tether release for pfd

[Not a spy]

I have two tethers that do not have a quick release so you can detach from the mothership if necessary. Has anyone added a short length of webbing with a release end to their regular tether?

[Pandor]

The expense of a tether is the shackles and stitching those together with webbing. It seems like a new tether with quick-release would be only marginally more than what you are proposing and the new tether would have less points of failure and less bulk.

Or are you suggesting cutting off the original attachment point and stitching on a new quick release? If that is your plan, just make sure the old webbing hasn’t degraded. I’d still just opt for new.

[Not a spy]

Thanks, Pandor!
The tethers are new and I wasn't going to retrofit it by cutting. But you're right, I should just buy new tethers.

[Cwens]

Be aware that many of the "quick release" fittings on the PFD end of a tether are extremely difficult to open under load. Try hanging by your harness from a halyard (not way up in the air; just bend your knees so your full weight hangs from the harness) with something soft underneath you, and try pulling the quick release. It's an eye opener. A typical quick release set up is a shackle with a split ring attaching a lanyard to the shackle pin. It's important that the split ring be welded shut. Otherwise, if you're being dragged, you'll yank on the lanyard with adrenaline-fueled strength and rip open the split ring rather than pulling the release.


Practical Sailor has covered this topic in some detail.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Not a spy

I have two tethers that do not have a quick release so you can detach from the mothership if necessary. Has anyone added a short length of webbing with a release end to their regular tether?

Note that the World Sailing and ISO rules do not require a quick release. This is because not everyone agrees that a quick re3lease is safer than not releasing by accident. Most "quick release" clips don't actually release under load, and more to the point, would you really be able to? And you can unclip standard clips unless the load is considerable. I'm not giving an opinions, just sayin' you can leave them as is with a clear conscience. They are World Sailing and ISO complaint. It's just those crazy Americans that see it differently.



Adding length, even a few inches, will make them too long. I would not do that.


Which tethers do you have?

[Not a spy]

Originally Posted by thinwater

Note that the World Sailing and ISO rules do not require a quick release. This is because not everyone agrees that a quick re3lease is safer than not releasing by accident. Most "quick release" clips don't actually release under load, and more to the point, would you really be able to? And you can unclip standard clips unless the load is considerable. I'm not giving an opinions, just sayin' you can leave them as is with a clear conscience. They are World Sailing and ISO complaint. It's just those crazy Americans that see it differently.

Adding length, even a few inches, will make them too long. I would not do that.
Which tethers do you have?

As far as making the tethers too long (I agree), I think they're already too long for my 5'4" self. I won't add anything to the length--it also adds another thing in the chain to fail. So thanks for reinforcing that!

I have these tethers with 3' & 6' arms:
us.binnacle.com/Safety-Tethers-Harness-&-Safety-Lines/c39_106/p19145/Plastimo-Safety-Line-Tether-3-Clip/product_info.html

Also have the same kind with a similar clip on one 6' tether.

The Pacific Cup rules require a quick release shackle on tethers. A little more research led me to the youtube video, "Advances in MOB Recovery," from the New York Yacht Club. The presenters recommended the shackle release, provided it did not have a small loop to catch on something.

Like you said, it might just be a U.S. thing. I'm fine with what I have.

[jo_sail]

I like and use the one from Kong with a snap shackle:

https://www.kong.it/en/product/elastic-tether-double/

[Wayne Gilham]

some good tests and cautions from Practical Sailor over the last few years:
plenty to read & study - perhaps some gems for your re-design?

https://www.practical-sailor.com/saf...ss-tether-test

https://www.practical-sailor.com/saf...under-scrutiny

concern about bending or jamming the hooks when thru fixed attachment points: https://www.practical-sailor.com/saf...tether-caution

https://www.practical-sailor.com/blo...safety-tethers

make your own! https://www.practical-sailor.com/saf...-safety-tether

a rather big fuss a few years back when a racing sailor perished because his tether did not release...

Spinlock's new ideas, tested: https://www.practical-sailor.com/sai...racing-sailors

https://www.practical-sailor.com/saf...gnite-concerns

[Scorpius]

I have a Spinlock offshore PFD with a quick release system and i was wondering if anyone had any experience or ideas about this particular system ?

I've never tried using the release.

[jo_sail]

Originally Posted by Wayne Gilham

some good tests and cautions from Practical Sailor over the last few years:

plenty to read & study - perhaps some gems for your re-design?

…

make your own!

One thing to mention and add for design and handling two leg tethers in regard to quick release:

If you have two tether legs/lines for attachment with hooks you never want to clip the unused hooks to a ring or loop on your life belt!! This will prevent any quick release. The hook attached to the boat may still connect to the second line of the tether and if the second hook hangs on your life belt: no release!

However, most two leg tethers lack a separate loop or ring on themselves for „parking“ unused hooks. Thus most often you see, how both hooks remain attached to a loop or ring at the life belt. This renders the idea of release in case of emergency ineffective.

My solution is installing a small loop at the quick release shackle of the tether, which is the right parking position for the hooks.
Only if the second hook is sitting on the loop at the tether, you can completely release from the boat with the quick release shackle.

See example loop „amendment“ on the Kong tether:

[cram]

Nothing beats a 3 ring circus when it comes to release under load..... not sure why they aren't used for tethers when they are widely used for main parachute release:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-ring_release_system

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by cram

Nothing beats a 3 ring circus when it comes to release under load..... not sure why they aren't used for tethers when they are widely used for main parachute release:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-ring_release_system

The penalty for a fouled chute not releasing is you die.


The penalty for a tether releasing when it should not is you die ... which is why you won't find snap shackles on a climber's rack.


---



Note that World Sailing and ISO do NOT agree that quick release on a tether is a good idea. This is mostly a US thing. I've used both and do not have a strong opinion, other than I want the release to take considerable effort. There have been reports of quick releases snagging on something and opening accidentally, just as spin shackles sometimes do.