I'm going to be on a lake in Montana for a week at the end of July and want to do some OW swims in the early morning hours (6am to 7am likely). Nothing big, probably 30 to 40 minutes, just going out and back. During the day, this is a very busy lake (e.g., jetskis, ski boats, etc.). What I'm wondering is if there are any buoy+flag devices that I could swim comfortably with to provide me slightly more visibility to any boats that might be out at that hour? I'd love any links to products if they exist. Thanks.
Former Member
i heard this event requires all 22,000 participants to tow their own safety buoy. maybe contact the directors for more info
www.puliswim.org.tw/.../
If you find anything interesting, please post about it.
I've not found anything yet, so I'm thinking of MacGyvering together:
Belt from a swim tether like Amazon.com: TYR Stationary Swim Belt: Sports & Outdoors
with a scuba float and flag like www.scuba.com/.../Scuba-Dive-Flag-and-Float.html
I figure it's worth spending the ~$30 to $40 to see if I can make this work. I'll slap on a pink or bright orange cap and hopefully be good to go.
i heard this event requires all 22,000 participants to tow their own safety buoy. maybe contact the directors for more info
www.puliswim.org.tw/.../
If you find anything interesting, please post about it. I could also use something like this, as I swim often on busy lakes. So far I have only used a bright red cap and multicolored rash guard to make myself visible.
You could try a red rescue tube, similar to what lifeguards use.
www.kiefer.com/.../ProductDetails.aspx
I've tried this and had mixed results. If there are waves or chop, it won't help your visibility much as it's only a few inches above the waterline. On the other hand, it's fairly easy to pull.
You might try a SCUBA shop and see what they want for one of those flags with the float ring but I don't know how you'd pull it.
On the other hand, I'd imagine that even a busy lake should be quiet during the hours you mentioned.
I use a big, bright, thera-ball (exercise ball, couple feet in diameter) $10 at TJMaxx, with a net from a car trunk wrapped around it and tied with a bungee. Surgical tubing (elastic) loops around just below my knee. I am not describing it well, I think, now that I read my description, but I am told I can be seen from great distances!
It does not have any drag, except in extreme headwinds, and I have used it for up to 10 hour swims with no issues.
I use a big, bright, thera-ball (exercise ball, couple feet in diameter) $10 at TJMaxx, with a net from a car trunk wrapped around it and tied with a bungee. Surgical tubing (elastic) loops around just below my knee. I am not describing it well, I think, now that I read my description, but I am told I can be seen from great distances!
It does not have any drag, except in extreme headwinds, and I have used it for up to 10 hour swims with no issues.
This is a cool idea. I bought a swim tether / swim parachute for the belt and rope. My plan was to take the parachute off and attach a buoy to it; I'll experiment with your idea as that might be even better. It'll certainly be more visible. If it happens to add some drag, so be it. Thanks!
I use a big, bright, thera-ball (exercise ball, couple feet in diameter) $10 at TJMaxx, with a net from a car trunk wrapped around it and tied with a bungee. You could also use a 2 foot BEMA buoy (around $20), which can be attached directly to the swim belt (no cargo net)
For you folks who use the balls & buoys:
1) Does pulling anything with or near your legs interfere with kicking?
2) Does the big ball (or similar gadget) make a problem when you're heading downwind? I can just imagine getting tangled in the cord...
