Gecko helmets

[Jon Brooks]

I was never a great fan of the Gecko.
I used to favour the ones from Comunica.

I have been using the Gecko for a few months now and it is growing on me.

I have 2, a yellow and a white.
Yellow has a full clear visor.
White has a full tint half visor.

I also have the "adaptor comm" fitted so it has comms via either a M1V or M87.
That works very well.

Both have Icom logo's on.

As I say the more I use them the more they grow.

Regards

[Simon B]

What would be really cool would be a double visor as per aviation andspace helmets, mind you it might mist up so would need an experiment.

[Daniel TD5]

why can,t you just wear a light motor bike helmet as geckos seem a bit dear

found this on ebay its about £90.00 cheaper

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...e=STRK:MEWA:IT


dan

[Brian]

Dan
I understand motorbike helmets to be a COMPLETE NO-NO due to "bucket effect" if you go overboard.
Someone who is a Coroner/works in the trade, used to tell frightening stories here of "young motor bike riders" who get washed up dead with their necks broken.
Put me off wearing one anyway!

[Jon Brooks]

The Bucket effect is very serious.
I understand first found when ejecting someone from a fast jet plan!!
So called the Bucket Effect due to the way it reacts like a bucket dragged through water or air.

If the chin strap and visor are not designed to break away under a certain amount of load/force the effect the simply snaps you neck like a twig!!!
Or worse case it will remove both you helmet and your head!

My limited understanding is that marine safety helmets are designed to protect from impact an intitial contact with water but under stress they sould break away.

Hence why Gecko or Comunica are the right choice.
Also a fighter pilot one would work to!!!
I would suggest not using a motor cycle type, they are designed for other types of stress and load.

Regards

[Jimbo]

Originally Posted by The Jackeens

Jim it is sir!

Mixed you up with Jimbo !!! (Will let some air out of me Gecko )

missus

You should have been able to tell it was me from my pretty pink Gecko with yellow Polka dots...


A helmet is something I've also been looking into getting for when it starts getting fresh to frightening out there, at the moment budget doesn't stretch, but I'll probably save for a full face job with whatever comms kit is being peddled at the time for convenience.

I reckon before you buy any helmet you want to go out and try on some examples, as without being funny, different people have different shaped heads, and if you're going to be wearing it for hours you want to make sure it's comfortable (I've suffered at the hands of some RAF fitters when I was in Cadets, used to land after a flight with "Made in England" stamped across my forehead).

[Jon Brooks]

Originally Posted by Jimbo

(I've suffered at the hands of some RAF fitters when I was in Cadets, used to land after a flight with "Made in England" stamped across my forehead).

Least you knew where you were made then Jim and if you got lost over seas they could point you in the right direction

One of the nice things about the newer Gecko is the inflatable bladder.
It means one size fits all no matter how odd your head shape!

The way I fit mine is to suck the air out, lock valve, place on me noggin then reinflate by releasing the valve and letting it suck in the air it needs rather than blowing.
Not sure if thats the right way bot seems to work for me!!

Regards

[Daniel TD5]

Originally Posted by Jon Brooks

The Bucket effect is very serious.
I understand first found when ejecting someone from a fast jet plan!!
So called the Bucket Effect due to the way it reacts like a bucket dragged through water or air.

If the chin strap and visor are not designed to break away under a certain amount of load/force the effect the simply snaps you neck like a twig!!!
Or worse case it will remove both you helmet and your head!

My limited understanding is that marine safety helmets are designed to protect from impact an intitial contact with water but under stress they sould break away.

Hence why Gecko or Comunica are the right choice.
Also a fighter pilot one would work to!!!
I would suggest not using a motor cycle type, they are designed for other types of stress and load.

Regards

well thats f**ked it my new Raiding Craft Coxswain Helmet

early 90s and comes with attached boom mike and connector for clansman radio system

and i was goining to get you to connect my m1 euro v to the mike

its going to live in the garage now

never mind

dan

[Scott2]

I've got one exactly like that, Ex RNLI

[Richard B]

It makes an interesting lightshade!

[Jon Brooks]

Dan
I am sure we can adapt to comms to work with a M1V.
If you get a Gecko I am sure you could make the comms bit fit.

Regards

[Simon B]

I think Gecko already do this
If not they'll sharp sort one.

[Scary Des]

Just as a matter of interest what are people’s primary reason for wearing a helmet
When motorcycle helmets were made compulsory it was as a result of a significant number of accidents. Now I can’t find a single incident of someone having an accident in a rib as a result of a head injury, in other words, hitting their head and then crashing the boat (might not be looking in the right place ).
Head injuries are more common in yachting but you never see anyone on a yacht with a helmet on
I am not saying helmets are unnecessary I am just interested what drives people Des

[Tim M]

My reasons are for personal comfort; a helmet keeps the head dry and water out of your eyes.

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by Scary Des

Just as a matter of interest what are people’s primary reason for wearing a helmet ...I am just interested what drives people Des

For me, primarily comfort. In rain or rough sea producing excessive spray, the facial protection offered by the full visor is great. Those same conditions usually mean more violent boat movements, so the safety of a bone dome is also welcome.

I avoided a potentially serious injury the first time I ever wore my Gecko - the visor saved me from putting the console mounted GPS into my face as we came off a wave heavily.

[codprawn]

Yes I think it would mainly help to keep off spray etc and as a large percentage of body heat is lost throught the head!!!

In a capsize or stuffing it should save you quite a bit of injury.

In the accident report of the rib that capsized carrying 12 pax the report commended Shaun Whyte for insisting that all pax wear canoeing helmets. As they operated in rough rocky conditions makes perfect sense!!!

[Jon Brooks]

comfort and comms for me.

Like all have said keeps wind and spray out of your face when its rough.
Also how many of you have to stop or slow down to use your radio?
With an intercom system we can chat to the crew without shouting and use the VHF at full speed.
Also mean my hair sttays nice

Safety is a valid point, I am sure there are lots of times where what happened to Richard happens to us all, if not we have had a near miss.
I know lots who have lost teeth!!! but not when I am driving

Simon if you scoll up you will see mention on the Gecko comms kit.
D S Dev also make one.
I was just offering to mod the one Dan already has.

Regards

[The Edges]

Similar experience for me. On the Ribnet cruise out of littlehampton earlier in the year. Got caught out by a wave, was thrown forward and my nose struck the console grab rail. Blood everywhere.
Top of my christmas list this year!
More importantly the missus hates the seawater messing up her hair.
who am I to argue!

Andrew

[Simon B]

Boring as it might seem I'd done a quick risk assessment of Cox/helm potential for injury and of all people on the boat they'll get a pasting in a stuffing or hard landing.

What surprises me is we do not see more. I've also had experience of helm positions that have been modified by people with no idea of ergonomics so as to put the Cox permanently off balance i.e. throttles to far forward etc.

Gecko on my list of things to get. One last point on busy boat unless the radio is turned up loud its very easy to miss bieng hailed etc So comms set for me also.

[David Hickman]

Jon,
I have ordered a Comms Kit form Gecko for my Mk 10 helmet to fit the M1 Euro V.
Will let everyone know what it is like. Should be about 2 weeks.