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Thread: Helmet?

  1. #1
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    Helmet?

    I confess I rarely wear even a life jacket when boating...mostly because I commercial fish and it gets in the way of moving. However...when I go over 80 I try to wear one. That being said, I have never worn a helmet and probably should. Here in the California delta where I run, there are a lot of tuns, few straight stretches, and wakes everywhere. This water is constantly trying to throw me on the levee or out of the boat. I should probably get a helmet and I am wondering what people who race like to wear. Given that I make maybe 10 speed runs per year max, I'm not trying to spend a lot of money on it. Furthermore, I want one that is going to impede my vision/head moment as little as possible. I also don't want it to be super insulated so i get sweaty (if thats even possible to find). I will probably use the same helmet to drive my 8' yellow jacket too...more chance of getting thrown out of that one.

    So what are people's opinions? Am I crazy for wanting to wear a helmet? Am I stupid for not wearing one? I have never fallen out of a boat yet, but I've seen it a few times in front of me.
    Brands, models, sources...any help is appreciated.
    8' Yellow Jacket - 25 hp Mariner
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  2. #2
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    I think nowadays you need to consider a jacket and helmet that are paired correctly. The jacket needs the deflector on it. My concern is the helmet adding more stress on the neck. The bucket effect. Like filling a bucket when idling along in the boat. It just grabs all of the sudden. An open face helmet would be lighter and less prone to do that. Just an opinion...

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  4. #3
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    Get a real Lifeline or similar race jacket I would not worry about a helmet unless in a safety capsule because of bucketing, as in snapping your neck, the type of helmet that those high speed skiers use would be best because the way they fit and smaller in size. I've hit the water just under 100 going backwards upside down, probably lucky I didn't have one on, My lifeline was under the front deck






    https://link.springer.com/article/10...283-020-0321-6


    Or a cheap O won't snap your neck

    Just talking to a local swat member he said they were training on water drop offs from a moving boat the trouble was the guy was driving way too fast and the front side he rolled off of was way to high he snapped his neck, he is a weight lifter in super shape and tells me he can't hold a chain saw? he has replacement pieces in his neck that aren't right and yes he had a helmet on and boat said to be going 30 to 35mph at the time.





    j
    Last edited by CUDA; 02-27-2021 at 12:36 AM.
    We have invented the world; WE see

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  6. #4
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    https://kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2383198
    here is some reading on the bucketing effect. Bob Nordskog was a huge advocate of non bucketing helmets years ago and may have even designed one?
    https://www.nordskogpublishing.com/n...-man-nordskog/
    The improper helmet in any kind of water sport is scary. Wear the jacket, we have lost a bunch of folks over the years as Cuda stated his was not on. We lost a competitor that had a boat dealership ship in Kentucky that was testing a customers boat below 50mph he was tossed out had a cramp or something, struggled in the water for a minute and was gone. A local fisherman witnessed it and didn’t get there in time. No jacket on.
    I can’t remember his name, he helped me out with my rig 23 years or so ago.
    L.T.


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  8. #5
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    Helmet saved my life when my head hit the side of the boat as 70-80 mph in my Vector. Don't remember loading it, driving around the lake, emergency room, stitches discussion with C O about wreck. Next thing i remember was watching TV at my parents house at 3 in the morning. Lifeline and full face helmet for me whenever planed off.
    Other advantages, wind in eyes rain, bird strikes, bug strikes.

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    I wear a cheap Amazon helmet in white to minimize heat soak. It was 54 in Pittsburgh today in Pittsburgh and my gf and I had the 22' tunnel out for a spin on the three rivers. The helmets worked mainly to keep us warm! Mine has a tinted visor that lifts into the helmet and a clear visor that lifts over top. They keep you safe, keep you warm in the spring and fall (and winter, and reducing deafening wind noise for longer runs.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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    That was Tony Reynolds who drowned after he got tossed out. He was a helluva boat driver. Had the kill switch but no life jacket. Terrible loss. Gotta wear those jackets, fellows. ,
    1990 Shadow bass boat w/ 2.4 200 Merc. Totally resto'd boat and love it!

