Safety Harness

[RobA]

Any preference to Gibb vs Wichard hooks for a harness?

[Brian C.]

I am not completely clear as to the differences between the two. However, I use a Wichard hook on my tether. I always (okay, almost always) use it when sailing alone and have no complaints. Most importantly, it is very easy to hook and unhook quickly with one hand. I would recommend it.

[Rachel]

Okay, I'm going to try to put in image in here (Whoo hoo, she joins the 21st Century!):



I've used this type of Wichard hook quite a bit, and while I can't fault its safety factor, there were two things about it that I really didn't like:

1) It took a fair amount of effort to open. Now granted, I'm not in possession of ultimate hand size or strength, so this might not be an issue for you, but, for example, I could only open it right-handed, but not left-handed -- guess my left hand is just a wee bit weaker (it was a strength/size of hand thing, not a coordination thing).

2) I would oftentimes get a bit of skin from my hand pinched between that yellow plastic part and the main section when it re-closed. Hated that!

FWIW --- Rachel

[Tim]

I have a tether with these Gibb hooks (the large top one):



I am pleased with the Gibb hook, and find it is relatively easy to operate, even one-handed. Of course the whole point is that it's not too easy to open. For this one, you push the cross piece up towards the opening, which then allows the hinged part of the shackle to swing inward. It's almost impossible to do it accidentally, but it's more or less a simple squeeze motion.

[Robert The Gray]

Hey tim,
just to clarify. do you have those hooks on both ends? I am curious because we had a sailor how was lost because he could not release his harnes under load. it seems thae snap shackle is there to alleviate that. just curious.
R

[Tim]

Yes, they are at both ends. My tether is quite a bit older (1990-ish?), before they started coming up with the snap shackle release at the body end. For the type of sailing I'm doing now, I doubt I'd ever want to release it intentionally, so I don't worry about it.

I'd like a new tether, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[JonnyBoats]

For the type of sailing I'm doing now, I doubt I'd ever want to release it intentionally, so I don't worry about it.

Tim, you are very knowledgeable and know what you are doing. For the benifit of some who mak not have your knowledge, it should be pointed out that many have dround because they were unavle to release their teather. This happens when someone falls overboard while attached to the teather and the boat keeps moving. When being towed beside/behind at 5 or six knots one is subject to large forces and may easily have their head towed under water.

For this reason if there is any possibility whatsoever of endinfg up outside of the lifelines while teathered (i.e. the length of the teather exceeds the distance form the attacment point to the outside of the hull), then one should seriously consider having a snap shackle attaching the teather to their harness. A snap shackle can earily be released under load.

[Tim]

I'm not going to argue that point, because I agree. I guess it's good to have the option of releasing yourself, even if the whole point is to remain attached to the boat. As I mentioned, I keep eying the newer tethers, with the snap shackle and the elastic cord. I just haven't acted yet.

One "benefit" of the unbalanced Triton is that she will always turn up into the wind if the helm is released. This is actually a good safety feature. Autopilots create other concerns (I don't have one).