Special Aquatic Service (SAS) Water Safety first utilized
the Extractor sleds back in 1997 and found them to be invaluable for PWC rescue
operations and event support. Today, the Extractor PRO model has been an
industry standard for quick rescue pick ups in the surfline, rivers and other
near shore situations for the past 20 years. This model, due to its size and
weight, is designed for use with PWC’s where a single rescue operator is
available to operate the PWC, or may be used in situations where a rescue
swimmer is used to assist the victim.
Extractor made the ‘original’ PWC rescue sled in winter of
1991 and patented the water rescue sled back in 1993. Several revisions
have been created over the years to improve durability, performance and adapt
the sled to be able to connect with ever-changing hull designs of various
personal watercraft. Current sled designs have features that take into
consideration the many different makes and models of personal watercraft.
Not all personal watercraft makes and models are ideal for
connecting and using a rescue sled. For the models that do, the optimum
connection between personal watercraft and sled differ slightly. Some pwcs
already come with hard points ideal for towing, and some pwcs still require
installation of hard points onto the rub rails, seat housing, transom or stern
in order to provide the most stable and secure connection.
Taking the time to properly mount your sled is critical: a
sled that is too loose or too tight on the transom above the jet, can affect
maneuverability and stability. In the worst-case scenario, this could damage
your boat, the sled itself, or cause serious injury.
When mounting your sled, you will always want to keep three
points for attaching the stern. Some connection systems utilize a solid hitch
connection and others use soft rigging, like rope or webbing. The solid
hitch or the middle rope become the main tow point. Ideally the shorter
the connection is between the sled and pwc, the more the board will be stable
in the water.
The Extractor Jet Ski Rescue Sled is the result of 30 years
of experience, manufacturing several revisions of sleds, using different
materials and construction methods along the way. Ultimately, the end users and
customers have driven the demand for the current design, using the most durable
materials, which can be molded into a hull shape that optimizes functionality
for being towed behind a watercraft, which do not delaminate from water
pressure working on glued seams, rot from sitting in the salt water or sun, and
are recyclable, so they don’t end up polluting the ocean or taking up space in
land-fills. The plastic is easily repaired and welded, minimizing time out of
commission.
Check out Extractor Sleds full line of sleds and rescue equipment
