Anyone have a redundant leash system? I worry even thick leashes can suffer minor cuts or swivels giving out that could easily result in the board being lost. Also considering the Invis leash with some sheath over the plastic coil section.
Yeah I think two things worry me
- leash snapping offshore - I’d like a leash with a tracer or something that cannot snap
- falling in front of the board and it blowing onto you (this seems to happen +20kn), bump camp
I’ve put the kaohi inviz leash through hell and back between dw and sup surfing. Sup surf is way harder on it, surprised I haven’t ripped a leash plug out of the board yet. Things happen but if you’re afraid of a leash breaking the inviz leash has impressed me with what it’s been through, I think it’s more likely that I’d rip a plug out than break that leash. Mines a good year old at this point and well broken in, still going strong. probly going to pick up another soon for a backup. My leash doesn’t get too much stress put on it down winding, a 20mph fall still has nothing on a 3-4ft wave taking an 8’6’ dw board and dragging it to the beach with you attatched to it. it get’s pretty yammed on in the surf
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speaking from experience of breaking a lot of leashes in the surf, they are fine until they aren’t. There is absolutely no way I would trust an inviz leash in any consequence. At its weakest, it is nothing more than a competition sized coil leash. A small nick that you don’t notice in an inspection or even long term UV exposure combined with a big pull will absolutely break it. If its in good shape, there is no reason why it would be unsafe. Seems totally fine for downwind
Agree, it’s just a PU leash and will snap the same as any other from nicks from on the mast. I have snapped many, and would like not to have to worry that “is this now too old”
(my context is often paddling out in overhead surf for the start of downwinders, so if it will snap, it will be before I get out to sea, which is another consideration)
I’ve created my own DW leash (for sup DW) that is longer than conventional (16’ at full extension). It’s all one-piece of 1/4" Amsteel (dyneema). There is dyneema shock cord in about 6’ length of it closest to the belt. I flake it into a repurposed kayak waist-tow belt back that has a velcro closure. There are no swivels, or other attachment weak points. The dyneema leash is tied AROUND the webbing (can’t fail), then attaches to the leash loop on the board end in a fail-safe manner. I ride with it shortened, no slap or drag in the water. If I fall going fast, the whole length pays out easily and I can get away from my board. The leash can also be shortened at will to any length, just by re-tying the knot at the webbing belt, and I’ve got another 2 ft of extra if I want to lengthen it a bit more.
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I only use the WIP webbing leash, urethane leashes are too unreliable.
This looks nice.
I swapped to the Manera Foil Leash and I’m happy enough with it even though I had to scavenge a rail saver and add 30 cm of dynema to get it right. I’m not sure how trustworthy it is though as I don’t think they run a dyneema line down the webbing.
The Manera Foil Leash Lite looks better as it includes the rail saver, says there is dyneema in the main leash and has an option for 150 cm.
Only reason I bought the Foil Leash over the Lite version was availability where I live.
I’ve seen these rip leash plugs out, the shock load is too much for epoxy glassed plugs. I’d say possibly worse than urethane because you aren’t expecting failure
Never had an issue so far, they have a double section of elastic webbing to help stop the plug overload. But never say never, I trust these more than anything urethane.
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Yup, I think unlikely, but on a downwinder a wing leash pulled a plug on a big yardsale crash.
I think a thin dyneema line that is beyond the breaking length of the urethane that goes from the plug to the cuff independently of everything else is likely the key. Also a double plug.
Maybe overkill, but a nice idea.
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@JoshKu 's crazy story deserves a link
I kept going, looked over my shoulder again. Another ten minutes passed and I thought, this is fucked. I was 40km into the crossing, dead center of the Bali Strait. No Bali behind me, no Java in front—just ocean. And now the safety boat that was supposed to be tailing me had vanished. Maybe it capsized, I thought.
I had no radio, no comms—didn’t think I’d need one with the boat following me. All my food was on board too. I’d planned on them tossing me supplies as I went. All I had was a litre of water in my camel pack, and still maybe three hours of foiling left. I started freaking out. Checked my watch: six hours of daylight left. If I nailed it from here, it’d take three.
Glad you are ok, sounds sketchy
(gotta get those views mate! 
)
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Anyone a stab member? share some of the comments if anything interesting
Awesome story! That must have been SCARY! Can’t wait to see the footage. Congrats on not dying @JoshKu
I’ve been refining a do it yourself leash system for the last few years. After some fiddling, I found that fishing 4mm PolyUrethane cord (same material as most leashes) INSIDE dyneema amsteel rope works great. It has a stretch profile a lot like a typical leash, but “bottoms out” on nearly unbreakable and very durable dyneema cordstock.
The details about how to do the ends matter a lot. Maybe I should make a batch and sell them.
More info about this and other similar projects in the other thread about leashes
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