Disqualification, legal helmet colors

[nbranews]

colors

I have always believed in the orange-safety or international. But in recent have been noticing that the Yellow stands out more. The mail thing to remember is SAFETY. How well will your daughters helmet be seen if she unfortunatly ends up bobbing in the water with 10 other boats charging toward her.

[Dave M]

Just Do it

Paint it freaking orange or yellow and be done with it. Some times you have to actually parent and put the foot down.

And to some ones point about painting a helmet "why?" A LOT of us buy an aftermarket helmet that is of the same quailty as those that cost $500. We spend a HUGE amount less for a non-name brand with the same standards of saftey as required by law. Snell rating is snell rating no matter who you buy it from. Hard to find an orange in a lot of helmets.

Mine is a yellowish orange right from Shoei. It does stand out real well against the backgrounds. Easy to pick out in a crowd.

[ricochet112]

The required colors are also for the drivers that are approaching a wrecked participant. They need to know what to be sure to miss. Color the same as the boat could lead to dodging something and hitting the wrong object. Get It?

EXACTLY!

IMO, the only legal color should international orange.

[forshey99]

Enough opinions, take an objective "look"

I have had this discussion off-line many times about helmet safety as I am a proponent of changes to our rules on the subject. Color, much like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Since one can never truly "look" through someone else's eye, it's very subjective to make any determination on the visibility of any given color without applying some basic color science.

The appearance of color changes under different lighting sources and when viewed through a variety of natural and readily occurring filters. The value of a color under 5 o'clock sun is different than that same color under noon overcast. Thus the visibility of that color changes based on conditions

Additionally, that value is further altered when viewed through a filter such as water/spray, sunlight glare, tinted/iridium coated shields, etc.

There is far more to determining the visibility of a color than just to say it is "bright"

Our rules make the best assumption that international orange, fluorescent red, yellow, or orange are the most visible in terms of safety. This may be true under static conditions. Unfortunately, we are not asked to see these colors under static conditions, but instead at a fraction of a second amidst a flurry of water and chaos.

As chance would have it our community has also determined that yellow or orange would make a suitable color for buoys in order to make them visible as well.

In our rule restrictions regarding helmet colors, we have effectively created a scenario where the helmets and the buoys are almost indistinguishable, given the conditions that occur in an accident. Round objects, at the surface, yellow or orange in color. Now, in the fraction of time available to make a decision, which one would you aim for if they were side by side? For this reason maybe we should revisit helmet colors and patterns, not in the interest of fashion in the interest of safety.


99

[vanover7s]

me and my dad both wear the bright yellow shoei helmets
it makes it easier to find each other on the course
and im sure its easier to see when im bobbing in the water [=

[bill boyes]

Bill, I very strongly suggest that you stay within the rule book with the Helmet color.I have noticed on Hydro racer and BRF where helmets colors and artwork is getting very creative are Frankly really pushing the rule. It just might be on the Regatta Management Meeting agenda in January at RDU. You could just end up not having a legal helmet as you did with boat numbers. DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!Stay with the Color you get when you buy a helmet from Security. International orange or yellow.

[propnuts]

Go Orange

The rule book allows yellow, but the problem I have with yellow is that it is the color of the bouys we use for inner course markers. I don't like the idea that a driver could crash near a bouy and cause other drivers potential confusion, a split second could save a life. Probably worrying over nothing, but just my observation. Tony

[Skoontz]

That's what I'm talking about!

You guys have added every angle that needs to be addressed when selecting a helmet color.

Now, let me spalin. We are under KT's EZ-up at Longbeach. Marlee Hill, Bunker, KT, my wife ( the artsie fartsie babe that she is, and I think Russell Hill. So, we start by talking about the rookie X, and how KT can now remove it from her helmet. Then Marlee and Bunker begin talking about helmet colors, cause Marlee's helmet still has bright yellow tape to make it legal, so the conversation eluded to helmet paint. Then, my wife chimes in, both kids are saying "yeah pinks legal" yada yada. Then, Monday comes, and grab the rule book....Clearly, I don't want to have to redo anything, such as the numbers, so, this thread provides clarity from a multitude of very experienced and hooked up folks in APBA that the discretionary part of the book leaves out.

Now, may I suggest, as Bill mentioned about placing this topic in the Regatta Management in January, that a true color chart is brought into play. If you say the helmet must be comparable to This ( imaginary color chip here) color, there is simply no question, no excuse, no argument. you could even go as far as to have that color duct tape available to be bought so people can make their helmets legal for a fee, and have the extra $$$ go to the club hosting the event.

Personally, I see no reason anything within the neon red/yellow range could not be used, and understand fully how pinks, or rosea's could throw rescue teams off the hunt.

Keep this thread rolling however, I think there is lot's of great input coming from here. Got to remember anytime a serious wreck happens, set aside the injured parties, it also add one more nail to a coffin of use of that water just for example.

