trapeze harness

Hi all,

I have done a bit of trapezing in my time but not too much as I normally helm. I am about to make a move to trapeze helming.

I am looking for advice about which type of harness people reccomend for skiff sailing (nappy versus strappy) and how tight they should be worn.

In the past I have not liked any nappy style harnesses as I have found they crush my bits damn painfully. These are the adjustable nappy harnesses that come thorough the legs and have waist and shoulder adjustments. However  I have seen a lot of pictures of very experienced skiff sailors wearing nappy harnesses that have no waist adjustment and only shoulder strap adjustment (despite having 6 holes around the hook there is no rope or adjustment available). I know some people get these made to measure but have also seen them advertised in specific sizes. The thing that struck me in the pictures is that there is often a reasonable gap between the hook and the body when trapezing which suggests they are not done up too tight (which I thought was wrong). However maybe I have been wearing them too tight ? One complaint I have had is that if I capsize wearing a harness I find swimming mobility really impaired as is any other position in the boat than standing or wiring.

The other harnesses such as the gill skiff harness with multiple adjustable straps that come from shoulders, sides, and around both legs to a hexagonal hook centre (rather than spreader bar) has been my preferrance as it doesn't get my bits but I still find mobility in the water is a nightmare. I also find a spreader bar is bad as it doesn't allow breathing as well as the gill designed ones (sort of hexagon centre) - although wonder if a nappy style would be better still for this.

I know the answer is to try them all - and I have to the extent of the above preferences. Any suggestions or preferences particularly for mobility.

Mike

Ive a made to measure skiff style harness (as have quite a few people i know) and ive never heard a complaint yet!  As for the hook being far from the body, im not sure that there's any specific benefit yet there is also certainly nothing Wrong with it.  The reason i have some give in mine is so that i can fit anything from my 1mm neoprene shorts up to my drysuit (and wooly bear) inside.  Also i leave me shoulder adjustment loose too as its quite simply just comfortable.  I'm more than likely going to get some contrary comments to what im about to say but i really dont see any benefit in crouching your body up so that you can really crank on the shoulder strap.  I used to do that when i started trapezing but now leave it loose. 
As for what harness to get, ive never heard any complaints from either the made to measure skiff style harness's OR the windsurfing/kite surfing style harness's. 
Best plan of action is just to try and borrow as many different types of harness as you can.  And also when you do get your own harness, ALWAYS take off the small peice of rubber on the hook plate that supposedly is there to stop the trapeze ring falling out.......bad bad plan!!
I hope thats of some help.

Doug

I have the same harness as Mr Liddell and i've yet to find a problem with it. I like the fact that it is adjustable yet you can still zip the sides over to cover up all the buckles so it never gets caught on anything.

I looked at getting one of the made to measure ones but I wasn't sure about it as the difference between just wearing boardies in the summer and then full steamer etc in the summer is quite a lot of thickness. I've never used one so don't take my word for it!

As far as the nappy vs strappy goes for 'man area' pain I think it must be down to how you are put together and how you arrange yourself!! I have always used a nappy because i find it more comfortable (think the increased surface area helps to spread the load!) and i have had some serious incidents with the strap ones (for one, the straps come either side and leave your manhood unprotected and if u leap onto the dagger board and miss you are in trouble.... BIG trouble )

Just my thoughts on the matter anyway

I have the Magic Marine Skiff harness (ala jack sparrow) and I went for it specificaly because I could adjust it for lending to people/different levels of kit but all the straps are covered by velcro panels so no snagging (yet)
It was a bit stiff at first but now its worn in is very comfy and its all really a matter of carefull arangement downstairs before you head out to sort the rest out.
There is also quite a lot of support in the back which means I can leave the main over-shoulder straps pretty loose as long as im not wiring too low which makes moving around far more comfortable.

i have a banks pro skiff harness the one with no adjustmant just the over shoulder straps and i find it reall comfy best harness i've had so far by a long way