Choosing trap harness and PFD :: Catamaran Sailboats at TheBeachcats.com

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Choosing trap harness and PFD

sierracat

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Sep 17, 2014

Last visit: Sep 24, 2024

Posts: 83
Posted: Mar 17, 2015 - 11:19 PM

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/f…iewtopic.php?f=7&t=53958

$40

http://www.ebay.com/itm/l…600640902?lpid=82&chn=ps

$100

http://www.ebay.com/itm/H…3D30%26sd%3D231245681430

Lifejacket - thinking perhaps one of the lower end Stolquist models, like this one:

$90

http://www.murrays.com/35-5213-.html

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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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MN3

Rank: Master Chief

Registered: Jun 20, 2006

Last visit: Dec 04, 2024

Posts: 7090
Posted: Mar 18, 2015 - 06:40 AM

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
davefarmer

Rank: Mate

Registered: Oct 26, 2002

Last visit: Sep 23, 2019

Posts: 390
Posted: Mar 18, 2015 - 10:38 AM

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
Edchris177

Rank: Chief

Registered: Nov 26, 2009

Last visit: Aug 10, 2024

Posts: 2531
Posted: Mar 18, 2015 - 04:11 PM

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) .

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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sierracat

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Sep 17, 2014

Last visit: Sep 24, 2024

Posts: 83
Posted: Mar 18, 2015 - 04:15 PM

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.

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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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MN3

Rank: Master Chief

Registered: Jun 20, 2006

Last visit: Dec 04, 2024

Posts: 7090
Posted: Mar 18, 2015 - 04:30 PM

any windsuf shops around?
klozhald

Rank: Chief

Registered: Apr 19, 2011

Last visit: Feb 19, 2025

Posts: 1462
Posted: Mar 20, 2015 - 07:06 PM

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.

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Sheet In!
Bob
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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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Wolfman

Rank: Chief

Registered: Jun 24, 2009

Last visit: Jun 15, 2023

Posts: 1555
Posted: Mar 20, 2015 - 09:19 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.

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Dave Bonin
1981 Nacra 5.2 "Lucile"
1986 Nacra 5.7 "Belle"
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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schoen.steve

Rank: Lubber

Registered: Apr 28, 2014

Last visit: Aug 18, 2023

Posts: 91
Posted: Mar 21, 2015 - 06:32 AM

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.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WINDSURFING-and-kiting-Mauisails-Race-Seat-HARNESS-Medium-/141609199117?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20f890e60d

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Steve Schoen
Nacra I20
Okemos MI

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Steve
Nacra Inter 20
Okemos Michigan
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