[Joe J]

Tony:

The only problem with your statement is that we use orange buoys for course markers. so either orange or yellow is gojng to match, depending on where you race.

Lauren wears a yellow helmet, which I like since it allows me to pick her out quicker as they are coming up for a start.

Joe

The rule book allows yellow, but the problem I have with yellow is that it is the color of the bouys we use for inner course markers. I don't like the idea that a driver could crash near a bouy and cause other drivers potential confusion, a split second could save a life. Probably worrying over nothing, but just my observation. Tony

[propnuts]

Figures, you California guys always have to be so contrary

Tony:

The only problem with your statement is that we use orange buoys for course markers.Joe

[Skoontz]

Actually, there is a logical reason for the orange. Most of the time, because we have to conserve water in an effort to save the lives of these poor little
smelt fish resembling poodle turds, by the time we race, the surrounding areas are brown,. Orange buoys are easier to see with brown surroundings, especially when we have race spaces half the width of in a normal part of the world

[forshey99]

another facet

Dislcamier: I wear both Security and Lifeline SO safety gear with full confidence in their workmanship, material quality, and design. The following statement is not intended as an attack on either or both, but is simply a statement bringing attention to the reality of the situation.

Although color is very important in aiding drivers to avoid colliding with another driver in the water, FIT is the single most important aspect in any helmet regardless of color, construction, material, weight, etc. Simply put, if your helmet doesn't fit correctly, it will not serve its designed intent.

By limiting our helmet colors, per APBA GSR 3.A.2, to fluorescent red, yellow, or orange, or international orange, we are limiting a driver's choice to his/her safety gear with regards to fit. Helmet manufacturers do adhere to basic SNELL Memorial Foundation, DOT, FIM, etc. standards in terms of impact protection, penetration, etc. but they are not governed by standards for fit. Manufacturers design helmets fitment based on their best available ergonomics data which means that particular manufacturers may have designs better suited for particular head shapes than others. In other words, one size does not fit all. This is a case where limiting one's helmet purchase to one particular brand for the sake of color is irresponsible and dangerous.

The next logical discussion leads to painting helmets and that in itself brings another set of complications.

Let's take a look at our rules in terms of safety and not tradition. The helmet rule is in dire need of revision.

Nate

[Jack Stotts]

We are supposed to miss the buoys also. Avoid all things red, orange ,or yellow. I, for one, thought we should have stuck with one color and one only. KISS. Keep It Smple Stupid!

[aojesus]

Dislcamier: I wear both Security and Lifeline SO safety gear with full confidence in their workmanship, material quality, and design. The following statement is not intended as an attack on either or both, but is simply a statement bringing attention to the reality of the situation.

Although color is very important in aiding drivers to avoid colliding with another driver in the water, FIT is the single most important aspect in any helmet regardless of color, construction, material, weight, etc. Simply put, if your helmet doesn't fit correctly, it will not serve its designed intent.

By limiting our helmet colors, per APBA GSR 3.A.2, to fluorescent red, yellow, or orange, or international orange, we are limiting a driver's choice to his/her safety gear with regards to fit. Helmet manufacturers do adhere to basic SNELL Memorial Foundation, DOT, FIM, etc. standards in terms of impact protection, penetration, etc. but they are not governed by standards for fit. Manufacturers design helmets fitment based on their best available ergonomics data which means that particular manufacturers may have designs better suited for particular head shapes than others. In other words, one size does not fit all. This is a case where limiting one's helmet purchase to one particular brand for the sake of color is irresponsible and dangerous.

The next logical discussion leads to painting helmets and that in itself brings another set of complications.

Let's take a look at our rules in terms of safety and not tradition. The helmet rule is in dire need of revision.

Nate

You bring up some very valid points Nate.

Certain helmet construction is not compatible with certain paints. Paints can actually break down the outer shell making it softer and weaker or in some cases more brittle.

I often run into this when doing helmets for baseball, e.t.c. Parents want the kids to have cool graphics but are unaware of what certain paints/solvents will do to the outer shell.

It is not so bad with racing helmets but their are certain types that should only be done with water based paints or trouble could be right around the corner.

Some manufacturers will void the warranty if not properly painted.

P.S. I am not against custom helmets, I just did one for my son. Just make sure it is done correctly. Ask your sign shop if in doubt, they will help you figure out what you need for compatible paints.

[Skoontz]

The new woe is me hug a tree VOC compliant paints California legislators in their infinite wisdom, force upon all of us who use auto paints for any reason...Problem is, it must be coated with clear, and all those are solvent based, so, they really solved nothing as usual. Point being, VOC compliant paints, House of color neons, pearls, and most auto paints in todays standard, won't hurt what they are blown over. Old school yep, the reducers would eat into the helmet shell.