larger and more bouyant to keep it above the water in high wind, wouldn't it act like a kite or parachute and drag the victim through the water? So... why not use a small kite with a balloon on it?
Or back to shore - Status