I just bought a new harness with the RWO quick release hook, and was a bit disappointed to find that the hook decided to come out whilst I was on the wire, leaving me in the water!  Fortunately I had a spare but I don't want this to happen again, and am contemplating just abandoning the quick release system for a normal hook.

I was wondering who else had had (or knew someone who has had) an experience with a quick release hook failing on them like this or if it was just a fluke. 

Happened to a couple of people at Wilsonian too.

If you don't have a spare hook then you're stuffed, especially in the likes of an MPS/RS700 - could even be dangerous.

Better off with John Waddington's flush hook:

You don't get tangled up using this in the first place - or puncture your nice epoxy-sandwich hull climbing back in...

First time I'm seeing this design. Thanks for posting. I use the Bethwaite Keyball on my 29erXX and am generally happy. The issue is when others sail with me and have their own harnesses or when I need to sail with others on their boats with the ring. Looks like this design incorporates the best of the Keyball approach while remaining compatible with the %9x of the trap boats out there. Is the spreader made from an alloy or plastic/carbon etc?

The hook is made of stainless steel, and apparently needs to be that thick, as a lardy boy bent a thinner one.

There are various versions available besides the spreader bar, including one for the Banks skiff harness. Banks are or were at one time offering them as original equipment (albeit unadvertised - the market is so small).

I 'encouraged' my crews to adopt it mainly to preserve the boat's topsides having suffered from damage from a conventional hook on my Winder Fireball, but the non-tangling aspect is a serious benefit - I nearly copped it myself once while righting an old FD (the hook locked onto the gunwale lip so that the boat came over on top of me while I was still stuck there, pinning me under water). Another time, my crew's conventional hook got hooked on the underwater shroud in a capsize... scary.

I'm not at all convinced by the releasable hooks. Besides wrecking your topsides, I've also heard they can be tricky to release under load.

my magic marine quick realise hook has caused so much problems in the past 2 months

It almost came undone whilst going round texel without me pulling the string (not impressed)

So I cut the string to stop this happening again

At the next event I checked my hook as I always do before going out to notice the hook had partially come undone again -  NOT GOOD

I am changing back to a non quick realise hook for safety!

i have to agree with you there, unhooking from things when you are in the water shouldnt be a problem. the only time it might be is if you are caught on something that you get your weight on, e.g shroud or perhaps kiker. simply shoving down off your hook normally clears it. having a little retainer thing doesnt help this though.

I have had exactly the same trouble as "hurricane" with the Magic Quick Release thing. I have looked down at my hook on two occasions to find the hook going off to one side, meaning that the release pin is half out.

I changed back to the normal type and sent the QR back to Magic, asking for a refund. They sent me a whole new QR spreader bar, saying they had refined the product- admittedly great customer service. It does seem more secure than the first one and I am giving it another chance.

These QR things also stick out a lot further than the normal ones, increasing the risk of a tangle in the first place.

I've had two RWO QRH hooks.  I used to test it every few weeks stood on the shore and the first one stopped releasing unless I leant over to the left.  That's not "got a bit tricky to relase", that is a "would not budge now matter how hard you pulled".  Apparently it was "a one in a million weld failure".  When my new hook then became number two in a million I gave up and went back to a conventional hook...

how would your BA NOT riding up kill you? if it rides up over your head you could drown but if it stays where it's meant to what's the problem?

There are a lot of discussion going on about personal safety at the moment which I've been reading with interest.   I think it's clear there is not a simple 'safe' answer which addresses all situations and we all make our own decisions often based on our own personal experiences and fears. 

I wear my harness under my bouyancy aid as this allows the back support to work correctly.  However I do feed the straps through the neck apperture and over the BA at the front to ensure it doesn't ride up whilst sailing or in the water.  I think I can undo the starps quickly if need be in order to take the BA off. 

I never wear a rash vest over everything as I want to be able to undress quickly.  I think this is more important than wearing a smooth non snag over garment.

I carry magic marines 'toy' knife as I can't think of a non intrusive place to carry anything bigger.  I discount folding knives as I don't think I'd be able to operate these in an emergency situation and a sheathed knife I feel sure will catch or be rammed into me at some point.  Being a singlehander, I see no point in carrying a knife on the boat. 

I have a Magic marine quick release harness but a quick test on the beach showed neither this nor the Crewsaver equivalent my mate was wearing actually release whilst under tension.  I therefore have no confidence that they add to my safety but whilst there is a chance it might work, I'll still wear it.  Why not?  I just make a habit of check the release pin is fully engaged before each sail and it has never accidentally released.  I also carry a spare hook in case I do have to use it in anger.

These are my decisions and I know that people will disagree with a number of the conclusions I have drawn.  My real point is that at the end of the day you must make your own call knowing that it won't be perfect.

Ian

That is a really good idea...like it!!  Would work really well with a nappy harness and MM Skiff bouyancy aid!