Need a trap harness (looking for a used one) and a PFD (looking at new ones) on a budget. Just need to get on the water this summer for play, on the restored Nacra 5.5. I have a very old harness that came with the boat, but it is fairly sun damaged, and too small for me. I might resew the stitching and keep it for crew.
Don't need anything fancy - just inexpensive, modern enough to not completely suck, and have a few years left in it.
Any thoughts on suitability of these options?
$80
http://www.hobiecat.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=53958
$40
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/151600640902?lpid=82&chn=ps
Lifejacket - thinking perhaps one of the lower end Stolquist models, like this one:
$90
http://www.murrays.com/35-5213-.html
the murry's are good for back support, but i always have to adjust when i get on the wire
the dakine's are great for fit but offer little back (lumbar) support for me
the diaper style one is old school, - superb for pinching the boys - i wouldn't use it
lastly - i would think 2x about buying / wearing used underware (that's basically what these harness are)
my h18 came with a used harness. smelled like a set of old mans "boys" - it was gross and i tossed it out
PDF- YES! go for that style
Those PFDs look fine, what you want is something short so it doesn't ride up when seated. Ones designed for paddling work well. The red eBay one looks like the Hobie harness that I find very comfortable. I have half a dozen windsurf harnesses that all work fine for the two or three hrs I go out for at a session. Full harness would be recommended if your out there on the wore all day.
Dave
As for the harness, get one with a steel spreader bar. The diaper harness,(without spreader) get very uncomfortable.
Go down to your local shop & try on the one you are looking at,(buy something from them at times, they need to make a profit somewhere) .
I like the idea of the spreader bar. I don't have a local shop, not even a regionall sailing shop that I know of. I try and support physical stores where I can, but it's tough living in remote small towns.
any windsuf shops around?
The small "butt bucket" types are OK if you sail in an area where the wind is up and down all day, so you don't spend a long time on the trapeze and get a sore lower back. You can get in and out of these easily while on the cat.
If you can sail where you will be in the harness for a solid hour or more, you want the full torso style. You will always have to adjust it after you go on the wire, to get the back support correct, and that will make you more comfortable.
The first time you get it right and spend an hour on the trapeze watching your cat slice through the water from the trap is a memory you will not forget.
Used harnesses from the coastal areas can stink for a number of reasons, usually because the owner did not wash out the salt after a sail. Once it stinks, the harness or PFD will stink forever- nothing can be done. If you wash out your entire boat and all the equipment each time you sail, you will avoid this yourself.
Edited by klozhald on Mar 20, 2015 - 07:07 PM.
I really like my dakine speed seat combined with a catamaran speaker. The xt seat provides more back support if you need it,.
I like stohlquist Pfds for full blown pfds. Some of the buoyancy aids are really nice with cutouts for the spreader but I wouldn't recommend them for solo sailing.
For butt harnesses - Just bought several of these in different sizes to have in the box for passengers...price was right, $58 new, and are comfortable enough for the occasional sailor.
---
Steve Schoen
Nacra I20
Okemos MI