Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => SUP General => Topic started by: Dwight (DW) on November 13, 2017, 09:49:52 AM
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5070781/Kitesurfer-stranded-reveals-Apple-Watch-saved-him.html
This is exactly why my wife and I upgraded to LTE version
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good to know he's safe.
I always take a phone with me in a waterproof case and it can also make calls outside the case which is handy.
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With phones costing $1000, no more phones in the water, no mater how water proof they claim to be. A watch I’m will to risk out there.
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I keep my "waterproof" S7 in a ziplock bag when I'm out paddling :).....Nice to know I could make a call if I really needed to, but I really carry it to run Endomondo to track my sessions. It's lasted almost 2 years now without issue.
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Possibly Saved. He hit a hole, de-rigged, and avoided a long 'kick' floating on his kite by calling for help. Been there in " Shark infested waters :) " a mile and a half off shore. I de-rigged, laid on my boom and sail and paddled in the dark for probably half an hour. There were no cell phones back then. I finally made it back to my car and drove home.
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That is a happy ending and why I always carry a phone...but... it may not always work especially if you are a ways off shore.
A bunch of my downwind buddies in Long Island were called in to the coast guard by a concerned member of the public on a massive downwinder from Orient Point to Montauk (“The Northwestern Passage” downwind run) last Friday. When they landed they were met by the coast guard who told them in no uncertain terms to carry VHF radios or not paddle in such conditions in the future. So... I ordered mine at the weekend.
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Possibly Saved. He hit a hole, de-rigged, and avoided a long 'kick' floating on his kite by calling for help. Been there in " Shark infested waters :) " a mile and a half off shore. I de-rigged, laid on my boom and sail and paddled in the dark for probably half an hour. There were no cell phones back then. I finally made it back to my car and drove home.
^^That. Surprising how many kiters don't know how to self-rescue. Of course, the ones I see flopping in the Columbia are a select sample--those that don't know how--but there's a lot of them acting helpless, waving frantically to anyone passing by while their kite blows around at the end of the lines. Even if his kite wouldn't launch it curls into a nice sail.
The watches look handy, but it doesn't cost me anything to take my iPhone and I get music and the paddle bitch coaching me as well. "Shark infested waters"--I guess that means the ocean in general. I'm well past the replacement time for my 6s. I need to replace the battery soon, but I don't see much in the new stuff to get me excited. I'm more focused on pervasive wireless and IOT. If Apple fixed some of its tethering issues then, yeah, sure, but until then I can take my 6S in its waterproof stuff and not worry about it.
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Good to see that John used his noggin...didn't panic...and, was rescued...live to kite another day...
Cool guy...he's bought several SUPs from us...happy ending...
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waterproof phones with water damage are covered by warrantee these days---no more water sensor sticker in the batt compartment that gets them off the hook
otoh i wouldnt volunteer that id had a damaged phone with me while getting seriously beaten at denton's peak ................
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I carry a waterproof VHF radio when I go on downwinders in Long Island in the Great South Bay. The one I have - Cobra MRHH500FLTBT Floating VHF Radio with Bluetooth Wireless - connects to my phone which stays dry in a waterproof pouch. I can simply call the last number dialed (my wife) with the radio and confirm my exit/pickup point. If I were to get into an issue I can simply use one of the emergency channels. I am also considering picking up a Personal Locator Beacon, though my downwind runs don't usually take me into the open ocean... I would certainly have one if I was living in Maui.