Anyone tried the "Bethwaite" Keyhole style trapeze system? I'm interested in the weight savings and preventing another deck puncture when crew hauls himself aboard (has happened twice this year).

Only drawback I can see from the pics I've seen is that the ball-end part can only go in at one set length, unlike the old dog bone rings where you could select a 4 inch difference in length by hooking the top or bottom ring.

Mike.

wouldnt that issue be resolved with an adjustable system?

Yes, but in the heat of the moment, while racing around the cans, you don't want ot be fiddling with the adjuster lengths. I like to just hook onto the ring I know I'll need for the leg I'm doing (windward=shorter since you will be further forward; offwind=longer 'cuz you're moving further aft).

There have been robust quick adjusters available for many years: metal V-shaped jam or aluminum jam cleats. Metal ones can be length-changed in 2 seconds even while on the wire. BTW- I happily changed to ball-and-socket/ keyhole plate to stop badly denting the sides of my older foam A-cat.

I think Mikes reasons are simply time(i.e. you don't have any) and you cannot let fo of anything to fiddle - I am planning the same dog bone for my next boat for this very reason - want to be lower down wind. And I will have to go in to put the kite up so there is no overhead in changing ends.

It seems that they could be hard to release and even get stucked. Just an impression, never tried them.

I'm with Mike, I use the 9" long keyhole dogbones for the same reason.
I will use the "short ring" if the water is so rough that the waves are hitting me in the bum.

For a two-way keyhole system, you could make a ball rig that had a ball at each end with a tie point off-center between them.

Here is a page about a quick-release system. http://www.rwo-marine.com/newproducts/main.htm
I don't like the idea of using the quick-release and possibly losing the hook during a race.
Perhaps a pivoting hook release could work?

Also, the standard trapeze system has the line tied to the dogbone and then run through a block or a thimble and then tied to the bungee cord.
This causes the line to wear and get nicks.
I tie the tail end of the line to the handle and run the bungee through the block and tie it to the dogbone.
I haven't been dunked from a broken line since I started doing it this way.
Some of the Charlotte sailors even used wire rope, swedged on.

I've got the bethwaite system on my a-cat. It takes some getting used to. It doesn't have the positive click feel that a metal ring or trap handle does. I find myself looking down to make sure I'm securely fastened before I trap out. However, it does a good job of not damaging the boat.

I've also got the RWO system on my distance harness. It works extremely well and has a plastic retaining clip to keep from losing the hook if you do have to hit the panic button. I also keep a spare hook in my lifejacket pocket. I've released the hook several times, but haven't lost it yet. I've used the RWO on the Tybee 500, and several steeplechase 100's, no problems so far. My only complaint is that the RWO spreader bar is not as wide as others, and causes hip pain after 6 - 8 hours on the wire.

YMMV
Mike Krantz
SailMax.biz

I have been using the keyhole system for about 2 years on a Hobie 16, Nacra 6.0 and now on my A cat. I prefer it now that I am used to it. I have not ever bounced out of it. What I like most is not worrying about dinging the boat with hook. I would spring for the extra money to get the carbon kevlar spreader one not the plastic one.
If you wear rash guards over your gear, you will have to cut out a hole in the rash guard where the ball goes into the plate.

Eric A class US 28

Hello All,

I switched over 2 years ago, as a solo sailor I need to be able to minize potential hazards,..and that ol' hook on my waist will grab onto anything.

Does it work?....yep 100%

Better?.......oh yes.

Why?.....Look at your dogbone,...is it bent?....is it bent around the weld?....I had a weld 'go',...yes, at a very inopertune time.....never again will I wear a dogbone. Heck, I have even broke a weld on a harness spreader bar...you must check those too.

Will the ball 'pop out'?....no, I customize the fit by adding 1 layer of tape just above the ball, so as I move around there ia a little 'passive retention'..

Out here, we are in wind and waves all the time,..there is alot of motion to the rig. I preset my trap line height. I run a 3/8' kevlar line from the trap wire direct to the ball, a setting determined on shore....no pulley( I had one blow up), no spring line( had these break too).

So, in review, I go.. trap wire..to...kevlar..to .ball....minimize the weak links . ( I keep the bungie thru the hull of course.)

So, when a trap system failure put me in the water,..and I got to see my boat sail away from me in a race,.....believe me, this makes you see things differently.


..were was I ,..oh yes,...ball and keyway?..a good product for me.

regards,
Bruce
St. Croix
I 17 euro

Thanks to the generally positive comments on this systems. I have contacted my local source and he states they are in the process of re-designed the area where the straps go through the plate. Apparenty they have had reports of failures on the plastic units. He said I could purchase from his remaining stock and upgrade it later when the new ones appear (or even trade them in for the Carbon units plus extra $$$). So, I went for it.
Went ahead and installed them on my two trap belts...but found the one Gul "Nappy" style belt has a stainless spreader bar sewn in at the lower strap. Will either need to cut & re-stitch or switch to a different belt to get the keyhole unit on there.

Mike.

Good idea Sam. Now I can have the cake and eat some too

Hi Mike,

I'm using the Bethwaite system on my P-18. I bought one of their harnesses and an additional plate which I swapped out for the spreader bar on my MM Pro full harness.

For adjustability on the water, I have a fiddle block that I added. If you want to check out the setup, my boat is just down the row from John's in the yard; right side against the fence after you enter the gate, almost all the way down. [boats were moved away from the outer areas some months ago to this spot].

So far it has worked pretty well and I'm way happier knowing that I won't get caught under a shroud when I dump.


Sheldon

I'm looking at the key-hole system and the Murray's catalog (p 46) shows three different ball setups; the original key-ball-on-a-wire connector, a "can't miss" ring and a "can't hurt" loop. Catsailor.com lists two and the Bethwaite site shows an additional variation of the key-ball-on-a-wire connector.

Looking at the different variations, I have a hard time seeing why one would be considered can't-miss, another can't-hurt and how either could miss or hurt any more or less than the original.

Does anyone have any experience with the different connectors?

The "cant hurt" one is plastic, if you have your metal dogbone on a bungee return line to hold it in place, you can accidentally shoot the dogbone at your crew's face, if you release it while it is under tension.

What metal dogbone? There's no dogbone on the Bethwaite key-hole system. There's balls and slots at the harness and different connectors between the ball and the trap line. The connector and ball replace the typical dogbone.

My crew (and wife) knows what bvining is talking about...

We stopped using the dogbones years ago, when the J&H handles were introduced. No more chipped teeth, and face hits. Much easier to hook up. I have used the No-Hook Trap System Bar & Rings for the last two years, and they work great.

Caleb Tarleton

Has anyone noticed Jake has hit the 3000 post milestone?
Catching up to Tad quickly.....
Congratulations Jake.

I'm still on the fence with the Key Hole Ball and socket.
Didn't I read that some were being recalled? I would like to know once and for all the number of people who use them and whether they think it is as good, in terms of safety, as it's billed. I haven't heard anyone who uses it say anything bad but........
I'd also like to know once and for all WHY those people who don't use it, don't use it.
Is that too much to ask?

Thanks and Merry Christmas to everyone. Especially those who make this all possible, Rick and Mary.
Greg

The last boat I bought new I outfitted with J&H (BKB). All our boats now (purchased used) have dogbones or J&H. Since we have used stuff I can always justify spending on something other than "what ain't broke...". J&H work great!