Help choosing a harness

Hi guys

I only had my 18 for a few weeks and I think its about time to buy a harness. I've been looking at the Marine Magic Pro Racing with Quick release. It looks comfortable and has good reviews from a few people here. I don't fancy the ZHIK as its very expensive and can't bear to think what the wide front strap will do to my meat and two veg!

Most of the time I helm whilst my wife crews but in the future she may helm whilst I crew. Should the style of harness be based on whether I helm or crew or should the Magic Marine be good for both positions?

Many thanks, Adrian

My favorite harness is my old Magic Marine Aquata,

My newest harness is a Gul Stokes which is not as comfortable as my old harness....next time I will not buy online but I will buy from a dealer who stocks quality catamaran accessories....

Stay away from any harness that doesn't have a spreader bar or that pinches you.............. .

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Bill 404 21SE

I use a Murray's half race harness. I am not usually on the wire for more than an hour or so at a time, but t is comfortable for me.

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Scott
Hobie 18 w/wings
Hobie/Holder 12 Funseeker
2 Hobie Waves
Tandem Oasis Kayak
Hobie 16
Southern California

I seem to remember reading somewhere on this forum that a certain harness style is more suited for crewing whereas a different style is better for the helm...... Is this true or my imagination?

Purely personal preference. There are no technical or practical reasons for a crew vs skipper type harness. Some people like the back support of a full harness. Others like the easy on and off and less restrictive feel of a half harness.

I've had a couple over the years; the best was my Magic Marine Full Race harness. Comfortable, light, easy to maneuver in. A little pricier than some of the used ones I had purchased but well worth it. When I sold my cat I let the other harnesses go with it - but I kept the Magic Marine!

I hadn't really given much thought to "off-brand" (non-hobie) harnesses. Personally, I don't mind the seat/bucket type that Hobie sells - it's less expensive than the full/auto harness, and I find that I really don't need the back support. Those do seem comfortable, but for almost double the price, I don't think it's worth it.

Out on the wire, the seat/bucket type is plenty comfortable, I find, but on the trampoline they're a bit awkward & cumbersome. Maybe that's just wearing a harness in general, I'm not sure. Like I said, I haven't experimented much. I do have some of the older "cloth" style with the center hook & straps (no spreader bar), one that had shoulder straps and one that did not, and I agree that those are somewhat less comfortable overall than those with the spreader bar. Mine never did work right though, so it's tough to say.

I am looking to get a new harness to replace one of those, actually, so I too am curious to see what is out there. I like the ~$100 price range, but I'm curious if there's something more comfortable or more preferred than the Hobie seat/bucket type in that price range, or if others feel that there is another type/make that is perhaps more expensive but a big improvement over the Hobie type and therefore well worth the money?

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Mike

'79 H18 standard 'Rocketman II' sail #14921 RIP
'78 H18 (unnamed) sail #14921
'08 H16 sail #114312
'97 H21SC sail #238

Put cost as a secondary consideration. Fit and comfort should be your top priority.

I bought a ZHIK a couple months ago and really like it. My prior harness was Full Hobie Skippers harness, I got 5 years out of it before retiring. It was well made and has more padding in the hips and seat than the other brands. Points to Hobie they makes good durable products.

In regards to "Meat and Veggies". The Hobie displays the Meat and Potatoes the ZHIK tucks them away in a discreet pouch.

My wife bought a FORWARD full harness (similar to the Gull and Zhik) at the 18 North Americans and likes it. If she's comfortable its a happy boat!

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Corkguy H18, Tiger, Wildcat

I have a kit sailing harness, and it's the best, most comfortable harness you can have. Super good back support and you can maintain the position for hours. Net advantage is the support is above the waist line and leaves you inter leg free.

+1 to fit and support first.

When I got my boat, I purchased a nice ronstan harness shortly afterward. It never fit right, in large part because I have an abnormally large backside, a friend of mine just purchased the same thing and loves it. I ended up going with an old style Hobie harness that came with a boat I purchased. Looking into a replacement, as it has been thoroughly used by this point.

In general it seems that the diaper style harnesses that do not wrap your thigh are more popular with the lady folk, and casual sailor/light air sailor, just like the butt bucket. I tried racing a few times with a half harness and found that when the wind picked up and I was spending a lot of time on the wire, a full harness was much nicer on the back.

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Tom
Fleet 259, Central Coast CA
H18 ('81)
H18 ('85)
H20 ('97)
H18 ('78)