Snap Shackle or QR spreader bar

[Dwight]

At the very least I think I should ditch the reactor bar and use a hook. I have good control over the kite and I'm ready to try the board... unless being able to get in and out of the chicken loop is something I should learn first.

Yes, ditch the reactor bar. The roller is too small and you will come unhooked a lot. You might even break the small bolt holding the roller. Kites pull harder than windsurfers, especially when getting thrown.

There is no need to practice getting unhooked from the chicken loop. That should be easy. All I'm saying is don't set your kite up, or fly it so powered up that you can't unhook from it and use the fixed loop. This would be way too much power in a kite for learning. You should test your ability to hold the power in the fixed loop. If you can't hold the power, reduce it with the strap. This way you can use the fixed loop and chicken loop. Use the fixed when you need more power, use the chicken loop when you can't hold the power. This way you will always have a safe margin of depower available in the kite.

[Guest]

looks like you guys like having alot of garbage on your bar.No thanks to tech

[phree]

It would be great to hear from some of you other riders as to why you do or do not use snap shackles. This is obviously an important safety issue so let's talk about it! No judgements here, so tell us your opinions. Different strokes for different folks and all that! But discussing the issue helps us as a kite community. Do you use a snap shackle? If so why?

[captain pugwash]

To Phree :
I used a snap shackle for a while until one day I had the bright idea to test it: Under full load of my non-inconsiderable bodyweight it wouldn't open, infact the metal ring I had attatched to the release pin openned up completely and broke. Luckily testing was done in my garage but scared me nonetheless.
New shackles work fine, but after use and with sand dust inside the pin bore, the force needed to release under full load increases a lot.
I now use something of my own invention..works fine.

[Guest]

No offence, but the pin type release you are talking about with the keyring loop will NOT RELEASE UNDER STRESS. You are using the wrong type of snap shackle. There is another model of Wichard which does not use this principal and which the chickenrelease.com release is based on. Far better and releases under strain.

Personally, I used a double release. A new wipika style connector with a snap shackle. I pull one and then the other in emergency. If I still can't get loose, god didn't want me here anymore and its time to meet my maker.

[Ray-au]

I use a Wichard quick release shakel, slightly modfied, after not being able to get out of the chicken loop. The new naish system does not work any faster either, with the proper attachments the wichard works well, no problems with sand or finding the release.

[surfsteve]

<p>Is this the snap shackle you guys are using?  Has anyone ever had this
type not release?  Wow these things aren't cheap... this is the cheapest
one I could find!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/commer ... t=">source
URL</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/commer ... let=">More
shackles</a> from <a href="http://www.westmarine.com/">http://www. ... ne.com/</a>
</p>
<p><img src="http://www.westmarine.com/images/full/24527_F.JPG" width="250" height="250"></p>



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: surfsteve on 2002-09-06 18:15 ]</font>

[IKR]

hi, i,m new to kite too, i took lessons on margarita last may, and i just got my Wipika Hydro last month (i´m in chile so now is winter) i havent been in the water yet.... but reading the forum and checking my safety sistems... 1 thing i dont understand yet, the wipika bar comes the depower line that ends on the chicken loop, that goes in to the hook but has a piece of tube that runs in to the hook right? so the loop dont go out accidentaly, the loop has it´s own release system with a pin and a ball to pull. then is the leash that i´m suposed to attach permanently (while kitting) to the harness. so what are the shackles for? you replace the loop? attach the chicken loop to the shackle and the shackle to the harness spreader bar? besides the chicken loop you attach a regular windsurf line to the kite bar for fixed riding but easy releasing? if you say that launching and landing is unsafe while attached to the chicken loop.... how do you attach the chicken loop to the harness bar while in the air? i know these questions may sound stupid but since i´m new to the sport i want to have it all very very clear and learn frome others experiences. thanks for all
ps: if you can post some images of the bars it will be great.
ps2: ill be in miami next month so if i must buy something good for safety please let me know to do it there.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: IKR on 2002-09-06 19:11 ]</font>

[Guest]

Noobie. 2 line LEI. Rigged Wichard shackle from bar to a daKine loop hanging off my bar. Wooden ball to release the shackle. The idea was to be able to hook in and out, but release under dangerous conditions. Dragged up on beach, ball released the shackle. That was OK, but lost loop. Back to the drawing board. Any suggestions?

[Guest]

I tie on with a bit of rope to the spreader a snap shakle. Never had to realease in emergency.