To preventive measures you can take:
Replace the string with something heavier. And/or add a second string looped a bit longer than the first as a backup.
Bevel the edge around the lip of the leash plug as that sharp corner tends to chew those strings up. A sheetrock knife (aka “boxcutter”) works well for this
A piece of med/fine sandpaper/nailfile will do too !
I think in some respects the dual filiment leash was my brainchild handed over to XM back in the mid/late 90s.The idea came from the original twisted cord/rubbertubing 70s leash and modern fishing lines.(I’ll bet that won’t sit easy with some people).
sandpaper dulls/rounds everything ! Herb
Punasurf,
In your case, I don’t think I would blame that issue on the leash itself. In my experience, those little strings don’t even come with the leash (correct me if I’m wrong) and you could probably reuse your leash after replacing the string. I agree that those strings can be a weak link, but my guess is that most issues are becuase they are not tied correctly or are frayed like yours. Definitely need to keep your eye on those things. My .02 cents.
This was part of the leash and I am reusing it, but I didn’t expect it be go bad in one month.
Yep, sandpaper would probably be a better and safer choice.
Guess my recommendation was akin to bringing a rifle to a knife fight.
Had an FCS fail last year where the swivel goes into the rail saver. Should have sent it back as it was newish and obviously a quality issue but fixed it with nut and bolt. The others were old, yellow and cracked urethane.
I’m doin the research at chichester university in the UK it’s only an interim study not like a PHD or anything but i’m quite fussy 'bout the standard of my research, I can’t stand poorly thought out work… cheers.
Don’t feel bad,I usually bring a select 4 position fire battle rifle to that same knive fight.Herb
Try this as well…Replace the nylon cord w/ parachute (military airborne grade) line…no more fraying.Herb
You wanna talk bungee cord leashes w/ leather straps.........or cotton cord filled rubbertubing..............had lots of those fail.Herb
Oh my god… the early bungees were unbelievably scary. I always hoped they’d fail. Almost lost an eye with one of those… Jack O’Neill did. You’d feel your leg getting stretched, and you’d know not to come up. If you popped up too early, your board would be coming straight at you at about (Roy check the speed) five million miles an hour.
Last leash story… I took a new board to the beach and realized I needed a leash string. The only thing I could come up with was some of the cotton string from my trunks. One day I fell off that board and the string failed. That was a year and a half later.
I’m coming from a rock climbing background;you all might want to try “spectra” cord used in climbing, super strong!!
Spectra is kevlar. I used lots of it wakeboarding. That stuff is incredibly strong. I spent about thirty minutes trying to shorten a rope once. It was dulling my utility knife. A poly cord would have been one pass. A leash cord would be just a touch.
Spectra doesn’t stretch at all, so there’s no shock absorption. And there are times I’m OK with my leash breaking, but 1/4" Spectra line can probably keep a 747 from taking off. That said, I’ve always (not literally always, but for a long time) thought a leash made from a Spectra core with a shorter, stretchy cover would be cool. Then you’d have stretchy and strong, and it would be controllable and adjustable. If you wanted it to be breakaway, you could design that into the connectors.
Just got a new 12/20/06 8 ft 5/16 big leash that stretched to 9 1/2 ft on one day surfing at Daystar. F&%ker towed me 50 yards underwater…didn’t break, but I’m selling it cheep if anybody wants to buy it. Oh yeah it stayed steeeeched at 9 1/2.
I’ve broken a few over the years. Did it while surfing. Mike
In the couple years I’ve been surfing I’ve had two leashes break at the joint and a couple of strings break. Replaced one string with duct tape 'cause it was all I had handy and the waves were too good to quit. It’s still holding.
Cheers
Schiffie
I used to use thin spectra cord to tie my leashes onto my boards. Until one day I ripped the whole plug right out of the board. NOT a particularly good idea. Back to using nylon/parachute cord. A little give in the system is a good thing, sometimes.
PS my favorite way to break a leash is to have it wrap around a lava finger just before you jump off into the water…make sure others are watching, this is pretty funny.
Spectra is kevlar. I used lots of it wakeboarding. That stuff is incredibly strong. I spent about thirty minutes trying to shorten a rope once. It was dulling my utility knife. A poly cord would have been one pass. A leash cord would be just a touch.
If you use a soldering gun it cuts like butter.
Yeah, but it doesn’t make as good of a story. I discovered that later.
I’ve broken a few…some at the swivel and one (at least) in the middle (fin cut?). Leaving them out in the sun degrades them ( I threw one out recently that had a bunch of mini cracks in it). Had one key pocket burst after getting caught inside (major bummer resulting in being stranded, etc.)…I should mention that most of these mishaps happened in 2x overhead surf at Steamer Lane (never broke a leash anywhere else, but I don’t get many other places nowadays). Don’t trust a leash! Hold on to your board!