Hi All

I'm new to windsurfing and even newer to this forum (just joined).
For my first rig acquired last October, I bought a pair of Dakine Adjustable Harness lines.

http://www.dakine.com/windsurf/harness-lines/adjustable-lines/

I'm not that big or heavy (188cm, 82kgs) but after only three months use, the stitching holding the rope and PVC sleeve to the adjustable or buckle end of one of the harness's just came apart this last weekend in mild conditions. I can't produce a photo for you as I left the harness with the vendor to see if he could get them replaced but I'm interested in the opinions of other sailors that have experience with these harness lines. Was I just unlucky or have other sailors had similar experiences with poor stitching? Does anyone know what tensile strength these are rated to? Are there better brands of harness lines out there? Thanks for your comments.

Yep I've had that happen to me with that brand as well. I made my own ends with webbing, they work OK. Then I had to replace the plastic tube as well.

The best adjustable harness lines I've found are Sailworks, the ones with a stainless V-jam cleat, they just seem to go and go and go!

As for fixed, I've got a set of Dakine white fixed lines that have lasted well over twice as long as most other brands, that and Ezzy are the two brands that seem to last (at least for me). In fact I was looking at my dakine lines the other day, most of the tube has turned yellow in the sunlight except for the part that the harness hook rubs against! Now that's some serious longevity.

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nebbian said...

Yep I've had that happen to me with that brand as well. I made my own ends with webbing, they work OK. Then I had to replace the plastic tube as well.

The best adjustable harness lines I've found are Sailworks, the ones with a stainless V-jam cleat, they just seem to go and go and go!

As for fixed, I've got a set of Dakine white fixed lines that have lasted well over twice as long as most other brands, that and Ezzy are the two brands that seem to last (at least for me). In fact I was looking at my dakine lines the other day, most of the tube has turned yellow in the sunlight except for the part that the harness hook rubs against! Now that's some serious longevity.

Thank you Nebbian for your comments. Please excuse my ignorance but what exactly do you mean by webbing? Would this be something like a car seat belt perhaps? Do you have a photograph of the pair your repairs that you could let me see?

If I can repair them I will certainly give that a go but since Dakine adjustable lines do seem to have a weakness in the stitching, I may also try a pair of fixed lines so your advice on good brands is appreciated.