Re the issues raised on the Thermofloat Sea-Seat: not to beat this thing into the ground, but there is a lot to be said for the improved survival odds provided by small life rafts. The Navy's standard issue one-person liferaft gives a survivor significantly better protection from hypothermia than a similarly clad survivor in the water. A 1986 Coast Guard study confirms this, and says that they are "... notably successful in reducing the effects of cold-water immersion: for all garment-ensembles, cooling rates were slower and skin temperature declines were smaller for subjects in the raft than for subjects in the water>" That's fairly intuitive, but the actual numbers are pretty impressive; it's a <lot> better in the raft, according to the data. The study goes on to say that one-person rafts were exceptionally stable, and that "... only three out of the approximately 4800 interactions between rafts and waves resulted in rafts capsizing." The Sea-Seat looks at least as stable as the little seat-pack rafts I used to float around in during flight training, so the stability should be pretty impressive. Sea-sickness is likely in big water, but it sure beats hypothermia <and> sea-sickness! Joq ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] An old topic revisited Author: Rex <rexrob_at_premier1.net> at SPTC Date: 3/7/98 10:59 AM Julio wrote: snip The last issue of Sea Kayaker talks has an evaluation of a life saving raft. They still do not get the clue. If the sea is rough, the victim would not be able to stay on the raft. snip I think this response is getting off the subject that John Winters was concerned about but I want to respond to Julio's comment that appears to be writing off the usefulness of the Thermofloat Sea-Seat which recently received a favorable evaluation by Chris Cunningham in the April issue of Sea Kayaker magazine. The purpose of the Sea-Seat is to extend survival time in cold water by slowing the process of hypothermia. Water conducts heat away from the body 27 times faster than air. Even if conditions were too rough to spend all of your time up on the raft your survival time will be increased if you can spend some of the time on the raft or if you can use the raft to keep your upper-body out of the water. The raft has a line on it that clips to your PFD so you will be able to stay with the raft in rough water. In it's stored condition it is small enough that you can keep it on your person when not in use so you are sure to have it if you need it. It has a oral inflation tube and can be inflated in 1 3/4 to 2 1/2 minutes. Loss of consciousness can occur when the body core temperature reaches 86 F (20 C) and death usually occurs between 86 F (26.7 C) and 80 F (30 C). Six of the hypothermia survivors documented in the book "Deep Trouble" had core temperatures from 77 F to 88 F. Several of the 9 fatalities reported in "Deep Trouble" are believed to be caused by hypothermia. Numerous other canoe and kayak fatalities have resulted from hypothermia. Personally I'm taking a serious look at the Sea-Seat. I don't own one yet and since it probably looks like I'm trying to promote them I should state than I don't have any connection with the company or anyone who sells them. I enjoy sea kayaking solo in the winter (Washington State and nearby Canadian waters) and any reasonable safety device will be considered by me. I agree with John Winters and others on this list who believe that trust in safety equipment can lead to trouble when it's not balanced with good judgment and good boat handling skills and that access to safety devices may even increase the level of risk if someone purchases equipment and then heads out into conditions that are even more dangerous than what they may have been exposing themselves to previously. Julio also wrote: A more useful thing would be a raft with the shape of an envelope. The paddler would get in and stay there surrounded by pockets of air that would keep him/her warm. We could call it "rescue capsule". Well you may have a good idea here Julio. Let me know when you get it on the market. How will it be more stable than the Sea-Seat? How do you keep water out of the air pocket? Make sure it is small enough in it's stored condition to be a convenient "on-person" device. Rex *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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