Howdy
Just wondering what everyone does or what is the best way to look after our leashes, I own half a dozen sups & shortboards & also quite a few Leg ropes (small & big wave ones / thin & thick ones etc.) and I rotate them and use them when I have too but how do we look after them? so as not to damage or put them at risk of ware & tear when not in use? I left on in the corner of a bed room once for a while and it feel apart,
So besides a good nice clean rinse with fresh water after a surf - then what is next?:-)
Keep them out of the sun .
i keep mine in a plastic container in the boot ..so far so good ...I don't rinse them ..
Leave them on the board, wrap around the tail and fin and put the board away. Can't remember the last time I had one fail.
Select to expand quotesgo said..
Leave them on the board, wrap around the tail and fin and put the board away. Can't remember the last time I had one fail.
+1
Rinse them when I rinse my wettie then hang them up ...I never leave them or coiled up...let them hang straightened out.
Select to expand quoteTardy said..
Keep them out of the sun .
i keep mine in a plastic container in the boot ..so far so good ...I don't rinse them ..
Pretty similar to Tardy, coiled is fine as long as it doesn't kink.
UV is the enemy along with nicks/cuts. never rinsed intentionally.
Select to expand quoteriverider said..sgo said..
Leave them on the board, wrap around the tail and fin and put the board away. Can't remember the last time I had one fail.
+1
+2 
Select to expand quoteSlab said..
Rinse them when I rinse my wettie then hang them up ...I never leave them or coiled up...let them hang straightened out.
I usually do the same as Slab but it gets a bit messy / untidy with several leg ropes hanging down etc.?:-)
- keep them out of the sun.
- rinsing them is beneficial, but not mandatory. I must say I rinse them only from time to time (once every month?). Especially useful for the metal and straps/neoprene parts.
- I just store them loose in the bag with the board, not wrapped around the tail
Bends:
- avoid tight bends
- avoid tension
- if you have bends, just put them in hot (boiling) water for 5 minutes, and let them cool stretched. Or just stretch them horizontally in the garden and pour slowly water from a kettle on them.
For storing spare leashes, I reproduce the system used by some leashes such as the O&E ONE XT: a cardboard square with 4 ties to keep the cord in a perfect circle without tension: This avoid bends and tangles and minimize storage space
Note that O&E actually do not use ties but have the cord loops hold in a cardboard box, which is even better:You only need to tie the cuff and railsaver parts and let the cord loose to avoid any bend-creating tensions on the cord.
Good topic.
Broke a leggie at The Gunnery last year, you would think pretty easy swim in, but jeez, you need to keep yourself calm.
Cant speak for everyone, but a lot of us are pretty reliant on our boards for flotation, when you're out there swimming, things can get ugly pretty quick.
Yep can vouch for a tough time if it breaks - had to really keep calm and think my way through it when a leggy broke during a heavy swell at a nasty Reef a few years ago - keeping calm saves me for sure - not my board though - obliterated on the rocks!
I coil mine loosely and rinse off, so far so good? The one that broke was one I borrowed 
Select to expand quoteSouwester said..
Yep can vouch for a tough time if it breaks - had to really keep calm and think my way through it when a leggy broke during a heavy swell at a nasty Reef a few years ago - keeping calm saves me for sure - not my board though - obliterated on the rocks!
I coil mine loosely and rinse off, so far so good? The one that broke was one I borrowed
Yes thanks guys - I think my cords are the most important part of my boards as they can save me, and thanks for your advice/wisdom (as always) Colas. I would also like to mention that I previously tested / stretched / compared Leg ropes by strapping one end to something solid and then standing back and pulling / stretching etc.:-)
Broke one recently when foiling. Thought it got cut on the foil mast but when I had a look, it was inside the protective sheath? So go figure? Manufacture fault? Cannot remember what brand but it was one of the best.
Big seas are usually the cause. So best practice for me is to put a new one on to improve your chances.
Select to expand quoteSeajuice said..
it was inside the protective sheath? So go figure? Manufacture fault?
When this happens to me, I consider it is a faulty design and never buy this model anymore.
The attachments should be stronger than the cord.
Select to expand quoteSeajuice said..
Broke one recently when foiling. Thought it got cut on the foil mast but when I had a look, it was inside the protective sheath? So go figure? Manufacture fault? Cannot remember what brand but it was one of the best.
Big seas are usually the cause. So best practice for me is to put a new one on to improve your chances.
Sounds similar to some failures I had. Ive had at least threefail at the connection of swivel to the railsaver. A cord loops through the swivel and the cord appears to be sewn to the railsaver webbing. These weren't cheap leggys.
I check the type of connection on every leg rope I buy now.
Select to expand quoteSouwester said..
Yep can vouch for a tough time if it breaks - had to really keep calm and think my way through it when a leggy broke during a heavy swell at a nasty Reef a few years ago - keeping calm saves me for sure - not my board though - obliterated on the rocks!
