I've been sailing a hobie 16 for the last five years. I'm in the market for a trap seat/harness and knowing very little about the type to purchase I was looking for some thoughts for a beginner who wants to go out on a wire. Thanks Craig

A good all around Trapseat is the Murray's Freedom half harness. it is a really good harness for beginners and will also be useful as your skills improve. At 70 bucks it is a good midrange all around harness. Murray's also has full harnesses and more minimal harnesses, but this is the best bet.. it is all I use and I have never had a problem with it. You can Check it out at Murrays.com they have Downloadable pdf catalog pages and you can call them to order it. Maybe a little more than you are looking to spend but if you are wanting to spend a lot of time out on the wire then you will definitely want something that is comfortable. Unfortuneately it does not come with an anchor point but I also recommend the spreader bar rather than a standard buckle. the Bar will also lend to comfort while out on the wire.. Hope this helps some. Good luck and good sailing.

AVOID THE "CLASSIC" HALF HARNESS!!! (aka the nutcracker). If you see this harness in any catalog, you'll always see a woman modeling it, there's a good reason for this. Yes, my boat came with one and being new to the trap I was stupid enough to put it on and lean out there. It only took me about half a second to let out a loud scream and realize that was not the harness for me (however it is still good to play a joke on friends who have never been on a trap before).

I ordered the Murray "Race" half harness and have been very pleased with it. I use a regular buckel and I'm pretty comfortable in it. One day I might order a spreader bar and see if it makes it even more comfy.

Hey



I got a nappy look alike trpeze harness for about $140(Aus) and well i didn't realy find it a nut cracker but i probaly had it to loose for it to do it. I tightened it up and dam was i in pain. It probaly looked quite funny since i was doing a 4hour race and i have only just started.

Then i went down the coast for training and w found lots of things wrond and well we replaced most of them but we had a look at a Hobie cat world full harness with spreader bar and thought it was great and shorlly enoght as soon as i got home i bought one. I tryed it out and loved it. The harness will not give you a nut cracker no matter how your trapezing. It was about $240(AUS) But its dam worth it. You will notice the olympic 18foot skiffs use them and well they bought the exact same thing but with out the hobie naming on it for $480 and well you can choose which one you want to buy. Have fun and make sure you try it on.



From Jules

Completing the "Nutcracker Suite" of Murrays Harnesses would also include the "Classic" full Harness which has the same single crotch strap in the front. (ouch..)

you do know you can reduce the nutcrackingness by what you wear and how you trapeze. But go for the Hobie world one its the best i've seen in every way.



Jules

The only thing I can think of to wear that would help with the "Classic" half harness is a cup. I have one child and my wife and I want more in the future, so I have no plans to go near that harness again. Like Secret deoderant, the single strap design of the "Classic" harness is definately strong enough for a man, but made for a woman.

Its a trapeze not a trap seat. A trap seat or trapseat is a wing seat that bolts on to the rails on each side of the H16 for sailors with disabilities.

Hey mate the cup would help but just have it loose one the sides and wear some thing thick between it and you for obviouse reasons. A womens harness, ha, I had a girl bitching me about how bad they were. So that proves their CRAP but my full Hobie harness with the spreader bar is the best.



Jules