Help in Sailing Harness Selection.

[geehaw]

I want to ask Santa for a new sailing harness. I would like some help in this selection as there is no place near me that I can go to and look at them or try them on. The one I have now is inadequate,It is to small it seems to me. Also no adjustments for size.

So where I sail it can be cold and rainy. By the time I put on rain gear, cold weather clothes and vest style PFD the ones I see adjustable to 52" chest size I am afraid will be to small. So any help or suggestions from those that know would be greatly appreciated.

I have had moments where I really wished I had one on. But my current one would not fit over all the gear I was wearing. This year I really want to get set up with a system that will not allow me to go overboard as I know it will be almost impossible for me to get back in the boat the myself. Well hope to hear some Ideas from others thanks Greg

 

[finding41]

There are some inflating PFD's out there that are a harness too. It would go on over all the wet gear.

 

[David in Sandusky]

West Marine

I have a combination harness and inflatable PDF that fit just fine when I was 52 inches, and is easy to tighten to my smaller chest now. We convert our bow lines to jack lines every time we cast off. Our rule is that the skipper is always clipped on with a tether unless we have another helmsman who can steer our man overboard drill. The admiral refuses to qualify herself for M.O.B., so I always wear the tether unless we have a guest helmsman who has done the drill on our boat.

Of course, all on deck clip on at all times in rough conditions, and if they go forward in seas over 4 feet.

Our harness/PDFs are easy to wear in the heat of summer, and fits just fine over my foul weather gear plus fleece in the cold/wet.

 

[Chris Patterson]

Take a look at Landfall. They're my favorite offshore supply, but you gotta mortgage the farm for some of that stuff..

 

[sailaway78]

Self Inflating

I second, or third, the motion of a self inflating vest with a built in harness. I have one from West Marine, and it is comfortable to wear, and not bulky. Like it a lot.

 

[Scotty C-M]

I do the same. I took a West Marine inflatable vest and swedged a couple of rings onto the front. I use those to attach the tether line onto.

 

[geehaw]

I have a couple of problems with the inflatables. 1-The vest style add warmth. 2- Fish a lot on the boat and worry about punchers from hooks. I am considering them though. Can punchers be repaired on them? If you need it in the water and find a leak can they be kept inflated by mouth?

 

[wflowe2]

What ever you decide, make sure and add a crotch strap if it doesn't have one. If someone tries to pull you up onto deck without one, the whole thing can slip up over your head and your screwed..

 

[MrBill_FLL]

the solution is simple.

move to warmer climates! you're welcome



-I have the inflatable harness. they can be inflated by mouth, and have a cordora cover, and might be able to be patched.

there are also some foulies with built in harness...

 

[jibes138]

Sailrite has a nice kit you can easily make your own. I have two of them and like them a lot. But I also suggest not looking at marine supply places, rather look at maintenance worker supply or construction worker. Any time they (the workers) are over 6 feet off the floor they are supposed to be attached for fall protection, so they have lots of harnesses and probably sell a lot more volume than the marine guys.

 

[RichH]

The 'ultimate' harness is probably the "Lirakis type harness" http://www.landfallnavigation.com/lirakisadult.html

The one shown in the above is 'manually' adjustable. I prefer the same but with 'automatically' adjusting web terminating 'through' a heavy metal ring .... automatically pulls tight when 'strain is applied' to the webbing to tether connection.
Such is worn either under or over 'everything' except for an inflatable PFD which is worn 'over' the harness.

For the addition of an inflatable PFD I prefer to wear such UNDER a large oversized GoreTEx 'anorak' with velcro closures ... the expanding inflatable PFD simply 'opens' the anorak as it inflates. Why Goretex Anorak 'over' an inflatable PFD .... prevents/lessens accidental inflation of the PFD when large amounts of green water hits you, but insufficient to knock you overboard; once an auto inflatable PFD 'opens' youre severely limited in what you can do.

All harnesses should have adjustable 'crotch straps'

Other info on the "lirakis": http://stephenlirakis.blogspot.com/2008/08/lirakis-safety-harness.html

 

[grantar2]

Why buy auto inflation on a sailboat where you might have to swim out from under sails. Why inside a suit you want to stay close for warmth once in the water? As far as tether, make sure it has an easily (try it in the water) release shackle.

My Mustang manually inflatable has a harness built in, my tether is racing approved and has quick release shackles and a spare leg to transfer between jacklines. My inflatable gets opened annually, since I have to change CO2, might as well fire it, tether gets checked as well. That is what the 4th of July swim is for. I have to inflatables, a offshore vest and belt pouch both get a workout and I get to train with what may save my life.

 

[KD3PC]

Why buy auto inflation on a sailboat where you might have to swim out from under sails.

because that thing that holds the sails and swings may come in contact with your head on your way off the boat, or your head may come in contact with something hard or sharp on the way off the boat....you can not pull a handle when you are unconscious

go for the auto inflate and a decent grade survival/paratrooper knife...and if you need to de-inflate the vest or cut the lines tangling you or even a wet sail draped over you....you can use the knife, while floating...

 

[Tom-in-Annapolis]

West Marine has this one on sale.

First time I've seen an Auto-Inflate with a harness for $100 off:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...toreNum=50469&subdeptNum=50470&classNum=50475

 

[geehaw]

To Jibs 138 I work construction and those harnesses are not something you would want to wear sailing. And will look into the sailrite kits I asked for the MIT inflatable one can't beat that price. If It don't fit me it might fit someone.