An alternative way to attach a harness

[soulesailor]

Originally Posted by bubb2

If I understand what you are saying, I wonder how you can release a tether that clips to your back?

Notice in the photo in the link on the front of the vest is a buckle with a little 3" cord coming out of it. Pull on the cord, the buckle unclasps and the wide webbing pulls out all the way around back and slips easily through the ring on the tether. The buckle does not release itself even under a lot of abuse, until you pull the release cord.

Edit: I just noticed the picture in the link shows the buckle and webbing strap in the frontal picture but in the back the webbing is not in the photo. The webbing goes all the way around the vest and this is how you attach it to the ring on the tether on the back.

[bubb2]

Originally Posted by soulesailor

Notice in the photo in the link on the front of the vest is a buckle with a little 3" cord coming out of it. Pull on the cord, the buckle unclasps and the wide webbing pulls out all the way around back and slips easily through the ring on the tether. The buckle does not release itself even under a lot of abuse, until you pull the release cord.

Ok, I see that now. It might work for inland sailing but not the type of vest I would want to be wearing if I went over in big water.

[erps]

so if I understand it correctly you would have a line, or you could use webbing, with a loop spliced into each end permanently looped around the the jackline. When you want to hook in just grab the other end loop and hook into the quick release.

Yes, that's what I was thinking. I was thinking of maybe using Amsteel line as tethers all over the place. Small, light, abrasion resistant and strong. Could have it in bulk on the boat and make up as many as one would want and replace them when they start getting fuzzy.

I see a bigger issue to this set up. In really extreme weather you do not ever want to be unhooked while on deck. The usual set up is to have two teathers, on the D rings so you can go from anchor point or jackline to the next anchor point or jackline without ever being unhooked.

Good point. I hadn't thought of that.

While this might work well for you, it would cause you some issues if you have people crewing for you that don't have the same type of harness modification you do.

Hadn't thought of that either.


Thanks for the feed back guys.

[TxLnghrn]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

TXLNGHRN—

What if your boat turns turtle... if you don't have a quick release and have gloves on sailing in colder waters... you might not be able to get the tether detached quickly enough. You really do need a quick release on the body side of any safety tether. Anything that can not be released under load is a serious danger.

Thanks for the feedback SD, I will have to give this system some more thought and perhaps some trial runs. I was thinking that if the carabiner gets put under load it should go onto the long axis allowing me to open the gate and slide the tether or the d-rings on my vest out. Perhaps I'll hang myself from the mast and give it a try. Great sailing weather still here but a little cool to be dragged behind the boat.

Michael

[sailingdog]

There is a reason the current tethers and harnesses are designed the way they are... they weren't developed in a vacuum.... but in real-world conditions, and to maximize safety and usability. If you guys can come up with something truly novel that is as easy to use and as safe, you might make a mint... but I don't see it happening any time soon.

[soulesailor]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

There is a reason the current tethers and harnesses are designed the way they are... they weren't developed in a vacuum.... but in real-world conditions, and to maximize safety and usability. If you guys can come up with something truly novel that is as easy to use and as safe, you might make a mint... but I don't see it happening any time soon.

Yes, obviously. I can't figure out why they insist on buckles on the front though. Why is this?

[erps]

There is a reason the current tethers and harnesses are designed the way they are... they weren't developed in a vacuum.... but in real-world conditions, and to maximize safety and usability. I

and product liability and profit margins and marketing appeal.

[jrd22]

To solve the problem of transferring from one point to another without ever being unhooked you could have two quick releases attached to the harness, hook onto the new one and then release from the other. Requires two QR's though.

[tommays]

So i have to think


How people get saved from going overboard buy the harness compared to going down with the ship because of the harness

[sailingdog]

It is hard to claw your way up the tether to the boat, if the tether is clipped to your back.

Originally Posted by soulesailor

Yes, obviously. I can't figure out why they insist on buckles on the front though. Why is this?