I coil mine loosely and rinse off, so far so good? The one that broke was one I borrowed
Yes I agree. A long swim a few years ago in big seas changes my perspective on leashes. The leash broke somewhere in the middle. After this I stopped wrapping my leases around the fins/board, increased the diameter of new leashes, and started wearing an impact vest. I remember the experience vividly and thinking this is not the way I want to end it. Tried to keep calm, kept my paddle and was able to use it a bit when swimming on my back. Made it to shore just before entering a big outgoing rip.
Bob
I read this yesterday, went out for a paddle, was almost out the back at a remote break and had to bail on a biggish wave (while still paddling out). With the weakest tug on my calf I saw my board head off back to the beach. I could not believe it.
Finally got back to the beach and found the little cord that attaches the leggie to the board had come undone!
Go figure!
Select to expand quotecolas said..
- keep them out of the sun.
- rinsing them is beneficial, but not mandatory. I must say I rinse them only from time to time (once every month?). Especially useful for the metal and straps/neoprene parts.
- I just store them loose in the bag with the board, not wrapped around the tail
Bends:
- avoid tight bends
- avoid tension
- if you have bends, just put them in hot (boiling) water for 5 minutes, and let them cool stretched. Or just stretch them horizontally in the garden and pour slowly water from a kettle on them.
For storing spare leashes, I reproduce the system used by some leashes such as the O&E ONE XT: a cardboard square with 4 ties to keep the cord in a perfect circle without tension: This avoid bends and tangles and minimize storage space
Note that O&E actually do not use ties but have the cord loops hold in a cardboard box, which is even better:You only need to tie the cuff and railsaver parts and let the cord loose to avoid any bend-creating tensions on the cord.
^ The OE one, mine was still like a spring when I took it out of the box and it stayed like that until I weighed it down on one end with a 2kg hammer head. Hung it in my shed (it was hot that day) and that straightened it out no worries. Been perfect ever since.
They still mould to the shape of the box/wrapping, the OE box didn't stop it like it said it would...
Select to expand quotecantSUPenough said..
Finally got back to the beach and found the little cord that attaches the leggie to the board had come undone!
Ah, I use now 2 separate loops in 3mm dyneema cord (1 ton resistance), of slightly different length. Cheap and easily available on amazon or kite / fishing / climbing shops.
or I double the built-one (on O&Es) with a dyneema loop.
I have never have one break yet.
After having broken one in really big surf and a dodgy swim in, I always keep a relatively new one in the car as spare and only use it on big days. My new leggy always is treated as the spare initially. If that makes sense.
Select to expand quotecolas said..cantSUPenough said..
Finally got back to the beach and found the little cord that attaches the leggie to the board had come undone!
Ah, I use now 2 separate loops in 3mm dyneema cord (1 ton resistance), of slightly different length. Cheap and easily available on amazon or kite / fishing / climbing shops.
or I double the built-one (on O&Es) with a dyneema loop.
I have never have one break yet.
Clever idea! Two lengths is very smart. I guess you just need to check occasionally that neither has come undone (or is wearing, etc.) - especially before going out in heavy/sketchy conditions.
So today, in OH waves, took a beating and felt the leggie strap pull hard and slip over my calf and I just caught it on my foot.
I gonna need to work on my calf muscles...
Select to expand quoteFRP said..Souwester said..
Yep can vouch for a tough time if it breaks - had to really keep calm and think my way through it when a leggy broke during a heavy swell at a nasty Reef a few years ago - keeping calm saves me for sure - not my board though - obliterated on the rocks!
I coil mine loosely and rinse off, so far so good? The one that broke was one I borrowed
Yes I agree. A long swim a few years ago in big seas changes my perspective on leashes. The leash broke somewhere in the middle. After this I stopped wrapping my leases around the fins/board, increased the diameter of new leashes, and started wearing an impact vest. I remember the experience vividly and thinking this is not the way I want to end it. Tried to keep calm, kept my paddle and was able to use it a bit when swimming on my back. Made it to shore just before entering a big outgoing rip.
Bob
FRP if you have to swim with a paddle then not a problem just do breast stroke and hold the Handle with your outside little pinky finger (a T handle really helps with the grip) or you can always toss the paddle towards shore and pick it up later on the beach if you really have to (in a really heavy situation that?:-)
I have broken a few leg ropes, one of the so called strongest leg rope in the world. The swim is seldom fun especially with the paddle. I have about 20 cm of cord attached to the velcro on the leg end to the leg rope to tie to the paddle to make the swim easier. I think keeping your strongest leg rope for big days is way to go.
Select to expand quoterobertboyd2000 said..
I have broken a few leg ropes, one of the so called strongest leg rope in the world. The swim is seldom fun especially with the paddle. I have about 20 cm of cord attached to the velcro on the leg end to the leg rope to tie to the paddle to make the swim easier. I think keeping your strongest leg rope for big days is way to go.
Totally agree always buy your next leg rope before you need it, and keep that one for the big days. Waiting till your leg rope breaks before replacing, is no fun if caught out on big days. A spare one in the car is always handy especially if you need it on a perfect day or even just to tie up the dog.
