Did this about 4 sessions ago. I am still a novice (into my second season) but I think my back foot was searching for the rear strap, way to late because I was motoring missed big gust (least that's what I am blaming
) ended up in the drink disorientated very winded with a sore head! Anyway was chatting to a bloke today who reckon I should put it up.
Lesson: Foot strap needs to be bigger and get in sooner... turned out a reasonably cheap lesson this time!

big catapaults bend stuff.
If it didn't, something on your body would be suffering wayyy more, so I say be happy, no warranty ![]()
I would ask DK for a replacent. If this done under any sailing , it shouldn't do this.
i highly recommend a helmet, for future adventures.
You should easily be able to get a new hook from them for free, so long as you have proof of when you got it. Even if you got it from a dealer, that shop should be able to replace it, hooks are very cheap wholesale. It would be more about customer service than any cost in this case.
I have never seen such a bent spreader bar hook in my whole sailing time.wow.must of been a horrific catapult.
Warranty?

LMFAO ???????? oh for sure cause I'm so entitled and take no responsibility for my actions.
Agree, never seen a banana spreader bar includes speed sailing and wave sailing.
When you next go windsurfing, watch and ask who looks a good sailor to check your rig setup.
Windsurfing is an awesome sport, remember body like no 7 and check out some specific YouTube.
Be confident and your skills and enjoyment will skyrocket.
Warranty was a bit tongue in cheek, definitely happy that it was bent and not the body ![]()
My Spreader bar is fine from my last crash, however, shoulder was broken, re-fractured and dislocated all in one go, sailed back to the beach and drove home, pain really didn't sink in until I went to hospital and they took off my wetsuit that was holding everything together, 4 months off sailing...............lots of phsyio and a cortisone shot.
Warranty was a bit tongue in cheek, definitely happy that it was bent and not the body ![]()
My Spreader bar is fine from my last crash, however, shoulder was broken, re-fractured and dislocated all in one go, sailed back to the beach and drove home, pain really didn't sink in until I went to hospital and they took off my wetsuit that was holding everything together, 4 months off sailing...............lots of phsyio and a cortisone shot.
Just goes to show how lucky I was, it was really just posted because it was an odd result (bent bar) I come from a hands on type background and I do appreciate that the result for me could have been way different. If your last crash was recent Madge all the best to you and your recovery. if not I hope you are getting back into it now (windsurfing).
Change your avatar name to HookBender, you have earned it .
I suppose that would be better than "Spreader bender".
Now I have to ask a silly question, but was that spreader bar attached correctly?
I have a few dakine harnesses and more spreader bars, but usually they have a buckle and strap on one side at least and sometimes a buckle and strap on the other or a clip of some sort that is attached to a buckle and strap. When tightened up, they are pulled across the width of the harness.
I haven't seen a sliding type setup similar to what you have there. Is it intended to slide somehow?
I can imagine that being on the webbing like that that the spreader bar would fail in the way it has, yet if it was secured at each side as they seem to be with my harnesses, I think it would take a lot more force to do that. In fact, I doubt you could do it when its secured at each side.
Is that the factory setup for that harness?
I can see the problem , the bar is on the back of the harness , not at the front where it should be.![]()
Or is this where it ended after the stack ?
Don't worry, if you sail hard during the learning stage..you will bend or break several more spreader bars, sliding or not.
At 150 lbs., I've broken at least 10 stainless and aluminum spreader bars before I got to 50 years of age.
If Clarrie and Mastbenders avatars had babies , they'd make some pretty ugly spreader bars .
Tried to find an appropriate image for you , what ever you do don't google kink spreader bars ![]()
Not uncommon
I dunno if a slider setup loads the bar differently but I would not think to any significant degree if it does.
Once you go slider you won't go back.... welll for sailing that needs a fair bit of moving around, maybe not locked in speed sailing etc.
Change your avatar name to HookBender, you have earned it .
All the bender threads are in Heavy Weather
To answer some of the questions and a bit of background all my gear is second hand as stated this is my second season bought the harness late last year it is a T-6 and I definitely did not use it correctly for a couple of sessions initially. Before I started this year I found this clip and followed this to use it properly
much better after thatYour a legend . Hope you have smooth sailing in the future.ps.ask a seasoned sailor if your harness is set up right before you go out again.![]()
To answer some of the questions and a bit of background all my gear is second hand as stated this is my second season bought the harness late last year it is a T-6 and I definitely did not use it correctly for a couple of sessions initially. Before I started this year I found this clip and followed this to use it properly much better after that
.
...
Yes, I can't fault the way you used it after watching that.
I don't like the way it is attached, but hey, I don't generally like waist harnesses either. My amatuerish guesses on the forces of that spreader bar suggest that it will bend more easily than if its held firmly at each end.
I have had the hooks break, but never had one bend like that.
Warranty was a bit tongue in cheek ![]()
Phew! .. wouldn't want you to push up prices unnecessarily and force manufacturers to make their gear unnecessarily twice as strong and heavy.
Not uncommon
I dunno if a slider setup loads the bar differently but I would not think to any significant degree if it does.
Once you go slider you won't go back.... welll for sailing that needs a fair bit of moving around, maybe not locked in speed sailing etc.
I could imagine that if you pull on a spreader bar hook, i.e. the load of the harness lines when being catapulted, that allowing the ends to move in (on the sliding strap) would allow it to bend more easily than if the ends were held firmly.
That's just my guess though, and if Dakine make them as sliders then you would hope that they should hold up to the usual forces too.
Stuff it, go the warranty, worst they can do is say no, you might be surprised. They struggle to sell much windsurfing gear these days so they might give you a new bar just to get rid of all the old junk cluttering up their, now, kite and SUP store.![]()
Warranty was a bit tongue in cheek, definitely happy that it was bent and not the body ![]()
My Spreader bar is fine from my last crash, however, shoulder was broken, re-fractured and dislocated all in one go, sailed back to the beach and drove home, pain really didn't sink in until I went to hospital and they took off my wetsuit that was holding everything together, 4 months off sailing...............lots of phsyio and a cortisone shot.
Just goes to show how lucky I was, it was really just posted because it was an odd result (bent bar) I come from a hands on type background and I do appreciate that the result for me could have been way different. If your last crash was recent Madge all the best to you and your recovery. if not I hope you are getting back into it now (windsurfing).
Yep, getting much better......I have been sailing 35 years now, still loop etc but goes to show the body just can't take the crunches anymore.....
Still love it though.....