I am new to harnesses. I just bought a seat harness because people around say it is more..gentle to … somewhat overgrown bellies than waist harnesses.
For one thing, the hook of the seat harness is about 3” below the navel as compared to a waist harness I understand this is normal. The lines, I guess must be also a bit longer, then .It makes sense, but how long?
Here is where some confusion arises. Guy Cribbs and others say they the lines should be in function of the height. The taller you are, the longer they should be: up to 32”( inches) for above 6’. For 5’10”, like me, they should be around 28”-29”.
Almost 30" ( inches) is a far cry from the usual rule-of-thumb guideline: the length of the forearm plus the extended hand, in my case 16”. Almost double!
In fact, I used the harness yesterday: the lines, at 29”, fall 3”-4” below the hook (and I keep the boom at chest height!) . Normally they should be a couple of inches ABOVE the hook and you have to raise the hips to hook on.
When committed, seated, on the harness, I am too low, I believe, because my legs are bent almost 90° and I cannot extend my body outward to counterbalance the wind unless I straighten them up, but then the hips rise and the hook disconnects.
The only other way out is to raise the boom, but this may cause other problems.
Besides, the salesman sold me an extra-large model to fit my 38” waist, but then the harness has a tendency to fall off . May be I should use suspenders, like for the pants. I’m sure I won’t look very… fashionable, but probably the life-vest will hide them…..But who cares anyway?
If I tighten the waist strap more, the harness won’t fall, but it will be uncomfortable because it cuts into the abdomen when I crouch after getting back on the board and start to uphaul.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Francone
Harness line length is the line length, twice the length from boom to loop.
So if you apply your rule of thumb, at 16" forearm you should around 30-32" lines.
Hope this makes sense.
Thats why im scared of trying a seat harness. Waist harnesses also have problems with us tubbies as they ride up and perform like the old chest harness.
Mabee we need a waist harness with reverse suspenders 
You may need to raise the boom a bit. I am the same height as you and use a seat harness. All my harness lines are fixed length 30 inch and I use these on all sail sizes 4.5 - 7.5.
I guess I set my boom at about shoulder high - roughly the middle of the cutout in the sail. Certainly not very high. At this length I can get in and out of the lines easily (which is especially important in non-planing conditions), and they are the perfect length in powered up, blasting conditions.
I tried adjustable lines recently but they were just too irritating to use. Now I just stick to 30inch fixed and I'm happy.
I have been on a couple of clinics with different coaches over the years (shame its not improved my sailing !!), and they all basically said the same thing as a rule of thumb:
"Place the top of your wrist in between the two Velcro straps on the boom and have the loop of the line touch and go around your elbow".
The one thing you cannot rely on is the size marked on the harness lines as they vary massively between manufacturers.
I always check them in the shop first using this method.
I use both seat and waist harness depending on if I am on slalom or freewave gear and find it a pretty good guide as the length works for both set ups.
I assume this is because I rake the sail back when on slalom gear using a seat harness as I am trying to close the slot & catch my mates, whereas on freewave gear with a waist harness on I have the rig more upright ??.
The lines are too long when your hands cannot reach the boom while hooked in. Perhaps the boom is too low, I like it high, before the rig is attached to the board stand it up on the ground and hook your arm over part of the boom. It should be right up to your underarm.
Select to expand quoteImax1 said..
Thats why im scared of trying a seat harness. Waist harnesses also have problems with us tubbies as they ride up and perform like the old chest harness.
Mabee we need a waist harness with reverse suspenders
Such a thing does exist, "surf seats" and the like
Flying Objects Transit is a seat with a waist harness-like hook position
I couldn't quite get used to it after the freedom of a waist, but the riding up ****s me so i really must try my Transit again
I use a "Hookerlastic":
Uses a thin piece of shock cord bought from a yachting chandlery with each end tied to the top of the lifejacket and looping down and around the harness hook. Tension the shock cord to suit by doing more or less wraps around the hook. Seat harness will never fall down. Raise or lower the hook by loosening or tightening the strap holding the harness bar - when doing a lot of dogging, loosen it off and the hook will rise (gives same effect as having longer harness lines), when windy tighten it up the hook will lower (gives same effect as having shorter lines). I am 5'10" and use 26" lines - works perfectly for me.
Select to expand quoteRob11 said..
Harness line length is the line length, twice the length from boom to loop.
So if you apply your rule of thumb, at 16" forearm you should around 30-32" lines.
Hope this makes sense.
In the end, if I apply the usual rule-of-thumb ( in my case 16" forearm length ) what is the depth of the double line loop, i.e, the distance between boom and hook? 16" or 32"?
In other words if we compare the lines loop to the letter U, what is the distance between the top and the bottom of the said letter, based on a 16" forearm length ?
Thanks
Francone
I"m 5'10" with the same wingspan.
Seat harness, mid height, about 3" below belly button, 23" lines. Either 22 or 24 works just fine.
Slogging, harness lines come within 8" of my hook. If I need to hook in while slogging, I jump 6" up and pull 3" down.
Planing, since I move back, it's within reach.
Try adjustable length harness lines.
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..Imax1 said..
Thats why im scared of trying a seat harness. Waist harnesses also have problems with us tubbies as they ride up and perform like the old chest harness.
Mabee we need a waist harness with reverse suspenders
Such a thing does exist, "surf seats" and the like
Flying Objects Transit is a seat with a waist harness-like hook position
I couldn't quite get used to it after the freedom of a waist, but the riding up ****s me so i really must try my Transit again
Mmmmmm , thanks Mark,going to have to look into it ,or mabee you can report back after another try.
Select to expand quoteBeaglebuddy said...
The lines are too long when your hands cannot reach the boom while hooked in. Perhaps the boom is too low, I like it high, before the rig is attached to the board stand it up on the ground and hook your arm over part of the boom. It should be right up to your underarm.
+ 1. Sounds like your boom is too low.The method quoted is the Guy Cribb one and I find it sets it at about chin height..
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..
Such a thing does exist, "surf seats" and the like
Flying Objects Transit is a seat with a waist harness-like hook position
I couldn't quite get used to it after the freedom of a waist, but the riding up ****s me so i really must try my Transit again
I like the look of that one, been told that they tend to hold water and get heavy .. Have you noticed that Mark ?
I use a Flying Objects Transit....like it a lot....adjustable hook height and does not ride up.
Select to expand quoteseanhogan said..
what about the weight when wet ? ( I do fall a lot !! 
)
Haven't noticed it being excessively heavy.
Select to expand quote
I was after a new harness last year and with only a pop up Kite and Paddleboard shop available for trying out harnesses locally. I tried on the Flying Objects Flight Control Hybrid Harness. It looks like the Kite version of the Transit.
It was a nice fit in the shop and with a change out of the kite bar to a windsurf bar from my previous harness all is good on the water.
And being the average 48 yr old where the arse and waist aren't in correct proportions. I went with the XL for the correct waist fitting. And the straps around the legs are used to tighten around the arse area so that is in comfy mode as well.
