Is anyone using this spreader bar and have any thoughts on it?

Whats the difference in different sizing of this bar? Ie, is it better
to get 10" or 12"?

TIA

Looking at fitting to my dakine fusion seat harness

I have the previous version. It works fairly well, except the webbing wore very quickly. They have tried to address this in the new version. It is a good compromise between a fixed hook and a rope and ring setup. Just recently switched to a home-made rope and ring setup.

The longer size gives more travel, but can stick out from your body if you have a small waist and has a tendency for the hook to get hung up on the edges. I had a 14" though which it looks like they no longer make.

Also see:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Da-Kine-sliding-kite-spreader-bar-dont-work/

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mbuckley said..
I have the previous version. It works fairly well, except the webbing wore very quickly. They have tried to address this in the new version. It is a good compromise between a fixed hook and a rope and ring setup. Just recently switched to a home-made rope and ring setup.

The longer size gives more travel, but can stick out from your body if you have a small waist and has a tendency for the hook to get hung up on the edges. I had a 14" though which it looks like they no longer make.

Also see:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Kitesurfing/General/Da-Kine-sliding-kite-spreader-bar-dont-work/

Cheers Buckley,


What harness do you use the rope and ring set up with?

I can't seem to find a spreader bar that has double loops at each end so you
can thread rope through one and attach the bar to the harness with the other.

If I can track one done I think that's the go.

I used the original spreader bar and cut the hook off then drilled a 8mm hole through each end just inside where the webbing connects . Then I used a bit of 8mm rope threaded through with a single knot on the back of spreader bar. This is neat, pulls from the centre and easy to have the rope short. I use a hook with a pulley on the rope and it works a treat.

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undone said..
I used the original spreader bar and cut the hook off then drilled a 8mm hole through each end just inside where the webbing connects . Then I used a bit of 8mm rope threaded through with a single knot on the back of spreader bar. This is neat, pulls from the centre and easy to have the rope short. I use a hook with a pulley on the rope and it works a treat.

Aha i hadn't thought of doing that. Sounds sweet

How big is your spreader bar? and how far is the distance between the two drilled holes if you dont
mind me asking.

Cheers

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golfgomba said..

undone said..
I used the original spreader bar and cut the hook off then drilled a 8mm hole through each end just inside where the webbing connects . Then I used a bit of 8mm rope threaded through with a single knot on the back of spreader bar. This is neat, pulls from the centre and easy to have the rope short. I use a hook with a pulley on the rope and it works a treat.

Aha i hadn't thought of doing that. Sounds sweet

How big is your spreader bar? and how far is the distance between the two drilled holes if you dont
mind me asking.

Cheers

Total length of bar is 25cm, distance between holes 20cm.
I also put a small piece of plastic tubing in the hole to stop it cutting the rope, but not sure it is necessary if you file up a nice smooth edge.

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undone said..
I used the original spreader bar and cut the hook off then drilled a 8mm hole through each end just inside where the webbing connects . Then I used a bit of 8mm rope threaded through with a single knot on the back of spreader bar. This is neat, pulls from the centre and easy to have the rope short. I use a hook with a pulley on the rope and it works a treat.

Where do you get a hook with a pulley?

Hi Guys,

Just reading this and had a thought:
Has anyone tried to keep the original hook and ad a rope over the top of the bar so you can use both.
SO you attach the chickenloop to the rope and then hook in when you ride normal and unhook (so the chickenloop is now on the rope only) when you ride a wave???

Probably has some safety implications and you may have to add some hardware for better sliding etc.?? Could best of both worlds??

your thoughts...

You go to the marine shop like whitworths for pulleys (blocks), shackles ect.

I have 8mm spectra installed as undone describes (free out of the off cuts bin) and a snapshackle (think it is the link bellow). Rope passes through the closed eye, shackle opens to accept the chicken loop. I tried a small block on the rope but prefer a bit of resistance as it goes from side to side - the block/pulley runs across super easy.

www.whitworths.com.au/ronstan-snap-shackle-fixed-bail-66mm

The shackle has a SWL of 1000kg, spectra has breaking load of over 3t. I expect the outer cover (which is only a UV protection layer) to wear and plan to replace the rope each season.


Snap shackles are designed so you can release them under load, in many years of yachting I've never had one release itself. I now have another way to release if my safety is jammed

I can imagine it getting caught on the original hook on the spreader bar

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RRK said...

Hi Guys,

Just reading this and had a thought:
Has anyone tried to keep the original hook and ad a rope over the top of the bar so you can use both.
SO you attach the chickenloop to the rope and then hook in when you ride normal and unhook (so the chickenloop is now on the rope only) when you ride a wave???

