Inflatable Safety Devices

Seahorse II
The Seahorse II is, according to the manufacturer, “designed to aid a kayaker in rapid bailing as well as helping the kayaker climb back into the cockpit.” It is made of urethane-coated 200 denier nylon treated to resist ultraviolet light. It is inflated by two 68-gram CO2 cylinders and/or an oral inflation tube. The CO2 cylinders are covered by neoprene sleeves to prevent burns to the skin, as the cylinders ice up when they discharge. A plastic dump valve is provided for rapid deflation.
I tried the Seahorse II on a couple of different kayaks, carrying it on deck and clipped into deck fittings aft of the cockpit.
After a capsize and wet exit, it was a simple matter to pull the Seahorse II out and clip its other end into the deck line forward. The brass clips supplied with the device open like crab claws. With cold hands or gloves it can be difficult to pinch them to open them. A snap hook that didn’t require as much dexterity would be easier to use.
When the wind was up and the kayak was drifting, I deployed the Seahorse II on the upwind side-shifting the aft fitting to windward if necessary-so my legs would trail away from the kayak rather than drift under the hull. I pulled the cords activating the two inflators; the cylinders and the fabric around the inflators frosted up. For the few moments that the cylinders are discharging they are intensely cold, even if submerged. Following the manufacturer’s instructions I used the oral inflator to complete the inflation. It required a dozen blows to make the bag firm to the touch and ready to use. If the water temperature isn’t too cold, you could inflate the Seahorse II orally and save the cylinders for another time.
To drain the cockpit, I reached across the kayak, grabbed the far side of the coaming and rolled the boat toward me and onto the float. It doesn’t take a lot of strength, because the cockpit drains as it rolls. By the time the kayak is on top of the float, the cockpit is nearly empty. A quick shove flips the kayak right-side up without taking on any additional water.
After the kayak is back on its bottom, the Seahorse II stabilizes the kayak and provides a nylon webbing stirrup for reentry. In this way it serves the same function as the Sea Float by Georgian Bay Kayak (reviewed in August 1996) but has the advantage of a shape that puts the bulk of the buoyancy to either side of the webbing ladder so that you need not climb over it to get to the cockpit. The stirrup, as it came from the manufacturer, was a loop of nylon webbing laced through two grommets with its ends joined by a plastic slider. When I stepped on one side of the webbing it just pulled all the slack from the other side. To create two “fixed” steps I tied the webbing into the grommets to create two steps at different heights and knotted the ends of the webbing together. That made it much easier to get out of the water and into the cockpit. On a few occasions, one rung of webbing wrapped around my foot when I twisted to set myself into the cockpit. Fortunately, the Seahorse II provided plenty of stability while I shook the webbing off. Once I was back in the cockpit, I leaned on the float for support while getting my spray skirt back on and pumping out any remaining water.
On one occasion, my PFD snagged and inadvertently opened the dump valve. To reduce the chances of that happening I’d suggest cutting the tab off the plug; you don’t need it to open the valve.
When I was ready to paddle, I released the forward end of the Seahorse II and paddled away. Even with the dump valve, deflating it takes a bit of time and could put you in a vulnerable position if you had to take your hands off the paddle in rough water. The Seahorse II didn’t seem to cause much drag while I was underway.
Although the manufacturer emphasizes the bailing abilities of the devices, I think its boarding ladder and supplemental stability are its best features. If there’s water in the cockpit, you can always pump out once you get back aboard. The Seahorse II would provide a margin of safety for a tired paddler who needed help getting himself back in the boat. Thermofloat Sea-Seat
The Thermofloat Sea-Seat is described as a “personal survival raft for cold water.” It is a large square inflatable “pillow” with a depression in the center. We first reviewed it in Spring 1986, and it has recently been put back into production. The Sea-Seat’s square meter of yellow polyurethane-coated nylon is equipped with an oral inflation tube, a stout welded-in plastic grommet in one corner, and a nylon strap tether with a plastic snap hook for clipping onto the paddler’s life jacket.
The Sea-Seat can be used as an aid for reentry by setting a paddle across the Sea-Seat and the aft deck of the kayak. Sitting in the Sea-Seat, I could even lift the bow of a kayak to drain a swamped cockpit. But there are a number of devices that are quicker to use for a reentry. The Sea-Seat’s chief advantage is as a life raft to get you out of the water in the event that you’ve lost your kayak. For that reason, the Sea-Seat should be carried on your person, clipped to your PFD.
It took me about 70 puffs to inflate the Sea-Seat. When I inflated the Sea-Seat while in cold water (wearing a wet suit) I didn’t get light headed as I did when blowing it up in the office. But my lips weakened so I curled my hand around my lips to finish inflation. Even so, I was able to inflate the Sea-Seat in 13/4 to 21/2 minutes, well below the 3 to 4 minutes stated by the manufacturer.
