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northerner
Since 12 Jun 2011
17 Posts
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Wed Jun 19, 13 10:26 am Go Pro Warning |
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I posted this on another forum, but feel it is important info to share.
Wanted to share a rather unfortunate event with everyone. On a great wave day on Lake Michigan and after capturing some amazing footage in long head high plus waves my Go Pro Hero 3 sank as I handed the camera to another rider for filming. We did the hand off well outside the surf zone in water that had less than a foot of wind chop on it.
I had the Floaty BacPac attached and the Go Pro Head strap mount, which I found to a amazing tool for hand held shooting. As you can adjust the head strap around your hand giving image stability, control of the shot, along with easy of kiting.
I was shocked as I watched the camera slowly sink before the other rider could get to it. So why did it sink? Not because the case opened as my thick gloves prevented any chance of undoing the locking mechanism or the case was cracked, but because of a design flaw at Go Pro.
When I called about my camera sinking in such an odd way, I was told to my surprise, that the floaty is not designed to float anything but the naked camera and case. This important information is something Go Pro does not share or give a warning to on the packaging of the floaty BacPac in anyway or on any of the accessories. In fact the floaty BacPAc used with accessories is a common feature on many of the official Go Pro videos. Regardless the obvious communication error on their part they didn't seem interested in offering much to me but another surf kit camera for $160 off list price.
I received this in a follow up email from Go Pro:
"We do appologize for not clearly stating that the Floaty BacPac is not designed to hold up more than just the camera. Please be sure in the future to avoid puting any other mounts on the camera when using the Floaty BacPack"
So be careful with your Go Pro if you own one, don't expect the floaty BacPac to do its job and second don't expect a billion dollar company to communicate critical facts about their products to the end user. |
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dangler

Since 26 Feb 2006
1780 Posts
WINDY SPOTS
XTreme Poster
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Wed Jun 19, 13 11:29 am so? |
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call the WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMBULANCE! _________________ Kite Repair? AND WINGS Call me.(509) six 37-four five 29 |
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PieroPDX

Since 22 May 2006
109 Posts
Stoked
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Wed Jun 19, 13 11:48 am |
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I'd be pretty upset too. That's very unfortunate.
Thanks for taking the time to your experience though, so that others might not experience the same loss..  _________________ If you're in PDX hit me up, I'm looking to meet kiters in town. I'm close in NW. |
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stringy

Since 23 Jun 2006
1735 Posts
vancouver
XTreme Poster
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Wed Jun 19, 13 4:07 pm Re: Go Pro Warning |
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northerner wrote: |
When I called about my camera sinking in such an odd way, I was told to my surprise, that the floaty is not designed to float anything but the naked camera and case.
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sorry you lost your camera.
I just tested the floatability of the gopro HD3 with floaty backdoor and camrig line mount in my kitchen sink and it remains floating. I'm sure the results could be a little different in waves or swell but this test shows the camera with housing and floaty along with line mount and plugs, still allow it to float.
just like with your kiteboard, it would be a good idea to write your name and phone number either on the floaty or on the inside of the housing in case it turns up on shore. _________________ www.jimstringfellow.com |
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Pepi

Since 16 Jun 2006
1831 Posts
Pure Stoke Sports
Shop Owner
CGKA Member
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Wed Jun 19, 13 4:31 pm Re: Go Pro Warning |
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stringy wrote: | northerner wrote: |
When I called about my camera sinking in such an odd way, I was told to my surprise, that the floaty is not designed to float anything but the naked camera and case.
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sorry you lost your camera.
I just tested the floatability of the gopro HD3 with floaty backdoor and camrig line mount in my kitchen sink and it remains floating. I'm sure the results could be a little different in waves or swell but this test shows the camera with housing and floaty along with line mount and plugs, still allow it to float.
just like with your kiteboard, it would be a good idea to write your name and phone number either on the floaty or on the inside of the housing in case it turns up on shore. |
Since we sell a lot of these cameras and accessories, I did the same as you Stringy, in that I took some of our accessories and tested the floatation of the Hero3 with Floaty backdoor with them attached.
It seemed to float at least at the surface, or subsurface.
As well, I have had my camera break off of the various poles I used to shoot over the years (before the GoPoles) and was able to retrieve or have my camera found and returned back to me (Thanks Blaine!).
This may have been a Surf Specific situation in that the churning water, plus aerated water (white water/foam which results in less floatation) may have caused the camera to not sit as high in the water, or just plain sink.
As a final learning point I think it should be understood that no matter what the situation, you should always first test the floatation capabilities of your camera and its accessories.
Additionally we always instruct our customers to use a leash/tether to anchor their camera to a safe contact point in case their mounts fail or break somehow. _________________ Pure Stoke Sports
Hood River, OR
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hood-River-OR/2nd-Wind-Sports/35891485558?ref=mf
www.Purestokesports.com |
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C Johnson

