making a new control bar

[Laughingman]

How about using a thinner line. This is 6mm am steel. I have some 4mm Amsteel I could use?

[Dub]

I changed to an old slingshot cleat, works great.

[Starsky]

Dub,

That looks like a torch set up, so the OP might need a little more sheeting range at the bar.

Also looks like you run the 5th through the guide the cleat is on. Be sure it maintains easy slide when rear lines pull the bar up against that little black ball where it could potentially pin the safety line. I would not run it though the casing but just thread it through the SS ring at the top where the single front line attaches. My cleats look like this:

ozone_clamcleat-1.jpg (4.05 KiB) Viewed 1697 times

you can have a tiny SS ring threaded on the line as it snakes its way through the base as a guide for the safety line. I don't bother and like I said, just run it through the 1" SS ring at the top. Either way, just be sure yours won't bind when you need it most.

[edt]

dub, something in that picture looks off. It looks like you have a single center flagging line where the left line is larks headed to a d shackle and the right line goes all the way to the chicken loop. You can't do that because it creates uneven tension and will eventually tear the chicken loop release in half because it will have too much tension on the flag out line which is not designed to carry load. It is ok to double lark's head to the D shackle above and run a true 5th line down to the chicken loop. Or you can use a swivel where the D shackle is.

It's possible I am missing something in the picture, maybe there is a hidden line I don't see.

[Laughingman]

Hey Starsky

Where are you buying that cleat from? I can't find it for less then $22 anywhere... which seems insane considering Switch is selling there cleat for $6..... out of stock always but still ....

[TheJoe]

Check West Marine you can get basic cleats cheap. Thats where I get mine from.

[Dub]

It is for a Torch setup, so it is a true 5th line. I know its different from what you are looking for but I just thought I would show you my setup as I replaced the strap for a cleat.

The guide that the cleat is attached too is fixed, its also off an old Slingshot bar, an 06 Fuel bar I think. The 5th has no problem sliding through it. I'll post a picture of the guide if I have time later.

[edt]

ah ok. I only saw 4 lines for some reason tks.

[Starsky]

EDT, the torch has a single front line from the D ring that splits at a Y much higher up.

Dub, I'm sure your fine I just thought I'd mention it.

My torch bar is pretty much exactly like yours with the cleat I pictured and the 2013 bar.


Laughingman, Got them through a marine store in town. Not west marine, a smaller outfit, but anyone who deals in clam cleat can get em. I ordered a few at once a little over a year ago and they were 14 a piece.

[darippah]

anyone ever make the actual bar? thinking I don't need as much strength as standard bars have for kiting with hydrofoil as there's much less power needed... also would be nice to make something super thin to work well with gloves.

any thoughts or suggestions?