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  13. #8
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    I used to wear an offshore racing helmet for high speed runs in case I would unexpectedly use my head being thrown off the boat. I know of somebody who didn't and he got badly injured...
    RIB Unlimited 600/Merc 150 ProMax ss
    Allison SS-2000/Merc 200xs ss
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  14. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by aeneas View Post
    I used to wear an offshore racing helmet for high speed runs in case I would unexpectedly use my head being thrown off the boat. I know of somebody who didn't and he got badly injured...
    Thank you,
    My memory isn’t what it used to be. I took my rig to him once and he showed me a few tricks that gained me a bit of rpm. He actually survived one wreck (full safety gear) , this might have been before Brucato SVS or just competition but he had a friend in Australia that made an intake system for him. It was quite a work of art. The vacuum of the motor played a roll in the throttle. His Dad was watching him as he tested this beast, after a certain point when he tried to back out the throttle was stuck wide open from the vacuum, He Had to pull the kill switch to end the ride. End the ride it did, I forget exactly how high he said the boat flew but he was unhurt.
    Someone else may have a more accurate version of this story than me.
    His father and him were extremely close. I gathered that from one afternoon at his shop.
    L.T.


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  16. #10
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    a full face helmet in an open cockpit boat can be disastrous. If you've ever witnessed the bucketing effect you wont forget it.
    limited skills

  17. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by loop View Post
    a full face helmet in an open cockpit boat can be disastrous. If you've ever witnessed the bucketing effect you wont forget it.
    You are correct! I often thought about that but the risk of having my face smashed in against the boat weighed in heavier... Now I am old and slow - never faster than 70-75mph cruising in my (soft) inflatable but always with a lifejacket and the laynard switch.

    Be safe out there!
    RIB Unlimited 600/Merc 150 ProMax ss
    Allison SS-2000/Merc 200xs ss
    Hydrolift T-17/Merc 200xs ss

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  19. #12
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    Consider the expert replies that are from non racers that have never been pitched out.
    I have.
    Multiple times.

    Kinda like the argument against seat belts in a car in case you drive off a bridge and drown in the car due to a jammed seat belt.

    I like my odds way better w/one than w/o.
    I do wear an open face to reduce the bucketing effect as best I can.

    One of my challenges was always “when” to wear it, same as my race vest.
    As we spend way more time putzing around than WFO.

    I decided that if I was on plane, I suited up.

    One of my good friends had a 120 mph Mirage and always wore a vest and bucket.
    The second picture is his Mirage w/my wife riding shot gun.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails CBA6A4CB-677D-42C6-9D0F-FCBFA9A2E3EC.jpeg   DFC2703C-8792-4BBA-967F-623B65FA1FED.jpeg  
    Last edited by Instigator; 02-28-2021 at 08:36 PM.
    I'd rather be competitive w/junk I built in my garage than win w/stuff I bought.


    I refuse to allow common sense to interfere w/my boat buying decisions.


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  21. #13
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    A collar on the jacket is a must, better with this:

    https://lifelineracegear.com/main/


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  23. #14
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    Yep

    I have one of those too.

    When playing, I normally just wear a vest.
    If I know we’ll be racing I suit up.
    I keep the helmet and harness in a padded bag so I can stow it in the boat.

    Quote Originally Posted by Forkin' Crazy View Post
    A collar on the jacket is a must, better with this:

    https://lifelineracegear.com/main/

    I'd rather be competitive w/junk I built in my garage than win w/stuff I bought.


    I refuse to allow common sense to interfere w/my boat buying decisions.


    Checkmate 16' 140 Johnson
    Hydrostream 17' Vector FrankenRude I
    Laser 480 (?) 21' w/GT 200
    Glastron Carlson Conquest w/XP 2.6
    Glastron Carlson CVX 20 w/XP 2.6
    24' Sonic w/twin 250 Johnsons
    24' Sonic w/twin 250 HO Johnsons
    19' STV River Rocket w/FrankenRude II
    Allison XR 2002 w/Frankenrude II
    Hydrostream 18' V-King w/Frankenrude II

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  25. #15
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    Nice! No whining just a solution!
    Quote Originally Posted by Forkin' Crazy View Post
    A collar on the jacket is a must, better with this:

    https://lifelineracegear.com/main/

    L.T.


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