Since 17 Apr 2009
854 Posts
Seattle
Opinionated
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Thu Jun 20, 13 8:03 am |
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step one: Check your gear.
step two: Man up when you forget to do step one.
Don't go crying to the internet. Gopro makes a great product. The best in the market as far as I'm concerned. They have great customer service too. My guess is they will give you 40% off a replacement camera because of your own screw up.
Facts of life: Aerated water from waves has less buoyancy. If a wave can hold down a surfer it can hold down a camera too. _________________ www.youtube.com/c/christianjohnsons |
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AdventureKiteboarding

Since 01 Oct 2012
23 Posts
The Real Dairy State
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Thu Jun 20, 13 5:22 pm |
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Ya'll might be missing the point -- GoPro admits the Floaty Back door doesn't keep the camera floating with mounts attached. _________________ www.adventurekiteboarding.com |
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Bettyboarder

Since 18 Mar 2005
1823 Posts
PDX/ White Salmon
XTreme Poster
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Thu Jun 20, 13 5:39 pm |
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Thats actually pretty nice they offered $160 off a new set up.
what if you wrapped pool noodles around your head strap might help them float. _________________ Join the CGKA! Membership is only $10! Sign up at http://cgka.net/become-a-member/ |
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j

Since 08 Nov 2006
94 Posts
Seattle
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Fri Jun 21, 13 8:20 am |
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I think the point is that GoPro makes a floating back door to help the camera float, they have a myriad of mounts and clearly it won't make all of them float. You assumed that it would float with a headstrap mount, like CJ said, man up, you lost a camera, don't blame the company.
Its people like you that refuse to take responsability for your own mistakes that are making this country over litigious. |
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J_Matic

Since 14 Oct 2011
158 Posts
InDaHo
Stoked
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Fri Jun 21, 13 9:01 am |
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True it's a case of 'operator error' and a bit of disingenuous info by the manufacturer.
But as mentioned before, sack up and move on.
Or go a nice cold scuba dive at the site of the loss.  |
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Gman

Since 11 Feb 2006
4911 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped
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Fri Jun 21, 13 11:42 am |
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Think those floaties are only rated for salt-water
U have to read the fine print...
Go-pro warrants the use of this product in extreme conditions but dude, really, unless you are surfing Mavericks, your name is Jon Malmberg, or you have purchased Stringy's patented cat harness, no one aside from your mother is truly going to miss the events captured on this device. _________________ Go Deep!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eu2pBpQolKE |
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Sella

Since 21 Apr 2007
1794 Posts
Doin' The Dalles
FLY'IN HIGH PIE GUY
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Fri Jun 21, 13 11:45 am |
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Gman wrote: | Think those floaties are only rated for salt-water
U have to read the fine print...
Go-pro warrants the use of this product in extreme conditions but dude, really, unless you are surfing Mavericks, your name is Jon Malmberg, or you have purchased Stringy's patented cat harness, no one aside from your mother is truly going to miss the events captured on this device. |
Classic!
It's Friday bitches........and the new Slingshot webcam is showing many brothers and sisters heading out to go get some because it's ON so don't forget your Go-Pro and for fuck sake don't drop it. |
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Mrlaroo
Since 02 Jan 2007
181 Posts
Bend
Stoked
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Sat Jun 22, 13 11:10 pm |
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I had a Gopro 2 and that thing was a fog machine. I had to bake and cram every strip I could fit into it and still a 50/50 chance the footage was clear, this was in Hawaii. Now you got your rant over, you should feel better to go buy a contour. |
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rpromans13
Since 25 Jul 2013
1 Posts
Niceville Florida
New Member
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Thu Jul 25, 13 9:26 am GoPro floaty failure |
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Dude, I'll do you one better...Our Hero3 Black was attached to the GP suction cup mount which was attached to a flat, clean, horizontal, smooth surface on our motorboat. The camera was in its housing with the floaty door. Going about 25 mph (we were wake boarding) on a glassy day out on the bayou; the suction cup released from the boat and the whole damn thing sunk to the bottom of Rocky Bayou. GoPro is basically telling me to get bent. Sucks too because this camera was taking some sick pics. |
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Lurk
Since 04 Apr 2009
355 Posts
Obsessed
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Fri Jul 26, 13 8:07 am |
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Fuck that shit I pay 500 clams and it's supposed to float IT BETTER FUCKING FLOAT. |
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