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Fixed Harness Lines

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Created by Obelix > 9 months ago, 31 Jul 2022
Obelix
WA, 1103 posts
31 Jul 2022 7:51AM
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My harness lines snapped again
I am a heavy guy at 105kg, but still. It's just a rope. Why would it break?

I use a Fixed type. Once placed on the boom, they are never removed. I move them on the boom though - one boom fits all my sails.

So far only Flying Objects endured. Everything else snapped, but Flying Objects are not available any more.

Was thinking to try Ezzy next.

What worked for you guys?

col5555
WA, 378 posts
31 Jul 2022 8:28AM
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Have tried DaKine

Obelix
WA, 1103 posts
31 Jul 2022 12:22PM
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col5555 said..
Have tried DaKine


Thanks Col. Yes I have. Didn't last more than 6 months.

Tardy
5085 posts
31 Jul 2022 12:48PM
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Ezzy are good ,Neil pryde are also magic harness lines ..do you pump a lot or do you have them wide apart on your boom ,that will wear them out ...

Obelix
WA, 1103 posts
31 Jul 2022 6:33PM
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Maybe kept them wide apart. Thanks.

Tardy
5085 posts
31 Jul 2022 7:57PM
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Obelix said..
Maybe kept them wide apart. Thanks.


I use to wear mine out all the time having them wide apart ,someone (Greg John's) gave me this advise years ago .I moved them closer together
and Ta DA ,they stopped wearing out ,

mark62
503 posts
1 Aug 2022 12:48AM
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I'm a little lighter than you, 101kg. Using NP Vario race lines for years and rarely snap. Recently switched to Duotone SL vario, and they look identical to the NP lines so I'm expecting them to also last for ages. I sail slalom and speed kit on flat waters and mostly nicely powered to over powered.

I wonder if your harness hook has any blemishes causing them to snap? Or just been unlucky with harness lines?. Just a thought.

martR
42 posts
1 Aug 2022 2:50AM
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Obelix said..
My harness lines snapped again
I am a heavy guy at 105kg, but still. It's just a rope. Why would it break?

I use a Fixed type. Once placed on the boom, they are never removed. I move them on the boom though - one boom fits all my sails.

So far only Flying Objects endured. Everything else snapped, but Flying Objects are not available any more.

Was thinking to try Ezzy next.

What worked for you guys?


The Severne lines are the same as the Flying Object lines...

Manuel7
1275 posts
1 Aug 2022 3:41AM
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Where do they break? How many sessions? Which side? How long does the other one last?

Mine last about that long I think maybe less? I weigh 70kg but need to swing pump a lot. 6 months = 40~50 sessions on one set (I have two).

Ben1973
989 posts
1 Aug 2022 6:07AM
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I've had a pair of Severne fixed lines for 4years and they are still going strong. The adjustable ones are crap though as they slip all the time.

BSN101
WA, 2326 posts
1 Aug 2022 1:19PM
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I really liked the NP adj ones as it was easy peasy to lengthen & shorten them on the water while hooked in. No wusing Patrik adj, not as easy to adj but built solid as hell and no need to pull boom end out to mount. Give them a look.

Obelix
WA, 1103 posts
1 Aug 2022 3:52PM
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Manuel7 said..
Where do they break? How many sessions? Which side? How long does the other one last?

Mine last about that long I think maybe less? I weigh 70kg but need to swing pump a lot. 6 months = 40~50 sessions on one set (I have two).


Different places every time. The last time broke 3/4 of the way on the Port side. Before in the middle.
Usually, I remove the other one when one breaks.

30-40 sessions. Maybe it is normal to break after one season?

Obelix
WA, 1103 posts
1 Aug 2022 3:54PM
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mark62 said..
I'm a little lighter than you, 101kg. Using NP Vario race lines for years and rarely snap. Recently switched to Duotone SL vario, and they look identical to the NP lines so I'm expecting them to also last for ages. I sail slalom and speed kit on flat waters and mostly nicely powered to over powered.

I wonder if your harness hook has any blemishes causing them to snap? Or just been unlucky with harness lines?. Just a thought.


Checked the hook. Seems fine.
"Vario" being adjustable?

Obelix
WA, 1103 posts
1 Aug 2022 3:55PM
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Will pop over to the closest shop and check the ones you guys mentioned.
Thanks

mark62
503 posts
1 Aug 2022 5:22PM
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Obelix said..

mark62 said..
I'm a little lighter than you, 101kg. Using NP Vario race lines for years and rarely snap. Recently switched to Duotone SL vario, and they look identical to the NP lines so I'm expecting them to also last for ages. I sail slalom and speed kit on flat waters and mostly nicely powered to over powered.

I wonder if your harness hook has any blemishes causing them to snap? Or just been unlucky with harness lines?. Just a thought.



Checked the hook. Seems fine.
"Vario" being adjustable?


Yep, the vario are adjustable, very well engineered and tough plastic buckles, so no oxidation issues

stehsegler
WA, 3477 posts
1 Aug 2022 6:56PM
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I have extensively used both fixed Neil Pryde and now Severne lines. Both last at least a year... On my current set of Severne lines I have probably done close to 100 session... including multiple hocked in stacks. The color of the strap is starting fade but the lines are still fine. I am well over 100kg.

What harness and spreader bar are you using. I wonder if there might be a problem with too much friction. How tall are you and how long are you lines. I remember years ago I was on 24cm Neil Pryde lines in combo with a Neil Pryde harness and they wore through super quick. I now run 30s and 32s relatively with the grip relatively close together and there is almost no visible wear on the lines.

Obelix
WA, 1103 posts
1 Aug 2022 7:38PM
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There us never any wear on the lines. The rope inside breaks then the plastic extends and breaks.
I'm 193cm and use 28" lines.
I used Flying objects 30" extensively for years and still have them so they are good, but don't use that length any more.

