Full Auto harness or Convertible harness

I've just got my first H16 and am picking it up next week. It's been 20 years since I sailed but I'm hoping it is like riding a bike - once mastered, never forgotten!

I have to buy some trapeze harnesses as the boat comes with none and have narrowed down my options (due to cost & availability) in New Zealand to Hobie Full Auto harness or the Convertible harness.

A previous post last year had lots of feedback about the Convertible harness but not much about the Full Auto harness. My best supplier is pushing the Full Auto harness - should I got with this or should I consider the Convertible harness?

Another question - My kids are 30kg (8 yrs) and 25kg (7 yrs) - do you think the medium/small harnesses would adjust down to their size - they'd really like to go out on the wire! I thought the Convertible harness would suit them better than the Full Auto harness.

Loooking forward to your help...

My wife and I have the Full harnesses and they work quite well - while I haven't tried the convertables, I see many who use them and the adjustability and back support is just not there. When trapping out for long periods, I can quickly and with one hand tighten the shoulder harnesses down, and then easily release them on the reach (trying to sit in a tight harness is hell).

Re: the kids, I think the full-auto would be too big in the torso, even with the small. I use a medium and I am well over 6 feet tall - the torso length is fine for me. At 7 or 9 years, they'll never be able to tighten the shoulders enough to do more than get in the way. I think a convertable without the shoulders would work better for them (though it may ride high, so you'll have to make sure it's over the life-jacket).

Just my thoughts!

_________________
Tim
Unofficial Fleet 72 Communications Officer and Div 4 Webmaster
http://www.hobiefleet72.org
http://www.div4.hobieclass.com/

Thanks tjp. I thought the Full Auto harnesses would offer the most support. This will be important as I plan to do a lot of sailing over summer.

I looks like I'm going to have to get a whole truckload of harnesses.

Is there a better harness option for my kids that the Convertible harness (i.e. - a more basic one (perhaps the Hobie Skippers harness)?

What about getting one full and one convertable? Unless you are full-on competitive racing, the skipper wants to sit more upright anyway so they can see better, so the back support isn't needed as much - the skipper can use the convertable and the crew the full. When the kids are on, have one of them use the convertable (as long as it could be adjustable between kids/adults, it doesn't have to be totally tight for them of course) and you use the full.

_________________
Tim
Unofficial Fleet 72 Communications Officer and Div 4 Webmaster
http://www.hobiefleet72.org
http://www.div4.hobieclass.com/

Thanks again tjp. I think you've got a good idea about getting one of each. I'm not that interested in racing (famous last words? ) - I just want to get out and about with my kids and wife and sail up and down our wonderful coastline, exploring and having fun.

I've asked my dealer to see if they can give a guide to the sizing - I'm not sure that a Convertible harness for me (90kg) will fit my kids (30kg). Hopefully it will so that I can get by with just two harnesses. I can imagine though that on a quiet day both kids will want be out on the wire - maybe I'll try two Convertibles (which will give the kids a chance to both be out) and if I find I need more back support when I'm on the trapee then I'll upgrade my harness to a Full Auto (spread the costs out! )

I highly recommend the Convertible harness, I have sailed with all of them and I love the convertible. I believe its the best harness on the market, I seldom ever sail with the back supports on but when I am distance racing they sure are nice!

Thanks,
Brad Stephens
www.sunjammers.com
Hobie Division 15 Chairman
Authorized Hobie/Vanguard/Hunter Dealer
[email protected]
850-235-2281
Panama City Beach, FL

Thanks for your advice Brad. Do you think a Medium or Large Convertible harness would adjust down to fit the kids in? Or do I have to get a small harness just for them?

Our son Martin has been sailing since the age of 18 months. He is now 11, and qualified to White Sail Level III, with many hours on his own on Optimists and 420's.

When we sail as a family on the H18, he needed to be 'just like dad.' so two years ago, I bought him a second hand windsurfers 'butt bucket' type of harness, with a spreader bar, easy on, easy off, and it tightens down enough that it will fit a child. Now he hikes out whenever he wants. The only deal is that I am not allowed to 'tea bag' him.

