Trapeze harness

Not that daft... But if you wear it over I think you'll find that the straps don't stay put, so it needs to be under...
I think there would be a lot to be said for an integrated harness/buoyncy aid... With the harness under the buoyancy, which is conventional, the buoyancy aid may get in the way - that's why you see cutaway buoyancy aids advertised for use with trapeze harnesses.

Originally posted by ellistine Thanks. We had been wearing ours under but I keep seeing pictures of them being worn over. The only problem I have wearing it under is that the buoyancy aid obscures your view of the hook. I supposed this matters less the more you get used to it.

Get one of the rash vests with a hook-hole- neately covers all straps, leaves just your hook poking out.

I wear my harness over everything so that I can remove it quickly if necessary.  My only experience of entrapment nearly did for me and it was a buckle on the harness which got caught.  I remember with the last breath in my body that I couldn't get if off because I had a bouyancy aid over the top and yet I'd checked the hook a dozen times and couldn't understand why I was still snagged.

Originally posted by redback I wear my harness over everything so that I can remove it quickly if necessary.  My only experience of entrapment nearly did for me and it was a buckle on the harness which got caught.  I remember with the last breath in my body that I couldn't get if off because I had a bouyancy aid over the top and yet I'd checked the hook a dozen times and couldn't understand why I was still snagged.

so in that respect would a rash vest covering everything have helped? this is an interesting debate because my 29er crew wears a harness then a b/a and then his spray top.  when im trapzing i wear a harness and then my b/a. but my b/a is so easy to get off (if i lifted my arms up i could slide it off). i dont understand why you need a b/a, if you cant swim, should you really be sailing? if your knocked out its useless and could hold you face down in the water. if your concious then you can swim. only advntage i can see is if your too tired to swim (which isnt  a problem with decent rescue cover....).

my apologies for hi-jacking the thread.

You can get really good no-snag harness hooks now.   No sticky out hook to snag on anything or punch any holes in anyones decks.

So, harness, then bouyancy then a rash vest over everything = nothing whatsoever sticks out to get tangled in the first place.  And you don't need a special rashy with a hook hole.

Had mine a couple of years now and very pleased.  Switched back to a hook for a while and almost immediatedly damaged my mate's boat with it . 

Back to the flush hook. 


You do have to be a little more positive about hooking into it and it doesn't come unhooked all by itself, eg when you stand in the boat or want to hook into a loose wire before you step out (which is good) but instead the needs a small chop on the trapeze loop with the side of your hand to dislodge it (possibly not so good).

Highly recommended.

PS: a bouyancy aid is a really nice thing to have on when you capsize for the nth time after several hours of sailing!!!!!


Edited by NickA