Safety Equipment

[T Chance]

Here is a magazine ad I found advertising a safe and comfortable racing life jacket.

Just Kidding. The ad was from a 1953 Speed and Spray magazine. I did have one like it when I started racing, blue and white. I think it came from a Sears mail order catalog. As a note with this type jacket the kapok would get waterlogged and, one time another drivers jacket slid off his boat into the water and sunk!

I think this thread offered a lot of information. It seems a lot of drivers prefer Security Products purchased from Pat Gleason and that is what I’ll do too. And thanks Kristi I hadn't really thought about socks. I have never driven with gloves, but I’ll get those too.

Helmet restraints. When I ran tunnel boats I had helmet restraints built into my jacket. Even sitting down with mirrors it restricted me so much that I cut them off. I hadn’t thought of the possibility of having them get hung up and causing an injury; and while I think that would be pretty remote, it is possible. I think my safety, should I be thrown out of the boat is outweighed by the danger caused by restricted awareness. I would hate to turn into someone's path because I couldn’t turn my head far enough to see him coming. However, I’m going to take Jack’s advice and check out the G Force collar at Jeggs. Thank you all and thank you Dan for the forum of Hydroracer.—Tim Chance

[14J]

Something to Consider

http://www.leatt-brace.com/gpx_product.asp

[jeff55v]

Interesting product

Something to consider.

Interesting new product. Looks much better than a collar type neck brace.

I've never liked the collar type neck restraints from the get-go. It looked to me like it would act like a fulcrum and pull my neck in an impact. Now I see confirmation:
"The design of the Leatt-Brace™ prevents the helmet/head from projecting over the brace and therefore prevents a fulcrum action, which has been dokumented in literature pertaining to the use of collar devices."

Also, I wish I had impact protection in my jacket at my latest crash! When my boat hooked, the throttle lever jabbed me in the ribs! VERY PAINFUL!
I'm glad to see it mandated for next season. It'll make procrastinators like me buy it.

[DougMc]

Interesting new product. Looks much better than a collar type neck brace.

I've never liked the collar type neck restraints from the get-go. It looked to me like it would act like a fulcrum and pull my neck in an impact. Now I see confirmation:
"The design of the Leatt-Brace™ prevents the helmet/head from projecting over the brace and therefore prevents a fulcrum action, which has been dokumented in literature pertaining to the use of collar devices."

Is a collar the doughnut looking device that straps around one's neck? What is a fulcrum action?

[T Chance]

I can't tell from the video on the Leatt but it looks like a collar type that is more rigid. I would have to see one in person to see the limitations. My concern with anything like this is that when my boat an I are going, say due East to due West, I want to be able to turn my head and neck back over my left shoulder and see exactly what is East by Southeast. And then also be able to look 90 degrees to my right.

Up-and-down from my chin to my Sternum or the top of my head to my tail bone can be immobilized but I need to look right-to-left and left-to-right.

[Kristi Ellison]

Doug

Your head weighs about 13 pounds and is suspended on a flexible but fragile cervical spine. When your head strikes and immobile object like concrete or your boat inertia is applied to your head. The initial inertia is transmitted to the face, scalp, bone and soft tissue and can cause damage due to mechanical forces being transmitted to brain tissue. At the same time those forces that initially propel your head in one direction can force it to "snap" back in the opposite direction i.e. fulcrum effect. That snapping motion is what causes the majority of head and neck injuries. The helmet retraints and neck collars attempt to limit that "fulcrum effect" and hopefully avoid a disabling injury. It is the reason car manufacturers started putting in side airbags. The trauma community was seeing devastating injuries from t-bone crashes. If you are hit hard enough or stop sudenly at high rate of speed not only can you break your neck but you are at risk to tear blood vessels and damage nerves.
Hope that helps.....not trying to scare anyone

[Kristi Ellison]

Helmets

Your helmet is designed to absorb inertia. Do your homework on your helmets. I am sure that Pat Gleason can give you some specs and things to look for when purchasing your helmets. You want a good one but it should be applicable to what we race. Remember your helmet adds weight to your head, which can add to the fulcrum effect. That is why it is so important that your helmet fits right. I am always concerned when I see kids with helmets that bobble on their heads. An improperly fitting helmet can cause an injury not prevent one.
I know my brother did a lot of shopping and spent some extra bucks to get a light weight but appropriate helmet for boat racing.

