ThrowRaft TD2401
NEW PRODUCTS
Review by Steve Morrell
I
saw this product at the Miami Boat Show and immediately realized its advantages. The first advantage was demonstrated by the person manning the booth who showed me how easy it is to throw it. It’s a very small, easily manageable bag with a handle on it that you throw underhanded like a softball. I could easily see that you could throw something a long ways like that. Just have to let go at the right time as you swing your arm, which is always the trick. The manufacturer estimates it can be thrown 40-plus feet—whether packed or fully inflated. Getting a life-saving device out far enough to reach a victim is the number one most important part of any throwable device. If it doesn’t get to the victim, it doesn’t matter what other benefits it has. The next advantage I saw was that it inflates when submerged to a small square raft that’s 22” x 21”. It carries a CO2 cartridge that’s easily replaceable if used, or out-of-date. It can also be inflated by pulling a cord—all similar to an inflatable life vest. But there’s more. Many of us are familiar with other throwable devices: Horseshoe buoy, ring buoy, throwable cushion. But try and swim with one of these and it’s slow going. This device inflates to a square that you can rest your upper body on and use both hands to paddle with. The TD2401 folded up takes up only 11” x 4”—making it not only easy for throwing but compact enough for storing in a small hard plastic container attached to your boat. Folding it up after it’s been opened is easily done in minutes. It’s promoted as the only inflatable throwable Type IV PFD on the market approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. To get the approval, it has to survive 35 USCG tests, some of which include: water spray test to show it will stay uninflated when exposed to water spray, so it won’t open unintentionally; able to be thrown with accuracy; puncture resistant; easily rearmed and repacked; a drop test where it is dropped from 110 feet and still auto inflate. $129.99 at ThrowRaft.com.
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Steve Morrell, SOUTHWINDS editor
941-795-8704 or manager@SoutheastSailing.com 38
April 2017
SOUTHWINDS
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