Getting up on the Sea-Seat was very much like getting up on the rear deck of a kayak, although the Sea-Seat has no hand holds, so it can be a bit more difficult to get a grip on. I set my hands in the depression and flutter kicked my legs to the surface. With a final kick I pulled myself belly down onto the seat. Sliding around from the prone position to sitting takes a bit of care, but gets easier with practice. Once I was in the sitting position, the Sea-Seat felt very stable and provided enough flotation to keep all but my lower legs out of the water.
In one trial I spent about twenty minutes on the Sea-Seat drifting through a 2-foot high shore break and wading back out to deeper water. I felt quite stable even with waves breaking over me. Since I didn’t need to hold on I could keep my hands tucked into my PFD for warmth. While my legs were cold, I was not losing heat anywhere near as fast as I would have had I been immersed. Being out of the water also made it easy to get to gear in the pockets of my PFD. I could easily find and use any emergency equipment I was carrying. For rescuers, I would be much more visible perched on the Sea-Seat than I would be swimming with only my head above the water. While I hate to think I could lose my boat, it does happen. In several of Sea Kayaker’s accident reports, paddlers have been separated from their kayaks. In a worst-case scenario, a Sea-Seat would make a significant difference. 
The Signal Buoy
The Signal Buoy is a CO2-inflated cylinder of bright orange fabric. It packs into a small pouch on a waist belt and is 45 inches long and 6 inches in diameter when inflated. On its upper end it has a strip of retro-reflective material to reflect searchlights, and inside there is a strip of radar-reflective material. The CO2 cartridge is not insulated and, as it freezes when discharging, it can burn the skin. A neoprene sleeve or a few wraps of duct tape would safeguard against injury. The CO2 cartridge fully inflates the buoy, and there is an oral inflation tube as a second means of inflation.
The Signal Buoy has two nylon straps that serve as handles. You need to hold onto the device to keep it upright-it lies flat on the water if you don’t. When it is in use in the upright position, it isn’t designed to provide you with any additional flotation. Since you’ll be immersed in the water, your survival depends upon a rescuer getting to you before the effects of hypothermia overcome you. Your survival time will depend upon the temperature of the water and how well insulated your clothing is to protect you from the cold.
The Signal Buoy’s purpose is to make you more visible to rescuers. Its bright orange fabric shows up well against the water and its retroreflective tape is very effective. Even with a 6-volt flashlight, it produced a noticeable reflection at about 175 yards.
In radar trials on ruffled seas and to a distance of about 400 yards (*Our tests were limited by a small waterway. Radar tests by Boating magazine noted a good reflection at one mile over flat water.), the radar reflective material inside the Signal Buoy produced a blip roughly the equivalent of an 111/2″ diameter corner reflector (a common reflector used on larger recreational boats). The blip diminished when the Signal Buoy rotated and the radar reflected material’s edge was pointed at the radar. If the manufacturer were to add another strip of material attached at a right angle to the existing piece, the Signal Buoy might produce a more uniform signature. But even though the signal was occasionally very faint, it was easy to pick the Signal Buoy up on radar.
The Signal Buoy is very compact and easy to carry. Like the Sea-Seat, it is most useful when you lose your kayak. Since it doesn’t protect you from the effects of cold water, I’d recommend it for paddlers travelling in warmer water where their survival time is longer or in well travelled waterways where potential rescuers are close by.
Other inflatable devices
The three inflatable devices reviewed here are designed for use after a wet exit and in some cases after the loss of the kayak. Other inflatable devices are designed to be used prior to a wet exit. The Back-Up, a deck-mounted auto-inflating rolling float (reviewed in June, 1997) and the paddle loom float by Sport Zölzer (to be reviewed later this year) are designed to be used after a capsize. Rolling with a float makes it possible to get back to the surface and right the kayak without having to wet exit. They effect faster rescues and avoid swamping the cockpit, increased exposure to cold and the process of reentering the kayak and resealing the spray skirt. To complete the spectrum, the Sea Wings Sponsons (reviewed Winter 1993) are orally inflated cylinders secured on either side of the cockpit at the waterline. When inflated they provide additional stability to help prevent a capsize or to assist with a reentry after a capsize. They have the advantage that it is easy to paddle the kayak with them in place.
Any of these inflatable devices can add to your margin of safety. Which device you choose depends on the waters you paddle, the kinds of rescue that are likely and how comfortable you are using the device under adverse conditions. Equip yourself to allow for making a mistake at a bad time. Then strive to be wise about when and where you paddle.
The author is the editor of Sea Kayaker. He wishes to thank Officer Doug Harris and the Seattle Police Department Harbor Patrol for their assistance with radar testing.