Posted by: P. Ashley on February 07, 2003 at 01:33:53:
In Reply to: MARKING with RED BALLOONS to the test in wind posted by Jeff Brown on February 06, 2003 at 11:45:32:
Thanks for the great write-up and the willpower to go out in those
conditions to mark the dangers!
Those pink ones came from a welding supply house and the little valve unit - well, I should have thrown them away cause you can't blow through them. Those of you who may still have them - pull the valve off, just tie the knot in the balloon and make a slip knot like the other ones.
I find the best way to slip the noose onto the balloon is to hold the balloon between your knees while facing downwind and pull out on the balloon knot and tighten the noose with the free hand. Then I hold the string close to the balloon letting the nail hang down ready to insert in a crack.
I inflate the balloons to about 6 inches to keep them from breaking, but in the conditions you were in, well - you did very well. As for putting the nail somewhere - you also did fine.
I priced larger balloons so that when inflated to 6 inches they would be stronger, but the price almost triples. They are latex and the shipping bag stated that they were biodegradable. However, living creatures may ingest them and thus suffer. I tried to find pure cotton twine - but even Home Depot had cotton with 50% polyester. Alas, the balloons might work in some situations but as you indicate - lets all do a little thinking and maybe come up with something that is light, small, and can always be carried in our boats. I like the surveyors tape idea but as yet can't think of a compact means for deployment.
Installing the red flags used by the race committee means using a portable electric drill with a 5/8 or so wood bit.