Probably has some safety implications and you may have to add some hardware for better sliding etc.?? Could best of both worlds??

your thoughts...

Yeah, I left my hook on & used the rope for about 3 months. Then once I was happy with the rope cut the hook off. Didn't have any issues with rope/hook catching but the possibility was always in the back of my thoughts.
IMO, if you want to unhook - sliders are not the way to go.

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toppleover said..

IMO, if you want to unhook - sliders are not the way to go.

i have never seen the dakine slider.

but unhooking works good with dynabar. i would hate to lose the option of unhooking if the waves were perfect.
the dynabar uses a rubber elastic strap, which when unhooked keeps the hook centred...

this makes it really easy to hook back in, just grab the c/l with one hand and pull it down to the spreader hook.
too easy.

either way, the benefit of sliding over fixed is insane...
i go back to fixed and it just sucks, so much restriction.

Sweet advice, thanks heaps!

Is it possible anyone with replies above could post a photo of their set up?

Would help immensely!

I've been using this set up for a couple of seasons now & recently added the pulley which has freed the slider up a great deal + stopped any rope wear.

Just be aware that when you switch from a hook to a ring you are removing a safety system (the ability to unhook if the QR jams).
The Dynabar system is the most expensive, but the safest as you have a hook and an additional QR.

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surfingboye said..

toppleover said..

IMO, if you want to unhook - sliders are not the way to go.

i have never seen the dakine slider.

but unhooking works good with dynabar. i would hate to lose the option of unhooking if the waves were perfect.
the dynabar uses a rubber elastic strap, which when unhooked keeps the hook centred...

this makes it really easy to hook back in, just grab the c/l with one hand and pull it down to the spreader hook.
too easy.

either way, the benefit of sliding over fixed is insane...
i go back to fixed and it just sucks, so much restriction.

I don't unhook. I imagine having it hooked in like normal is great for jumping and freeriding styles. As I mix that with riding waves so that is where I would unhook and use the rope.
What did your setup look like? 8mm rope with a stainless ring to feed the chicken loop through? (like the picture posted above)
I guess what I am proposing would require a lot of slack on the rope though...

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mbuckley said..
Just be aware that when you switch from a hook to a ring you are removing a safety system (the ability to unhook if the QR jams).
The Dynabar system is the most expensive, but the safest as you have a hook and an additional QR.

looks great! easy to do. I will try that on my old harness to try it out.

Select to expand quote

mbuckley said...
Just be aware that when you switch from a hook to a ring you are removing a safety system (the ability to unhook if the QR jams).
The Dynabar system is the most expensive, but the safest as you have a hook and an additional QR.

True but because you have to release your QR to hook in, I see little chance of it jamming - which in my experience usually happens because of lack of use.
I agree the Dynabar looks good, I originally did this mod just to see if I liked sliders & was going to get a Dynabar but decided just to stay with this set up.

ok, not the worlds best photos, but they show the dynabar in use...

this day i am riding waves upwind, was cross-onshore for the lefts. pretty hard to do anything without the slider.



hope this view helps...

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RRK said...

mbuckley said..
Just be aware that when you switch from a hook to a ring you are removing a safety system (the ability to unhook if the QR jams).
The Dynabar system is the most expensive, but the safest as you have a hook and an additional QR.

looks great! easy to do. I will try that on my old harness to try it out.

Hey RRK, before I cut the hook off - I had the CL hooked straight to the rope.
Just to keep it simple with smallest chance of anything getting caught up.

@ Surfingboye, how's the Engine harness holding up? - have not seen you at CT for a while.

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toppleover said..

@ Surfingboye, how's the Engine harness holding up? - have not seen you at CT for a while.

yeah i am wearing my old harness in these photos as i had to send the Engine back to the US for repairs...
the sealant around the backing shell disbonded and started to leak water.
wasnt happy about it at all, but i do love the harness.
havent put too many hours on it since having it back.


haha, and havent been back to the coast since Chrissy.
getting holidays in elsewhere... (fiji is next few weeks).
yewww.

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surfingboye said..

toppleover said..

@ Surfingboye, how's the Engine harness holding up? - have not seen you at CT for a while.

yeah i am wearing my old harness in these photos as i had to send the Engine back to the US for repairs...
the sealant around the backing shell disbonded and started to leak water.
wasnt happy about it at all, but i do love the harness.
havent put too many hours on it since having it back.


haha, and havent been back to the coast since Chrissy.
getting holidays in elsewhere... (fiji is next few weeks).
yewww.

OK, Thanks!!
Will give that a go too.

I have Dakine sliding spreader bar for sale (12 inch), if anyone interested ....