For sure I dunno (can't find an emoticon)

The wire hoop usually falls off the hook on its own (of course everybody cuts off those stupid plastic retainers don't they) and is well trained in muscle memory to push off if it doesn't.

Not damaging the board or side deck with a hook has to be good, having said that I haven't yet.

Reducing risk is good of course. BUT What is the chance of the hook itself actually causing an entrapment?

My biggest worry is getting caught in a half hitch of loose rope. That would take a cool head to get out of.

The hook getting caught is within easy reach and quite an instinctive thing to go for and sort out.

This would prevent that; looks a sound idea.

I also had the deck and hull punctured on my Winder Fireball by different trapeze hooks.

So I'd say there is certainly a need for something better.

Interesting to see that Allen have openly adopted the Bethwaite idea, which we discussed some time ago.  I don't recall seeing the "solid aluminium handle" before.  Bet that could catch you a nasty smack in the eye - even plastic bobbles on adjusters can hurt.

The problem, of course, is that you'd need a second harness if ever you wanted to scratch crew another boat with the usual rings.

Personally I'll stick with the flush hook solution.  It works with normal rings, my crew is happy with it, and a number of club-mates have adopted it too.

Allen does, and I've no concern over their ethical approach to this.  Good on them for bringing the innovation to market- I hope it saves lives.

My question was over university plagiarism, not copyright / patent infringement, if as was suggested, this product is the result of university final year product that might not reference the Bethwaite original concept.

I think Allen have moved this concept forward a little ... I suspect the success or failure of this system is in the subtle design of the socket to make the "hooking" (or balling) in & out easy whilst making sure the ball does not disengage when the crew is squirming about on the wire ...

My only experience of QR hooks has been negative when a hook released at random whilst I was on the wire ... it went straight in the bin at that point.

ditto- although my P&B harness (hanging in the garage for 5+ years now) has one, I always carried a spare hook onboard having lost one on my 600 and had to sail back 'hiking' from the rack.

sadly not- we are all desk experts, so no longer rely on the professionalism of the local chandler to ensure the clevice pin is the right diameter for the loose crown we find kicking around the bottom of our Musto  & Hyde sailing holdall.

Instead we order one off the internet, pay an additional fiver for shipping and then discard it as it doesn't actually fit despite, what we believed, was careful research across sailboats, P&B and the RS parts store.  Some guy on the Y&Y forum gave us some sage expert advice, but like the rest of them on there it turns out he's just full of sh*t and misinformation.  (It later transpires he 'works' for one of the clevice pin manufacturers updating their Facebook page with genuine user feedback, someone will call him out for it soon enough) 

We then lash whatever needed shackling down with a bit of worn out spectra core barely suitable for holding up a tramp's piss-stained troowsers, safe in the knowledge that even if we have a generous PY, our poor performance excuse is locked and loaded.... all cursing under our breath whilst updating our iPhone* task list to re-order a complete shackle Monday morning, parsimony averted, as it costs twenty quid.  

Oh dear.....bad day?

nope, rather good actually.  I was even nice about the RS Aero.

It is a simple device that means when you are changing rake on the water the shroud can never come away and allow your mast to fall down.

There are two pins through the slot ... so if you drop the rig tension off, then remove the bottom pins, then re-apply the rig tension the rig is now less raked - hence de-raker.

Simple ...

Mostly used on classes where adjustable shrouds are not permitted; e.g. 470.

Do you have a photo you can upload Richard (there's a challenge).  Click on "Post Reply" (at bottom left) and look out for the image icon in the pop-up.

Earlier on the forum there were some photos which are exactly the same as the unit I am copying.