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Our Self Inflating Marker Buoy (SIMB) is simple to use and a very effective product for use in the aquatic leisure industry. No need for blower or air pump. Manufactured from high quality PVC with handles and grab-lines, SIMB inflates itself so there's no need for a blower and air pumps to inflate the buoy.
It is ideal for event in the water requiring a removable marker, like yachting and swimming races, surf life-saving events, canoe, rowing and kayak races. The self inflating marker buoy is easily deployed and when not in use rolls into a very small unit for storage in the handy carry-bag supplied with each unit sold.
NOTE: Our Self Inflating Marker Buoys don't require an airpump, blower or gas tank to inflate!
Quick & Simple Deployment of the Self inflating Marker Buoy
(Click on images to enlarge)
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| Deploying the Self Inflating Marker Buoy |
Marker Buoy fully inflated |
Marker Buoy Clip On Ballast |
Marker Buoy at Yachting Event |
Benefits of our Marker Buoy
One of the great benefits of the self inflating Marker Buoys the vertical signage opportunities is offers for high profile events on the water. The PVC allows for effective sign writing of a sponsor's name or a club name when the marker buoy is bobbling on the water, highly visible during the event.
A chain or item of similar weight is used to ballast marker buoy in a vertical state. The product can be supplied with or without ballast. Deployment is easy. Simply unclip the retainer from around the marker buoy, attach weight, unfold the buoy to its full length and lower it into the water. It inflates itself easily so you don't need to spend time inflating it on land for transfer to a position on the water. No worries about over-inflating it.
Many marker buoys consist of bulky bladders within an outer skin which either punctures or continually needs repair. The Self Inflating Marker Buoy revolutionises the speed and ease of laying marker buoys for a wide range of events.
Testimonials
 On winning the bid to host the 2007 New Zealand Starling Nationals, it suddenly became painfully obvious to our club that our existing set of pre inflated course markers would be woefully inadequate for the required 7 mark trapezoid course, which included two sets of gates. Not only would it be virtually impossible for us to carry seven pre-flated marks of adequate size on our 5.2 metre course laying rib, but the time to retrieve extra marks from another boat would restrict our ability to lay a course in an acceptable time.
...initially we had reservations about them them getting holes in and sinking, or sinking if run over by a yacht or patrol boat. But these reservations were soon put to rest after several fairly testing sessions. We ran over them with almost every yacht in the club, including between the hulls of a tornado and they just bounced right back up...
...the speed of deploying and retrieving the marks far exceeded expectations...
...another unexpected benefit was the ability to adjust the height of the marks in the water, to suit the wind strength...
The clever weight design and easy clip system makes handling the lines and anchors a breeze and of course storage back at the shed is no longer the waste of space it used to be. We will certainly not go back to the pre inflated marks after having these.
Would I recommend them? I certainly would!
It is an ingenious system, the weight of the buoy and its sinker causes air to be trapped so it floats some 1.5m out of the water. The weight of the buoy is 5kg, to which is attached a short length of chain for stability. Un-inflated the buoy is only 900x 200mm so it is very easy to carry several on board a small RIB safety boat.
...it was well visible from a kilometer away against the trees in the background.
...with the anchor line attached to the end of the chain, the buoy remained upright in 25 knots wind, and the anchor line hung down as to be no problem for boats passing closely.
...the next tests were running into the buoy at ten knots, hitting it with a boom, and towing as if a spinnaker sheet had dropped over it. No adverse effect at all. At Nelson SC they even had a Tornado sail over the top of one at high speed with no ill effect.
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| » Read the unabridged testimonial from Steve Newport (President and Chief Mark Layer, Nelson Yacht Club, and Paul ) about his experiences using the AFlex Self Inflating Marker Buoys during a 18 months period and the full testimonial from Paul Fitzwarryne, ACT Race officer. (Jan 2009) |
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Specifications |
| Standard Post SIMB |
- 1500mm high x 600mm diameter
- Packs to 900 x 900 x 300mm
- Weight of SIMB post = 5 Kg
- Weight of ballast chain = 12 Kg
- 1500mm high x 300mm diameter
- Packs to 450 x 450 x 200mm
- Weight of SIMB post = 3 Kg
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Tapered Post SIMB
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- 1800mm high x 750mm base x 300mm top
- Packs to 900 x 900 x 200mm
- Weight of tapered post SIMB = 5 Kg
- Weight of ballast chain = 12 Kg
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*Both shapes are available
in various colours and sizes |
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| Nelson Yacht Club Marker Buoy |
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