I am new to harnesses. I just bought a seat harness because people around say it is more..gentle to … somewhat overgrown bellies than waist harnesses.

For one thing, the hook of the seat harness is about 3” below the navel as compared to a waist harness I understand this is normal. The lines, I guess must be also a bit longer, then .It makes sense, but how long?

Here is where some confusion arises. Guy Cribbs and others say they the lines should be in function of the height. The taller you are, the longer they should be: up to 32”( inches) for above 6’. For 5’10”, like me, they should be around 28”-29”.

Almost 30" ( inches) is a far cry from the usual rule-of-thumb guideline: the length of the forearm plus the extended hand, in my case 16”. Almost double!

In fact, I used the harness yesterday: the lines, at 29”, fall 3”-4” below the hook (and I keep the boom at chest height!) . Normally they should be a couple of inches ABOVE the hook and you have to raise the hips to hook on.

When committed, seated, on the harness, I am too low, I believe, because my legs are bent almost 90° and I cannot extend my body outward to counterbalance the wind unless I straighten them up, but then the hips rise and the hook disconnects.

The only other way out is to raise the boom, but this may cause other problems.

Besides, the salesman sold me an extra-large model to fit my 38” waist, but then the harness has a tendency to fall off . May be I should use suspenders, like for the pants. I’m sure I won’t look very… fashionable, but probably the life-vest will hide them…..But who cares anyway?

If I tighten the waist strap more, the harness won’t fall, but it will be uncomfortable because it cuts into the abdomen when I crouch after getting back on the board and start to uphaul.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Francone