Does anyone know where to find really long adjustable harness lines?
I have the 26-30" types. They've been on max length ever since I first got them. I can't imagine ever wanting them any shorter than 30", and I definitely would like them much longer in many situations. Most of the discussions and all of the products I find on the net seem think 30" (or in some cases 32") is the limit.
Chinook
Get them from Andy
www.windsurfinggear.com.au/product_info.php/harness-lines-chinook-adjustable-harness-lines-p-91
You should try making up some adjustables yourself. It's very easy using the Clamcleat details in the following links.
I recently purchased two at our local Whitworths boat shop for $51. Previously I'd used simple plastic 'ladder locks' & 25mm wide webbing straps, and while they worked ok shortening the harness whilst hooked in, it was a little awkward doing the opposite. With the roller Clamcleats its effortless to control the line length either way, no matter your load on the line. I find making a loop at the end of the control line allows one to grab it with the fingers only and adjust with ease. Set them up so when the control line is fully in you are at your minimum and when the control line is fully out (the loop end is stopped by the cleat) you are at your maximum. Overall it will help your sail trimming up & down wind as well in different strength winds. I can't sail a board, any length board for that matter, without it having adjustable harness lines.http://www.clamcleat.com/marketing/news_article.asp?theid=1063
clamcleat.com/cleats/cleat_details.asp?goac=true&theid2=72
@fjdoug (or anyone): any idea how long the tunafish lines are?
@robhow2: Intriguing. What do you do for the boom attachment?
Select to expand quoteDavMen said..
Chinook
Get them from Andy
www.windsurfinggear.com.au/product_info.php/harness-lines-chinook-adjustable-harness-lines-p-91
Yes get them from Andy.
Just get the 28" or 30" fixed lines. The Chinook lines are spot on accurate for length. You don't need adjustable lines.
I have tried both NP adjustable and Chinook adjustable. The NP are very durable however the buckle type adjustment is difficult to use whilst sailing, especially when the winds up and your doing 20+ knots downwind over big chop, you don't want to be fluffing about you need to make the adjustment quickly with one hand.
The Chinook were a different model to the ones mentioned above, they were the racing model with a cleat set up, very easy to adjust in the above circumstances and quite long, however the plastic tube over the rope is very short which causes them to swing wildly sometimes making it harder to get hooked in and also makes them prone to dropping out of the hook, again this was mostly a problem in strong winds going downwind when your struggling with control anyway. Last thing you need is harness lines to unhook.
Also both my chinook ones ended up ripping off the boom in big stacks, the webbing wasn't very durable, they lasted about a year and were quite expensive.
Definitely go for a cleat type adjustment over a buckle, next time I buy I would go for the tuna fish or something similar.
Chinook adjustable race lines are the go for long adjustable lines, that actually work. Just make sure you get the race lines and not the normal adjustable lines. The race lines can be adjusted super easy whilst on the water.
the tuna fish are super long.
I have both the chinook and the tuna fish, I like the tuna fish for the same reasons Cam mentions...
You can get the NP racing adjustables in 28 to 34 and they work for me and i do adjust on the water. However they only last a season or two.max as the webbing wears out.
Ion make a good set of race harness lines with clamcleat adjustment from 28"-38" http://www.ion-products.com/water/men/accessories/technical-accessories/harnesslineset-race/.
I bought some from a shop in Hong Kong.
shop.windfanshk.com/cgi-bin/hk/cart.cgi?action=show&product=2044
Thanks for all the great info. None of this comes up when googling "windsurfing long harness lines" - fuel for my suspicion that Google is now completely borked by paid search optimizers.
Amazing that some of these only last a season or two. My el cheapo Gradz lines are going strong after ten years, and that includes acting as an arrestor cable about 400 times during my attempts at formula sailing.
jmetcher, you asked re attachments to the boom. I've been making my own for 20+ years. A sewing machine, some 25mm webbing strap, some velco, some rope & finally some plastic tubing is all that is needed to complete a set or two. Obviously there is a matter of the construction time, but then it's costing you zero $'s. The webbing attachments are made to a similar design to those that can be purchased. Tying some simple rope knots in the webbing eyes completes the process. Mine also aren't as bulky when attached on the boom as are some of the available models in the shops. I've found many years of good use in mine before
I need to start 'manufacturing' new sets.
