Who uses them? What's this I hear about not releasing in a capsize and hurting yourself? (I'm not too concerned).

I think I definitely need them. Double trapped in a blow with my foot tucked behind the rear beam helped me stay put somewhat, but as soon as we deccelerated (both bad skippering, or wind/wave action) I'd often go flying forward and take out my crew!

The Dakine straps from Murrays seem nice, but a bit steep ($44 plus shipping). I'm thinking of making my own from thick 2in webbing (the yellow truck ratchet strap stuff), with a thin poly sheet sewn underneath to preform the arch and keep it open. Maybe some industrial velcro if i'm feeling fancy and want it adjustable (prob not).

Question: either route (purchased or home made), whjats the best mounting option? I have very soft old-school layered fiberglass decks. Can easily add a backing plate and a SS through bolt. I've also seen one end attached with beam strap bolt, and the other end as I just described above (saving a hole).

And what about mounting angle? Parallel to outside edge of hull, or the aft mounting bolt set inboard so the strap is angled back a little?

Thanks.

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Tom
Hobie Getaway, Nacra 5.5, Hobie Tiger
Wish list: A-cat classic, F16 Viper!
Northern California
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The Dakine straps tend to get quickly eaten by the sun, and are a little tight for me.

The Magic Marine straps are much better for catamarans IMO. The ticket that I and most of my friends use is to have the strap pretty loose so you kinda have to turn your foot sideways in the strap to stay put. Using the strap is still a little concerning to me, I want to be able to get out of it fast.

My straps were mounted with simply stainless washers on the inside, no problems there.

The straps are even more useful for handling the boat on the beach than they are in the water.

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Greenville SC

Offering sails and other go fast parts for A-class catamarans
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We put straps on our boat from many years ago. I do not have them on my current boat.

Maybe just one far aft, so when the boat sends you foward, you can hang on with that aft foot?

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Ted
Hobie 16
South Carolina Lake sailing
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I really like the secure feeling of having my aft foot attached firmly to the boat in gnarly conditions when the boat is likely to experience rapid deceleration. But the issue of injury if your foot fails to exit in a crash, is a significant one. Seems that either you want the straps to be quite loose to improve your chances of being able to extract the foot, or quite tight, so that the foot doesn't enter the strap very far, also minimizing the chances that your foot gets jammed in a crash. I generally just have one mounted aft of the rear beam for the skippers aft foot, with a chicken line for crew if needed. The chicken line also works well securing the skipper solo, but doesn't allow him to place weight as far aft as the footstrap does.

Dave

I have the previous version of this strap: http://www.the-house.com/…ine-footstraps-pads.html

Priced right, light padding, and non-adjustable, so just get it right when you install them, though the strap itself have several different holes to choose from. I did it in such a way that just the ball of my foot goes into the strap. larger SS washer on both sides of a 1/4" bolt w/ lock nut for the install.

This might have saved me a trip or two under the dolphin striker.

I think it's a great idea if you're out on the trap and like to dive the hull through waves. I wouldn't worry too much about release. Ever piloted a sailboard?

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Tom
NACRA 5.7 (1984 Sail 181)
Pennsylvania
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Quote

The straps are even more useful for handling the boat on the beach than they are in the water.

Didn't think of that, but makes good sense. Though not sure if I'd trust the fiberglass in my old 79 18sq hulls with an upward pull like that (very thin and soft).

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Tom
Hobie Getaway, Nacra 5.5, Hobie Tiger
Wish list: A-cat classic, F16 Viper!
Northern California
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Quote

Maybe just one far aft, so when the boat sends you foward, you can hang on with that aft foot?

That's what I'm thinking, and what I've most commonly seen.

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Tom
Hobie Getaway, Nacra 5.5, Hobie Tiger
Wish list: A-cat classic, F16 Viper!
Northern California
--

Quote

or quite tight, so that the foot doesn't enter the strap very far

that's what I went with.

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Tom
Hobie Getaway, Nacra 5.5, Hobie Tiger
Wish list: A-cat classic, F16 Viper!
Northern California
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Couldn't justify buying straps, so made my own... for free. Used the webbing tails that I cut off the ratchet straps I use to strap the boat to the trailer... and some old home brewing PVC hose... and some leftover beam strap bolts and chips (a double set came with my project boat)... and cut up the old retired dolphin striker flat bar for backing plate inside my soft hulls. My decks aft of the rear beam, where the aft point of these straps is attached, is SOFT! The rest of the decks are a good 1/8in thick (eg. where the tramp tracks rivet on) but this was more like 1/16th!Hence the giant backing plate. Made them fairly tight so my foot won't go in to far and risk getting stuck at a bad time.

Oh, and lots of silicon!





backing plate


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Tom
Hobie Getaway, Nacra 5.5, Hobie Tiger
Wish list: A-cat classic, F16 Viper!
Northern California
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Only use the strap when its blowin'.

sierracat

Couldn't justify buying straps, so made my own... for free. Used the webbing tails that I cut off the ratchet straps I use to strap the boat to the trailer... and some old home brewing PVC hose... and some leftover beam strap bolts and chips (a double set came with my project boat)... and cut up the old retired dolphin striker flat bar for backing plate inside my soft hulls. My decks aft of the rear beam, where the aft point of these straps is attached, is SOFT! The rest of the decks are a good 1/8in thick (eg. where the tramp tracks rivet on) but this was more like 1/16th!Hence the giant backing plate. Made them fairly tight so my foot won't go in to far and risk getting stuck at a bad time.

Oh, and lots of silicon!





backing plate

I would recommend wrapping them in Electrical tape especially if you sail barefoot.

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Tyler holmes
Panama city, FL

Boat whore
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Quote

I would recommend wrapping them in Electrical tape especially if you sail barefoot.

I never sail barefoot… but what would the electrical tape do?

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Tom
Hobie Getaway, Nacra 5.5, Hobie Tiger
Wish list: A-cat classic, F16 Viper!
Northern California
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My deck is wood and there is angled block in the corner where the backing plate should go. I will need to come up with a new style retainer. Maybe flip hull upside down and pool slot of epoxy over the hole region, then put a plate over it before it cures. It will be hard to verify the epoxy is fully seated though as this is done blind. Any ideas?

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John

Nacra 5.0
CT
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I used these to attach my straps, expensive but saves a pile of time and very secure! https://www.murrays.com/product/54-9064/

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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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u could use a chicken line..its like a boom preventer for your body....

connect one end to the boat, hook other to your trap harness hook or spreader bar...

it can be run in your rear crossbar connected to a bungee to suck the slack in the crossbar.. leaving just an s-hook from the end of the crossbar... trap out, grab the hook, hook to harness, done... stuff a bow and yo'ur not wrenching your ankle off, but your body will go as far forward as the chicken line allows... hence it's a boom preventer for the dude on the wire.

I have seen 3/4" plastic fuel line bolted through the deck in a loose loop used for foot straps that would allow sailing boots to be used.

These (below) are comfortable, but do not get them too tight or you could break an ankle/foot in a sudden capsize.
http://www.apsltd.com/da-…-primo-foot-strap-1.html

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Sheet In!
Bob
_/)_____/)_/)____/)____/)_____/)/)__________/)__
Prindle 18-2 #244 "Wakizashi"
Prindle 16 #3690 "Pegasus" Sold (sigh)
AZ Multihull Fleet 42 member
(Way) Past Commodore of Prindle Fleet 14
Arizona, USA
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I've gotta say that's a lot of work to save $24.99 on a product that works, is adjustable, and lasts for years in the sun: http://www.landfallnavigation.com/m121000magic.html