Awesome Freediving Float

[Fondueset]

A few weeks ago I got a Banks Board. My Omer Shardana was getting a little worn - and also tends to nosedive with the extra large flag and pole I have on it and while being pulled with a monofin.

This is a fantastic board. Pulls even easier than the Shardana and can handle a larger flag and pole without nosing under.

The float comes with a nice array of bungies and a zippered mesh bag thats big enough to hold my 3 mil suit, weights, mask, snork, gloves, camera etc. On top of that the board is big enough to easily strap my monofin on over all that stuff. THEN it's got a 3 point harness you can clip onto the bottom and make the whole rig into a backpack.

The sides are flat and a couple inches high - perfect for SOLAS tape - which I plan to add. I also like Coastguard Orange - but it comes in a bunch of colors.

The width and design are perfect so you can swim up onto it, lock your elbows into the corners of the recessed cargo area (which has a drain hole of course ) and, for example, try to wrangle the freakin' lens back into your Sphera.

Really an extremely well-thought-out piece of kit.

You can see it also has a mostly waterproof cargo hatch as well.

Here is a shot of my dive buddy's with his mono strapped down.

And another of mine from today

And the Facebook page Banks Board | Facebook

 

[bobdonny]

Derekn from the Ireland spearing section got one of these recently and we had a good look at a recent spearing weekend... it certainly looks the job.... I think it will be a bit hit!

 

[Fondueset]

nudge........

 

[Fondueset]

Conspicuity upgrage to my Banks Board.
I used SOLAS tape combined with hi viz fluorescent tape - got both from

Reflective Tape IS ReflectivelyYOURS.com - <h1>Reflective Tape Kits - Reflective Tape, reflective decals pinstripes

 

[watts]

looks great. Do you line dive off it?

 

[Fondueset]

Haven't yet but I've heard of others doing it. Hopefully this fall we'll get out to some of the deeper spots.

 

[Don Paul]

That board is so bitchin... I need one for Xmas, my guy Dan in Florida has them as well, but I need to fund my camera first.

Cheers, Don

 

[ricki]

Thanks for posting. I have been looking around for something with less drag than a normal ball flag float while still keeping a normal sized flag stable and well off the water. Not sure if this would supply that or not. I don't usually need storage above water, then again it might come in handy. How is it in small chop, say 2 to 3 ft.?

 

[Fondueset]

I've had it out in about 2 feet - with say 8 knots wind and it was fine.
I would say it is at least as stable as my Omer Shardana and pulls at least as easy as the shardana does stock - and much better with a heavier flag.

 

[Gera]

It is great!

 

[cdavis]

Nice job, very professional looking, BRIGHT too. Think it will be enough for the myopic jet ski Nazis to take notice of?

On the drag issue, I built a float out of an old 30 inch buggy board. net bag, etc. Used it every day in Little Cayman. Chop never got over 1.5 ft. Even when carrying a lot of weight, it had no noticeable drag, chop, windy or not. When traveling to and from the dive sites, I used the leash to strap it to my leg and it worked great, hardly knew it was back there. When diving, if I wanted to move a short distance and held onto the strap, I could feel it, but not bad.

Connor

 

[Fondueset]

Hi Connor.

You reminded me of something. Since I use my float with a monofin - drag at speed is all-the-more an issue. In that respect this float outperforms the Shardana because of it's prominent raised bow and the position of the line attachment. These two things make it virtually impossible for the float to nose-in. I do plan a mod though. The bow of the float has a a sort of keel that extends down a bit ahead of the line attachment. This gives the float a tendancy to pull a few degrees to one side or another during fast surface swimming with the mono as the line rides along one side or another of the keel.

The mod will be some kind of yoke than will go either side of the bow/keel and keep the line pulling directly straight.
Not a big problem - but noticeable with a monofin at speed.