I'll be interested in reading the replies to this one too Windy. I have a brand-new waist harness in my kit, used-twice three years. Even have some 20-inch harness lines, ready to go. All the geometry of the transition from using a seat harness just felt so wrong. It was much harder to commit my weight to the boom and get planing.

Leech has got a good grasp of it. I use both, waist for waves and seat for slalom or speed.
You have to get longer lines, 26" min. I use 26 and 28. Gets you more upright and away from the rig. Gives you lots more movement and feels a lot looser instead of that locked in feel with a seat.
After you get used to it keep pushing the thing down so it doesnt stay ridden up.
A lot of guys use them for racing as well but I like the lower hook height of a seat for going fast.
I reckon a waist is easier to hook in and out with too. Especially good for those "oh crap, here comes a closeout. Chicken gybe quick"
I reckon you will enjoy the benefits of both. Hope this helps.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Leech

Use longer lines than you would with a seat harness. I'm running 26's.

---

Confused I am.

If the hook position is higher on a waist harness than on a seat harness, wouldn't that necessitate the use of shorter lines not longer.

Don't get me wrong I'm not disagreeing with you, it's just that a reputable shop-guy convinced me to use short (20") lines with my waist harness.

If you guys are correct that would expain why the geometry felt so messed-up using short lines!

<<<<EDIT>>>>
See these topics Windy M:

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26569&whichpage=1&SearchTerms=waist,harness

and

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26593&SearchTerms=waist,harness

Harness line length would appear to be personal preference, with extreems being Kremlin at 18" to Pugwash at 27". The only consensus seems to be that once you get your Waist harness sorted you'll never look back.

This is all quite interesting. I have been sailing for many years and never made the original transition from waist to seat when seat harnesses first came in. I think that may have been about the time that fibreglass boards bit the dust! I have always felt a little guilty at my lack of ability to master(or even try) the seat harness.

Anyway my gear is all as old as the hills and I sail mainly in the surf although occaisionally flat water and I still use the old DaKine waist harness.

My feel is that waist harness lines would be shorter than seat harness lines although personal preference will always be the guiding factor. You need to watch out ,as with any harness, that your lines are short enough to take the pressure of the sail without ripping the crap out of your hands - especially in the surf where you are in and out of your harness lines while wave riding & jumping. You are obviously more upright(than when using a seat harness) and need to make sure the waist harness is very firmly fastened around your waist or you will end up with it riding under your arms - this can also be caused by your boom being a little high.

Bit of a balancing act all in all.

I started with a waist harness and then progressed to a man bra harness and then to a neck brace harness.The thing would always ride up and once a made the swith to a seat harness all was sweet.

I made the switch a few months ago - took an hour or so to get used to, then I realised I should have done it earlier. For that hour or so I was getting catapulted a bit when going for the footstraps.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pointman


Then again maybe I'm just a big girl's blouse for wearing a buoyancy vest

---

Perhaps change to 'water wings', being attached to the upper arm they should interfere less with your harness

quote:

---

Originally posted by Pointman

I have debated the making the switch from a seat to a waist harness, but there is a problem...I also wear a buoyancy vest and this pretty much rules out wearing a waist harness.

So I either give up wearing a buoyancy vest and switch to the waist version or stick with the seat.

For me the safety aspect of wearing a buoyancy vest prevails over the touted advantages of a waist harness.

Then again maybe I'm just a big girl's blouse for wearing a buoyancy vest

---

I have a buoyancy vest that only has buoyancy in the top half and the bottom half fits underneath a waist harness. Very cool. Check your local kite store.

Ahh the old short or long line debate . I find that the longer the lines the more likely it is that you hook up when you least want to be hooked up ..eg.. bottom turn or just before you throw the rig for the jybe . Too short and you feel like your getting pulled over the handle bars. So i have found that about 20 or 22's about one hand width apart seems to work best for me , and also keep them new!
Floppy is no good.

I use both.

The waist harness is more comfortable, and better for wavesailing, but always rides up over a session and have to keep pulling it down, and not so good for full-on speedsailing.

The seat harness is less comfortable and squashes my balls which I hate, and not so good for waveriding either. But for speedsailing allows you to commit more and get a better weight distribution happening, I actually can sail faster because I commit to a better stance and lower centre of effort..... lucky I don't want to have anymore children , bloody seat harness.......

Leech,
Thanks, will investigate next time I am in the big smoke. Not comfortable to buy something like that on-line without testing for size and comfort first.


stribo,
Would you please change your damn avatar, I sh!t my pants every time I see it!!

For the ultimate pinch, try crossing the seat harness straps. Now we are talking pain.

quote:

---

Originally posted by stribo

Face your fears Knot Board[}:)]

---

I'd rather knot

quote:

---

Originally posted by ka43

Put a seat harness on backwards, a good look. saw a Euro try one on in a shop once, nearly passed out from laughing

---

If you turn it upside down and put it over your shoulders, it becomes a chest harness

If you turn it inside-out and put it on backwards, it becomes one for the metro-kiteboarders