Well it is realy nice, untill you try to jump, steering the kite back shifts the point of pulling force, so I did not like it and tied a not to avoid it. But for surfing or going for distant trips on skis i guess its perfect.
As someone who is pretty new to this, can I ask for any comments or suggestions on my attempt at making a sliding hook?
I've cut down a Da Kine bar and used 8mm braid, tied off in a bowline on both sides. I have used a 5/8'' snap shackle and have tested that it will support my weight when tied to a tree. What makes me a bit nervous is that I see that there has been some criticism of using a snap shackle.
What do you think?
Thanks, when you say jam under pressure do you mean that it won't slide along the rope? And any recommendations on the shackle or is a carabiner better?
He means that the side pull shackles like that one can become overloaded so that you can't get them to release when you need it. Gated shackles are the only type that really have stood the test of kiteboarding time.
Spot on, the Wichard is the only one to have. The other one will and does jam with sand!!! I have used my Wichard 2001-2004 when we used to shackle ourselves and on my sliding surfboard harness set up since 2009 all without issue.
Thanks guys can now see why the side release ones are not good. Does this mean that the best solution is a carabiner, even though it means the CL is turned sideways?
blazeheli wrote:Engine harness with Dynabar using their fixed hook and their rope slider with a beefy O-ring from West Marine is working great so far. Go from sliding bar to fixed hook on the fly!
When in sliding mode, do you ever get hung up on the hook or can you see a scenario where it might get caught on the hook
Not that I can see. When I am in sliding mode - the rope is almost always above the hook since the kite is usually above me. But I made the rope long enough so that if the rope was right in front of the hook there is at least one inch clearance. I am only in slider mode when I am cruising around on a surfboard or riding toeside on my twin tip. If I am doing jumps and tricks that would put the rope in weird positions - I am hooked in at that point anyway. If something did get caught up for some reason, I have my primary safety release and dynabar rope has a safety release also.
Here is a video of where I got the idea. I guess racers came up with this mod. This guy welded two of the thinner rings that come with the dynabar together for extra strength. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW2RFCVf28Y
I like it.
If you actually need both on the fly - because its not like normal unhooking.
Starsky wrote:
... Gated shackles are the only type that really have stood the test of kiteboarding time.
ie:
If you use the gated side facing your kite ; i recommend that you get
rid of the swiveling ability of that shackle ; so the pull string for the
release is always on the same side of the devise.
You can replace the string, with a bolt, so it activates on Both sides.