What is a good substitute for leash cord? Would parachute cordage work?
Being able to twist and thrash to bodysurf the very same wave that you just lost your surfboard on. Grab the board, aim it toward the beach and pull it back under you. Maybe you get to fly off a reform.
Maybe a peice of 500# piano wire
Try 1/8" braided dacron sailboat line. See the link below and www.newenglandropes.com for data/tech info. Check your local marine supply outlet or your friendly neighborhood sailmaker, as the shipping from West Marine will be more than the the cost of all the line you’re likely to need for the rest of your life. Fair UV resistance, takes knots well, tensile strength of 2100 lbs, which is well above what it’d take to remove any leash plug I ever saw and in all probablity part any leash I ever saw. Hope that’s of use Doc… http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=4215&catalogId=10001&classNum=11452&subdeptNum=490&storeNum=2
In Indo, I tied a cord from my leash plug to a Repala fishing lure. After my third wave, my board hit the brakes and I went over the handle bars. The line was broken so my board didn’t go dragging out to sea. My friends were laughing so hard they practically p$$d themselves. I may have snagged the bottom, but I’d like to think it was something way gnarlier. (I wasn’t riding a fish at the time). Do you think someone will ever look this up in the archives? I want to be famous…
just use the leash it was designed for what you want to do with it. please dont ask how to make wax.
Do you mean the actual leash or the part that loops into the leash plug? If so you can go to Home Depot and get some heavy duty twine. Wrap it twice and your good to go.
I use electrical cords joined with square knots when I go to Ofre! http://mb-soft.com/public2/lift.html
Best substitute for a leash… practice SWIMMING! Lots and lots of swimming. Unless I’m at someone else’s break…in another country, or at a “high tension” break, I prefer NOT to use a cord. I do it as a courtesy to others…in case. I haven’t worn the leash in 6 or seven years, and I feel liberated. Better footing, just feel more free. The amount of time I lose the board is slim - not much different from when I wear a leash (not that psychological crutch of “if I go for this and don’t make it, no big deal”). I actually feel MORE confident without it, because I feel more committed to whatever action is coming. You tend to adapt. My surfing has actually improved after having given up the leash. I’m not advocating this, just my personal preference. /// Some guy I hadn’t seen in decades paddeled out to a local break, this summer, with a cherry Midget Farrelley (not a ding on it!) with surgical tubing through the fin, and a tightened bowline knot for his foot at the other end! The guy had resumed the surfing life with a “pre-leash” Leash!! Can you imagine?! He had stopped surfing just as the concept of the leash was coming in. Missed the total commercial leash thing! As the Brits would say, BRILLIANT! (p.s. I gave him MY leash!). T.
Why? You’ll spend as much money & even more expensive time with trial & error. Just spend the $20 if you need one. No disrespect here, friends, but this is almost as bad as the “how do I make my own wax” thread. Sailboat line? again, why? http://www.tylersurfboards.com/stock.html
Uhm, John - I think he’s just trying to replace a lost nylon cord,you know, the one between the rail saver and the board. Not hard to do, especially if you tend to move one cord around between several boards. If he isn’t, of course, just using that 2100 lb breaking strength Dacron line is gonna give him one leg considerably longer than the other… doc…
shoe string
Until you learn how to swim, they have these things called waterwings. That is what my grandaughter uses. Roger
need a leash? try Petco…(sorry, but couldn’t resist that one)
Shop at a boatyard chandlery or anywhere other than WAL-MARine.
So I guess i missed something -No leash is cool again?? I wanna see these guys go leashless at say -supertubes at ventura county line area.this would keep all shapers busy.Too cool for school
Uhm, Doc, Still less effort & cash to get a new leash. Oh I get it, say NO to the man, be hard core and do it yourself. Resist mass consumerism! Churn your own butter while you’re at it and make some candles (if there’s any wax leftover from making your own for the home made quiver).
Huh? Versus 29 cents for a foot of dacron 1/8" line? If you can find new leashes for less than that, sign me up, ok? 
oh, now I understand. yeah dacron will do. sorry, I thought they meant the cord itself. oh well,
Ha, ha, funny diagram…that should go in the photo archives.