We should all have such enjoyable challenges!

Good winds

_________________
2015 H16, with spin,
SOLD 1989 Hobie SX18 Sail # 1947 "In Theory..."
'Only two things are infinite, the universe, and human stupidity. But I'm not sure about the former.'

Thanks John. From what everyone is saying it seems that a Convertible harness would be the way to go so that I can use the one harness for my kids and other adults (me or my wife).

If any more suggestions or ideas are out there please post them so I can make the right decision.

I might order one Harness and see if it fits everyone, I have a 36" waist and can fit into either size. I am thinking of getting a smaller spreader bar for my g/f so it can tighten up on her better, this may work for your kids I can't imagine it not working. Thank you for allowing your kids to be a part of your sailing! If my father would not of put me on a sunfish at age 6, and a Hobie 16 when I was around 8 I do not think I would be where I am today!

Thanks,
Brad Stephens
www.sunjammers.com
Hobie Division 15 Chairman
Authorized Hobie/Vanguard/Hunter Dealer
[email protected]
850-235-2281
Panama City Beach, FL

Hi Brad. Thanks for your thoughts again.

It seems like the best plan would be to buy a Convertible harness, like you say, and see who it fits. Then I can make a decision on the second (& maybe third) harnesse(s).

You mention a smaller spreader bar - are these readily available or do you have to get them made up? I haven't seen any mention of smaller spreader bars up until now.

My father bought a catamaran when I was around 8 (a Windrush 12 - not sure if you have them in the US) but I can remember sailing it myself on lakes when I was around 9 or 10. So I guess its just repeating the good things that my parents did. Life's too short to be bothered with amassing fortunes and working too hard - I just want to spend time doing fun things with my kids and wife so that at the end we can look back and think "That was fun!"

windsurfers have smaller bars, I am going to try maybe a 10 or 8 inch bar and see what works best, the current set up may be the best!

Thanks,
Brad Stephens
www.sunjammers.com
Hobie Division 15 Chairman
Authorized Hobie/Vanguard/Hunter Dealer
[email protected]
850-235-2281
Panama City Beach, FL

wait arent windsurfer's hooks slightly less curved in? as in a cat harness's hooks comes in more than a windsurfers?

Hey there kiwi - (or can I say howdy mate ? )

John Lunn said "...I bought him a second hand windsurfers 'butt bucket' type of harness, with a spreader bar, easy on, easy off, and it tightens down enough that it will fit a child. Now he hikes out whenever he wants. The only deal is that I am not allowed to 'tea bag' him. "

The real advantage of having back support is that some of us old people just can't hang out there forever and and be able to stand up the next day without an industrial strength dose of Ibuprofen.

Kids are different however. They can hang out there forever and ever. We still use my Hobie brand padded butt bucket for the kids - the same one I have had for over 25 years - and it doesn't even have a spreader bar. Now the "child" is 14 but he still prefers the butt bucket.

As for "Tea bagging" him - well he's 3 inches taller than me and even though I outweigh him by 40 lbs , those days are way gone. Go ahead and tea-bag him while you can John. One day he'll miss it

_________________
The fact that this windy world is largely covered in water obviously means that man was meant to sail.

Howdy widerisbetter (or, as the locals say, Kia ora).

I am starting to understand the back support thing I get older!

I've been recommended an extra-large and a medium harness for me and my wife. I know we can adjust the harnesses down and I'm pretty sure the medium harness will fit & hold a kid in it, but I'm not sure if I'll be wasting my time or not with the XL. Does anyone think/know I can adjust the XL harness (if it was a Convertible) down enough to wrap around one of my kids?

If I can get the XL harness to fit a kid then I'd consider getting a Convertible harness, but if there's no hope I'd find my kids again once they hopped in the harness I'd get an Auto harness just for me. I'm trying to get away without buying three harnesses but the more I think about it the less likely it is looking!