I’ve been running my windsurfing school, since over 25 years and since early 90-ties, I was constantly looking for a good floatation device. Both for those still learning to surf as well as confident surfers. What I was looking for had to be light, not impede movements, take up a little room in luggage and inconspicuous while you put it on. That immediately ruled out life-jackets and life-savers.
Then the kitesurfing era dawned. My search for a floatation device continued and became ever more essential. A kite might fly away or lose air leaving a rider in the water with a board which usually lacks buoyancy.
While repairing a kite tubes, a simple idea occurred to me: why not to mount an air chamber into a polyester top. It would be easy to wear and to pump, if needed, using exhaled air through the one pump system – like in airlines life jacets.
It took us a number of months to come up with an optimal shape for the air chambers. Finally, we managed to design a single chamber spanning the front, back and sides (under the arms).
During several month long BoVest tests, we also realised that apart from safety, the thermal insulation is significantly improved – which makes for more comfortable and safer perfomance in colder condition.
Maciej Boszko
