hi guys, this is my first post.
I havent sailed since 97 and have got the bug again, I have a dakine seat harness (ladies) and dont know what length harness lines to get
back in the day they were long and the length was ajustable.
i have a starboard s class 115 & currently working on puting a rig togeather for lake sailing on the central coast nsw.
you have to tell your height also
check this topic www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Harness-line-lenght-for-seat-harness
Select to expand quoteAdrianT said..
Ditto on the 30"
30 ? I'm 177cm, use a seat harness and use 24" lines. I find anything longer and most of the forces are going through my arms and not the harness which makes the gear less efficient (and burns my arms).
ains: You can get adjustables (24-30" would be the recommended). A quick google will tell you the local suppliers. Start off at 30" as advised, but it's a personal preference thing. I know a bigger bloke than me who runs 22", but he uses a waist harness.
I'm 176 cm and use a Dakine XT seat harnes. I use between 28 and 32 for freeride and wave kit. Boom height is also important you need to be able to put all you weight into your rig in light and strong winds. Also make sure you put your lines in the correct place. Adjustable lines are a great idea. Check out Cribby fact sheets all is explained!
Select to expand quote Select to expand quotejn1 said..
AdrianT said.. Ditto on the 30"
30 ? I'm 177cm, use a seat harness and use 24" lines. I find anything longer and most of the forces are going through my arms and not the harness which makes the gear less efficient (and burns my arms). ains: You can get adjustables (24-30" would be the recommended). A quick google will tell you the local suppliers. Start off at 30" as advised, but it's a personal preference thing. I know a bigger bloke than me who runs 22", but he uses a waist harness.
This 9 year old is using 28" lines. 
This guy is using short lines
His rig is pulled over the top of him,while the little girls rig is standing upright.His upper body is straighter(upper body leaning out),her body is bent at the waist with her upper body more upright.If he were to have his rig more upright,it would put him more over his board ,more vulnerable to being catapulted and would just give him a bumpier ride.Her body position allows her board and legs to move up and down over the chop independent of her upper body making for a smoother ride.
JN1 your profile pic also has the rig pulled over you to windward,Hagger's profile pic below your post shows his rig upright .Longer lines result in the rig not being so "in your face "when you do bend at the waist . Another advantage is not getting trapped in them in a lull and having to get on your tippy toes to try and get out of them.
Select to expand quoteains said..
thanks guys orded some 30s cant wait to get out
yeah good move I'm 171cm tall and 30s are perfect for me..
I'm 183cm, I love my 30". I bought them by mistake once around 2008, and I hated them. My forearms almost died and I couldn't sail. The next session was better. Since then I can never go back. I used 24" when I was sailing flat water only. Then I sailed in the ocean I found big swell a problem to control. I sail 99% of the time in the waves, high boom, 30"lines. I take my freestyle board out with the same boom and lines with an old Concrete Wave fin that I cut down with a jigsaw to 16cm and I'm still plenty fast and able to go upwind. I never sail bigger than a 5.6.
But as someone said, it is indeed a personal preference. However for ocean/waves, I would say 28 or 30 or 32. Each to their own 
If I sailed flat water with a big sail I'd potentially go a bit shorter, especially for long upwind runs. I've seen too many people have excessive catapults with short lines, but hell, who am I to complain. I love the show they provide
Why didn't you just get variable/adjustable length lines and actually work out what is best for you and your setup that way?
Does anyone make variable lines that are marked at say 26,28, and 30. I have found variable either get really jammed or start to slip and without it being measured you don't really not what size you have been using.
Im 195cm and i use 32's unless I'm going in waves then i shorten then right back to around 26.
When I'm free riding/slalom i use bigger sails and want to get low and fast,
but in the waves or bump and jump I find standing up more and being over the board helps.
Probably doesnt really help but thats how I think of it.
Select to expand quoteains said..
thanks guys orded some 30s cant wait to get out
At your level, the bigger the better, but when you get proficient, ask your local sailors what they are using. Not only is it preference, but it's conditions related as well.Select to expand quoteKA360 said..
I did see a very short guy once run long lines (in the order of 30"'s I think he said) and he had a very distinct sailing pose similar to the picture of the girl above. That was a few years ago now, I've never seen anybody sailing like that since then. I was talking to a local who goes to Geraldton WA over xmas every year. He uses longer lines over there, but returns to shorter lines here.
Select to expand quotesailquik said..
Why didn't you just get variable/adjustable length lines and actually work out what is best for you and your setup that way?
I use the variable length lines and have never measured how long they are. I suspect that they are around the 30 mark, but the important part is that they are comfortable for my style. I prefer the setup the 9 year old has Because it is more stable in the conditions I sail. The rig is more upright but I actually have next to no catapults now. Stability comes from getting your backside down not leaning back. You can get really low to the water and go faster this way. Most of what I do is a product of Guy Cribbs teaching on harness lines, stance etc. The articles can be freely accessed on his website. You will also find that the harness line position also differs between riders. Find what works...and you know it works because you are comfortably flying across the water with a big grin on your face
got a second boom on the weekend it has 24s on it i will leave them on that boom and run the 30s on the other boom and see how it goes.
Dose anyone sail at rathmines on lake macquarie?.
Heck yes Ains. There are a few of us sailing out of Rathies (in a SEer). Rig on the foreshore next to the old catamaran club (now men's shed). Easy launch. Perfect spot for beginners as it's shallow for about 30 metres out. If you are starting from scratch probably best to wear booties as there can be some razorfish that can cut up your foot pretty badly.
Possible sail there this Wednesday, fingers crossed the wind is up. Other good local spots (depending on ability) is Arcadia Vale Park and Coal Point.
Hope to see you out some time, we are all very approachable for advice ect.
So let me get this straight. Some people use longer harness lines in waves and chop for more control and shorter lines on flat water. Others use shorter lines in waves and chop... for more control.
we will be there sailing our ns14 on wednesday I will see if the board will fit in the car as well.
There seem to be some real variance, sometimes.
There was a guy at the canal last year (?) running 22" lines. I can't find the article but remember them making a real point about it. And he did very, very well.
Then in issue of some other mag I have they list the quivers of a few top waver riders and not one of them is under 30".
Go figure.
So many variables: stance, arm length, torso length, leg length, boom width, boom height; and don't forget the real difference between say 30 and 28 inch lines is around one inch or 25mm because they are doubled around the boom, so there's not a lot in it.
I use 28s (and I check their length with a tape measure), and they're mostly great, though sometimes my arms feel a little stretched at that length.
You have to find what works for you, before you pay too much attention to what others are doing. If your in the 26-30inch range then you're in the right ball-park.
I find short lines in big chop/ocean conditions leads to more likelihood to catapult - less control. To me, it's like a shock absorber with more travel, apart from the legs which work far more out in the ocean. It does depend on personal preference and stance, boom height, mast track position. The best is to experiment. But try for a few days. If you switch, you may dislike it right away. It will take a session or two or three to really make up your mind. Worth it in the long run.
