Other Help me invent something . . .

[Shonuff]

I want to invent a boyant, tethered object to attach to a ski that, in the event of sinking, will be able to be "deployed" and make ski recovery possible. With a foam or inflatable object attached to the ski with a reel of string or small rope I want the rider to at least be able to know where the ski is so, worst case, divers can attach a thick rope to the ski and drag that waterlogged mess in.

I've seen two skis sunk and forever lost. (recent video here and in person in Pensacola) I would like to make something very low profile that can be used in cases of extreme SNAFU.

 

[Idok]

just put a waterproof GPS beacon in it...then you can track it live on your pc as it goes out to sea

 

[ridethelip]

Look at the sinking rickter thread. There are some ideas there.

 

[Matt_E]

just put a waterproof GPS beacon in it...then you can track it live on your pc as it goes out to sea

Water is a very good EM shield. You wouldn't get a GPS signal after a few feet at best.

 

[Waste Land]

Flaoting hood attached to a line that is attached somewhere inside the hull....hull starts going under under...pop the hood...no idea man

 

[Matt_E]

Surf board leash and a good, CG-approved vest on you. :biggrin:

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

How about a self inflating marker buoy and a really long rope? The only issue is how to reliably trigger the inflation?? Maybe with a timer. You would just have to remember to disable and reset it after every ride.

http://www.dirdirect.com/AquaTec-Auto-Signal-Mark-SMB.html

But really though, why not just build a ski that floats? Foam is cheap and there is plenty of room for it.

 

[Matt_E]

But that would be addressing the problem, and not the symptom!
This is America, dammit! :biggrin:

 

[Peter123]

A variation from the bottom of this thread:
http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/85779-Has-anyone-sunk-a-Rickter/page3

Remove the strap from this, put snaps on the back of it and matched up to the front of your tray so it snaps in place below the hood latch. Have some form of line "reel" on the back of the inflatable such as card stock with high test line wound across it and connected to the ski where you attached the snaps (so it will be out of the way). If the ski starts to sink, yank on the inflator cord causing it to unsnap from the ski and inflate.

http://www.amazon.com/Stearns-Sospenders-Belt-Pack-Life-Jacket/dp/B0019KHXKA/ref=pd_sbs_sg_3

 

[WaveDemon]

I agree, you're just trying to invent dry foam. how about if, you have a ski you don't want to lose you make sure it floats.

 

[Waternut]

One option would just be to install one of strobe lights like they put on life vests. It won't keep the ski from sinking but it may aid in finding it if you have diving equipment semi-available.

On a more complex note, I'm thinking inflating bladders with CO2 is the way to go. Activating the CO2 cartridges is the tricky part though. Hitting a button isn't practical since you typically lose your ski when you're not near it. Water activated is definitely out of the question. I don't have a lot of time before I need to leave for some work function but my initial design would involve a pressure activated switch for the CO2 based on psi. The major issue I see with this is the pressure difference between going 3 feet in a big trick and 10 feet is massive to us but in terms of gauge pressure is not that much (only a few psi). This pressure could potentially being generated in a trick and it's further complicated by the differences in weight/pressure of salt vs fresh water.

 

[oxnard111]

I don't really have anything specifically constructive to add to this specific invention, but there is a cool website I bought a product from once that lets users pool together to invent a product. Not sure if it would help for this kinda of jetski related product, but it is a cool site none-the-less.

http://www.quirky.com/ideas

 

[BruceSki]

I want to invent a boyant, tethered object to attach to a ski that, in the event of sinking, will be able to be "deployed" and make ski recovery possible. With a foam or inflatable object attached to the ski with a reel of string or small rope I want the rider to at least be able to know where the ski is so, worst case, divers can attach a thick rope to the ski and drag that waterlogged mess in.

I've seen two skis sunk and forever lost. (recent video here and in person in Pensacola) I would like to make something very low profile that can be used in cases of extreme SNAFU.

That ski floated high. It floated right out to sea though. Maybe it sunk eventually? Sun went down shortly after that incident though and he didn't get out on a boat to go look for it in 10 foot storm waves. Too dangerous. The coast guard and bay constable were pissed they were even out there.

My solution for this problem is run foam and don't let go. haha

 

[WFO Speedracer]

One option would just be to install one of strobe lights like they put on life vests. It won't keep the ski from sinking but it may aid in finding it if you have diving equipment semi-available.

On a more complex note, I'm thinking inflating bladders with CO2 is the way to go. Activating the CO2 cartridges is the tricky part though. Hitting a button isn't practical since you typically lose your ski when you're not near it. Water activated is definitely out of the question. I don't have a lot of time before I need to leave for some work function but my initial design would involve a pressure activated switch for the CO2 based on psi. The major issue I see with this is the pressure difference between going 3 feet in a big trick and 10 feet is massive to us but in terms of gauge pressure is not that much (only a few psi). This pressure could potentially being generated in a trick and it's further complicated by the differences in weight/pressure of salt vs fresh water.

I was thinking along these same lines, maybe the co2 cylinders could be remote activated by a wristwatch device with a big round oh poop button in the middle of it, something that would take some strength to depress so it couldn't be accidentally activated..

 

[Matt_E]

Better push that button while the ski its still floating because once it's down, the signal won't get there.

 

[chriselmore_1]

i was almost thinkin of foamin my ac pole

 

[Dustin Mustangs]

10 minute timer that starts as soon as the lanyard gets yanked and of course have an override switch somewhere for when the ski is not in use.

 

[Waternut]

All this talk makes me want to figure out some form of foam for my ski. I think it's less of an issue for flatwater riders in fairly shallow lakes but finding something in surf is a lost cause unless it's floating. Even then you may not find it. What I'm getting at is... You can't eliminate all risk. If you run good foam, your risk is low. If you run no foam, your risk is high.

Figuring out a way to eliminate the risk is awesome but at the same time, your backup has to be reliable and that's the part that is going to be difficult. I guess a secondary tether would work but I'd hate to blow $5-$10 of cartridges and then have to repack my air bladder every time the ski got away from me. Granted, it's rare for me to bail or to even let go of the ski but still an inconvenience that may or may not be worth it to some.

 

[Waternut]

10 minute timer that starts as soon as the lanyard gets yanked and of course have an override switch somewhere for when the ski is not in use.

That's a pretty good idea. I would think 1-2 minutes would be better though. I'm not an electrical guy though so I have no idea how to actually configure that.

 

[Shonuff]

I'm trying to keep it simple.

In both of my instances, it took a while for the skis to sink. In Pensacola, it took three minutes to sink an X-2 with literally no foam at all - plenty of time to mouth inflate a child's floatie (water wing) attached to the ski with long, thin, nylon twine.

I don't think the twine needs to be strong enough to move the ski but keep the floatie attached for retrieval.