Here's what I've used as floats (marker buoys and equipment holders) for surface swimming. I don't fish, heck, I'm afraid of fish (sic!)
1. Omer Atoll float, shown on the dock for desalination in the pic. I agree with some of the other posters that Atoll floats suck. They simply aren't that seaworthy. They definitively require ballast in waves and wind, after which they become even heavier to tow. The original flag and pole attachment won't keep the pole standing properly in wind. The original stitching isn't of very good quality.
I've modified mine a bit to better fit my needs.
- I sew to the nylon shell of the original a lot of PALs/Molle straps (ie, 1" webbing used in military kit for attaching pouches and such to vests and whatever). To this I've attached mil gear pouches holding flares, PLB, VHF and whatever, mostly safety gear.
- Reinforced original stitching where it looked weak
- I've used the original velcro straps on the bottom to attach 1lb belt weights for ballast. I've typically used 3x1lb
- I made the elastic attachment for the flag pole much tighter by sewing so that the pole is better secured (not as easily bent down by wind)
- I've added a rubber line between pole and deck to give the pole more stability in wind
- I've extended the original pole for better visibility, and added a fluorescent yellow pennant on top
- Changed the original US diver down flag for the international A-flag
My modded Atoll works for me in relatively calm conditions, but beyond 10m/s the flagpole bends until the flag touches water. Heavy to tow, especially in high headwinds. Carries a lot of gadgets.
2. Rob Allen foam blown (rigid) torpedo float (11l)
Well made, seaworthy, durable. Low towing resistance. Doesn't carry anything but the flag (and keel). I have the A-flag, which seems smaller than the US diver-down. At least the A-flag doesn't come with a wire stiffener, and hence needs to modified. Without the stiffener, the longish A-flag has the tendency to wrap around the pole in modest (~5m/s) winds, so the wire is necessary even if it isn't calm. The pole is short and the plain orange hull isn't that visible. Beats me why they don't make these fluorescent yellow? I modded my float with fluorescent yellow stickers. (I also covered the lead keel with duct tape - I hate to have lead scrapping off on the rock - bare leadweights suck)
As the float is rigid, it's somewhat uncomfortable to backpack on land, contrary to inflatable floats. Also, I'm somewhat worried of being hit by the float in heavy surf.
Cressi's rigid float looks much the same as Rob Allen's, but has a hi-visibility fluorescent yellow hull. Good. But the factory seconds where the color will shade due to UV exposure also hints to why RA didn't go with fluorescent color.
What I'd really want would be a seaworthy high-visibility rigid torpedo float that could carry some signaling kit ready for usage *and* carry cargo internally.
Ok, never mind the visibility... How about a smugglers torpedo? Where can I buy one? I could use two floats, one for visibility, and another one for cargo. And, btw, why do not any canoe dry barrels come streamlined? The ability to carry cargo by swim-towing, eg backpacking kit, would be very useful for swimming trips. Does anybody know of an 'over-sized' and streamlined dry-container? A bit like the one below (OMS, waterproof to 100m), but much bigger? **Any help would be most appreciated**
I have used drybags for swim-towing stuff, much like the one shown below, but these really don't work well. The wind-load is awful, and the roll-closure seal typically leaks if waves repeatedly immerse it. (Note that the bag below by Ortlieb is merely rated for splashwaterproofness, IPx4)
Dedicated immersion dry-packs for swimming, constructed like heavy-duty dry suits, like the one below by USIA, would solve the waterproofness issue, but not the windloading.
http://www.usia.com/military/?p=60