[Kristi Ellison]

Bobble head doll = fulcrum effect = broke neck

[Jeff Akers]

Here's enough helmet info to make your head hurt

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/ge...iew/index.html

[Kristi Ellison]

Jeff
Great info.....

Todd
Adoption would come at a price.....all my kids race PRO....are you willing to switch sides?

Kristi

[Kristi Ellison]

Well let's see Huummmm....... if you adopt I will have no choice, don't all good mom & dad's pay for all the race equipment no matter the age of the kid's ?

That's what I hear...just ask my kids!!

[hydrochick139]

Well let's see Huummmm....... if you adopt I will have no choice, don't all good mom & dad's pay for all the race equipment no matter the age of the kid's ?

yea...by the way, thank you mom and dad!!! lol

[Brian10s]

I found this description at ien.com,

Practical Usage

Where hand protection is crucial, worker safety depends on narrowing glove selection choices to the correct level of resistance.

Users seeking a glove designed for cut resistance, for example, can choose from the minimal, or zero level, and five progressively higher levels of resistance. According to the ANSI/ISEA 105-2000 table for cut resistance, the glove that passes a Level 5 test requires a weight of 3,500 grams to force a blade traveling 25 mm to cut through it. At Level 1, the weight required to cut through a material with a blade traveling the same distance is greater than or equal to only 200 grams.

The Level 5 glove offers significantly greater protection from a more forceful cutting action than the lighter weight Level 1. However, the Level 1 material may offer the advantage of greater dexterity but sufficient protection for light-duty assembly operations. Someone handling sheet metal might choose a Level 5 glove for additional protection.


Most glove manufacturers are now voluntarily labeling the gloves with a 1-5 rating. A glove with a 5 rating is not as easy to find as a 3. A pair of gloves for under $10.00 is attractive but I have to wonder how they compare to the "racing" gloves. Any idea what the rating is on the higher priced gloves?

Spend the money and buy a good set for Pat Gleason. Yes, there is some pain in the wallet but you will have them for many years (I think I have had my old ones for 8 plus years) and it is much less pain than rehab. The number one piece of advise to any new driver, never go cheap on safety equipment. You can always afford speed later but one wreck and it won't matter how fast you were. Get the best gear you can.

[Racerkyle20]

I saw the sox and gloves on Mr. Gleason's web site. Looks like a small price to pay compared to medical bills.

Also, not to hijack the thread, but what are the pros and cons of helmet restraints. I understand they are making their way into stock outboard.

Thanks,

I was very hesitent in starting to wear helmet restraints. I race C stock H&R and DSH. Once i started wearing them, i realized how important they are. I've had several bad accidents in my DSH and believed the helment restraints helped. Zach Malhoit first wore helmet restraints last year the same day he blew over his 350h...he wears them all the time now. The best suggestion is to get the restraints sown into the lifejacket...They can be comfertable if you adjust them correctly too.

Kyle Bahl
20-R

[Dave M]

10S - Time To Upgrade

Yes, there is some pain in the wallet but you will have them for many years (I think I have had my old ones for 8 plus years) and it is much less pain than rehab.

Brian,

It is my understanding that Kevlar begins breaking down with exposure to sun and water. So that makes your gloves FAR outdated to be of any use other than gripping the steering wheel, and preventing blisters on your throttle hand.

Water and Sun are kevlars worst enemy. I also think there is a usefull life on kevlar fabric, something like 5 years ? After that it is not as cut resistent. Pat can correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to recall this information floating around somewhere.