Helmets, anyone wear them?

[GC1]

I was out today and had a great time, just thinking that in the middle of winter it could be quite chilly and hard to see things with freezing wind in your eyes at 40knts.

I have seen These Gecko Marine helmets, I think I will order one, but anyone else got any experience of them? They seem very cheap, but then you realise that to get the visor it's another £30 or so, Oh! and you need to add the stud kit at £6 to fit the visor to the helmet, little things like this annoy me as they are blatantly there to cloud over the full real price, all IMHO of course. Can't imagine that the helmet which must have so much more work in it is only 2.5 x the cost of a visor, but then it's still cheaper than buying a hard top boat with rubbish vision.

I think I will get white with a full visor in clear and a 50% tinted short one /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Can't afford the £1k for the comms version swmbo would go mental and never talk to me again which I guess would defeat the object of it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Oh! and the strong bag to put it in /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[BrendanS]

met quite a few rib types that have them. They seem to be well regarded in the rib world

 

[Pinnacle]

I don't think you need it for crash protection - bu to keep you warm and allow you to see in the rain/spray/sleet etc.

Most peeps would probably think that somethink to keep you warm ( like a balaclava type "snood" ) plus a set of ski goggles to allow you to see clearly is more suitable. It would also work out a lot less..... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Round the world raggies use ski goggles, so if its good enough for them....

 

[GC1]

I bought some swimming goggles, the mask type that cover the eyes, not nose /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I have used them on a couple of rough days, very good at keeping the wind and rain out, but I remember the days on my motorbike when I was snug in mid winter with the visor down and a thermal balaclava.

Today was the first day that I have felt the wind so cold in my eyes for a long time, seems daft to get cold when I could have a helmet, also when ouyt alone it could be a life saver if you fell and could have been knocked out.

I was only speaking to GeoffS the other day about helmets as he does a lot of lone boating and with his new bat out of hell boat needs to be careful he doesn't hit a large wave and get thrown about /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif It's not impossible, and no kill cords on the Larson 240 /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Nautical]

Gecko make very similar ones for the RNLI with the comms set so suppose they must be good.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Are you running out of things to buy?

 

[Ifraser]

The RNLI use them and I regularly wear one on a rib...as you say with a thermal balaclava they keep your head warm and you can see where your going...keep the visor well polished with pledge or the like and any water just runs off...espcially at 40 knots!! cheers Iain

 

[GC1]

Great, can you advise me then, if I can afford ONE visor with the open face helmet, what do I go for, long clear, short clear, long 50% tinted, short 50% tinted, long 20% tinted or short 20% tinted? Cheers /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Ifraser]

Long clear...max wind protection and clear because you can always wear sunglasses but you can't un-tint a visor if it gets darker...

 

[GC1]

Thanks, can you just confirm they are ONE size, can't see sizes, only mention of adding and removing some kind of padding. Thanks

 

[Ifraser]

I should have said...the Mk9 is adding and removing padding and the velcro patches are a little prone to coming un-glued..the MK10 has an inflatable liner which you inflate /deflate with a mouth tube...they are much better....I think I'm sounding like a helmet spotter now but I have used both types for several years now....Iain

 

[GC1]

Well done, just checked the Tech spec and it IS an inflatable liner, so thanks Iain, your a star /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[BruceDanforth]

Isn't there already a 'helmet' aboard your boat? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[cliff]

Good for posing in so if that is your scene.....
--------------------

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[apollo]

Do they make them that big?

 

[Kawasaki]

They are a good product.
My method fwiw-- Motor bike balaclava, silky type plus cheapo MX gogs with "tear offs" + hood up on boaty coat.
Don,t like the idea of skid lids cos I like to "hear" the boat/engine/prop noise etc etc.
Use the boat all year if I can.
On nice bright brisk Winter days ,I have the facility to wip the cover off totally, or just leave the "roof bit" on.
Tiss nice to enjoy those infrequent calm frosty Mornings.

 

[David_Jersey]

Burkha?

 

[BruceDanforth]

That's a good idea: easily improvised and it would keep the cold out. Raiding the galley could yield a saucepan or a colander (good because you can cover it in tinfoil to stop the CIA interfering with your thoughts). What others can we think of? There must be all manner of helmets on the typical motor boat. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Planty]

Paul,
Bought 2 for my lads Jet Skiing, then thought would be OK for racing, not so. They are now banned for racing purposes apparently due to a problem somewhere with the high cut of the rear damaging a spinal cord or some such. Very comfy to wear and light, so great on the Fly bridge in inclement weather, as we have the full face they are useless for using fixed VHF and the in helmet mic that is supposed to work with hand held is shaky if the connection gets wet.
Also if require delivery in a partivcular time frame and place order on that basis for a particular day, ignore promises they arrived late.
Paul

 

[jcmmarine]

My sons mortorcycle helmet, with full visor and ear speakers with radio plug in cost only £46, and looks better. Why does putting 'marine' in front of an everyday item double, treble or even in some cases quadruple the price.