I'll definitely keep the lines closer to see if that helps.

Should have checked the internal rope diameter before I threw it away.

Basher
538 posts
1 Aug 2022 10:53PM
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Hi, the key here is the rope used in the lines but also how well sealed they are.

If you get water inside fixed lines then the sand comes in with the water and that grit gets left behind in the tubing when the water drains away.
So you get a little pit of sand at the apex of the line which then saws away at the rope each time you hook in.

Da Kine lines used to be the worst for this (and were always shorter than labelled, when compared with other brands) although I haven't tried any recent versions.

Flying Objects lines seem to last forever, so I'd recommend them.

Subsonic
WA, 3196 posts
1 Aug 2022 11:04PM
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martR said..

Obelix said..
My harness lines snapped again
I am a heavy guy at 105kg, but still. It's just a rope. Why would it break?

I use a Fixed type. Once placed on the boom, they are never removed. I move them on the boom though - one boom fits all my sails.

So far only Flying Objects endured. Everything else snapped, but Flying Objects are not available any more.

Was thinking to try Ezzy next.

What worked for you guys?



The Severne lines are the same as the Flying Object lines...


This^^^^
the Severne lines are flying objects lines rebranded. As someone else mentioned, the adjustables slip, but the fixed ones are just as solid as the flying objects lines.

Manuel7
1275 posts
2 Aug 2022 12:32AM
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How about monos? A pain to adjust but maybe tougher?

The white Dakine strap seems to slide a bit more than the black one and therefore lasts a little while longer.

My rule is to replace the line when it's half worn on the strap. I used to replace both but now just do the jump side. The wave ride side lasts a couple of more months.

My wear is normal I think yes. Being under powered with lots of stop and go is probably also harder on them.

Sea Lotus
320 posts
2 Aug 2022 2:11AM
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I am 165cm, 62kg, so not the person to comment on durability but here is my experience anyway.
I use 30" severne fixed lines (full fixed, need to remove boom tailpiece to get them out), they are shorter than other brands (probably 28" equivalent of most), i keep them almost adjacent on the boom, i pump the sail hooked in with small magnitude high frequency.

After first season i could see water droplets inside the tube (older double colored lines), second season plastic tube broke where it connects with hook while i was pumping (port tack), rope didn't break. Then i switched to 32" semi-fixed ones, which are olso very stable, it got water droplets inside the tubes after a season again, they were a little too long so i got the new full fixed 30" again and it didn't get water inside since one year, new one has a soft alcantara type inner fabric with a little cushioning where it hugs the boom, its harder to move around on the water with one hand due to this fabric (which olso means no unintentional movement when you get catapulted) but it doesnt damage the boom grip (outside sides) like previous ones. They are super stable. Only problem which continues from previous ones is that velcro part is too long for skinny booms, 2cm unsticked velcro flapping around making you paranoid if they are opened or not is annoying, hope severne fix this problem soon.

About vario ones, i tried doutone and gunsails, duotone was ok but gunsails was horrible in terms of swing, checked neilpryde by hand, it seemed ok too. Varios are no where near as stable as fixed ones. I bought the gunsail to use when windfoiling, used it only once and put it aside for a year, its oksideted and stuck already, stay away from them. Neilpryde system looks easy to use like the duotones and they generally have more durable parts compared to duotone.

Obelix
WA, 1103 posts
2 Aug 2022 7:51AM
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Manuel7 said..
How about monos? A pain to adjust but maybe tougher?

The white Dakine strap seems to slide a bit more than the black one and therefore lasts a little while longer.

My rule is to replace the line when it's half worn on the strap. I used to replace both but now just do the jump side. The wave ride side lasts a couple of more months.

My wear is normal I think yes. Being under powered with lots of stop and go is probably also harder on them.


Mono is an interesting idea, but I move them on the boom for each sail.
As you said they are a pain to adjust, so maybe not. Would you get a size smaller for a mono?

Manuel7
1275 posts
2 Aug 2022 10:44PM
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About the same maybe they run a touch longer. Depending on how close your dual are.
Be sure to not lay your lines in the sand! Like when resting on the beach. Dig a hole in the sand.

If all goes well the lines could break at the strap before the rope snapping in the middle. It's happened only once to me out of tens of sets.

I may try flying objects after reading the earlier posts
...

Obelix
WA, 1103 posts
14 Aug 2022 10:18AM
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Bought a set of 28" Severne fixed lines.
They seem sturdy, stiff and a good quality.

The only thing is the Severne 28" is 2 inches shorter than GA 28".
have no idea which 28" is correct. Could be measured from anywhere

So take the old desired length with you to make sure you get the length you want.

martR
42 posts
15 Aug 2022 5:52PM
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Obelix said..
Bought a set of 28" Severne fixed lines.
They seem sturdy, stiff and a good quality.

The only thing is the Severne 28" is 2 inches shorter than GA 28".
have no idea which 28" is correct. Could be measured from anywhere

So take the old desired length with you to make sure you get the length you want.


The GA 28'' are the correct length in compare to other brands like DaKine for example.
The Flying Objects and Severne fixed 28'' lines are indeed shorter and are shorter then other brands.
So if you are normally using DaKine or GA/Gaastra 28'' lines you now have to take 30" if you want Severne/Flying Objects lines

BSN101
WA, 2326 posts
16 Aug 2022 8:40AM
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My Np adj lines have always failed at the stitching or rope to Velcro area. And quite often when in really rough conditions. I'm giving Patrik vario lines a go now. Seem good but NP adjusted length much easier while on the water, hooked in.



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"Fixed Harness Lines" started by Obelix