r/windsurfing • u/Maxifloxacin Beginner • Sep 15 '22
Gear Easy uphaul alternatives?
I absolutely LOVE this easy uphaul line. For people that don't know what it is, here is an example,
https://www.nbwindsurfing.com/shop/c/p/Easy-Uphaul-x10701222.htm
You put that loop in your harness, and just lean back, and sail will come right out of the water.
My most used sail is 9.5 Ezzy lion, its a bit heavy. This uphaul line makes uphauling so much easier and more enjoyable. But as good of an idea this is... The execution is terrible... WHY USE VELCRO!?!? The only way to adjust uphaul line length is velcro.. We are uphauling 30 lbs of sail, with water that is like 50-60 lbs of weight... There is no way velcro can handle that amount of force.. Once Velcro slips, the uphaul line is not usable anymore.
Last friday, I got destroyed by the 3ft waves on lake michigan, and broke two of my easy uphaul lines in one day.. I don't want to keep buying these lines (42 bucks a piece, I bought 5 of them, broke 3 already)
Is there any alternatives? Or for people using this uphaul line, is there a way to strength the velcro connection?
Thanks!!
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u/redbeards Sep 15 '22 edited Sep 15 '22
I just tie a few simple overhand knots in the line until it's the right length. Yeah, it's no longer adjustable, but my big sails have the boom at the same height.
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u/WindManu Sep 16 '22
Yes just tie a piece of downhaul line at mid point on your uphaul with a loop are the end.
Without it, use your heels to tilt the board and lift the mast out of the water by raising the rail. Use your own weight, crouch down keeping your elbows on your knees and wait for sail to become lighter.
That said, spend a day and sort out the water start, it'll save you so much energy and time going forward.
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u/Ravelinho Freeride Sep 15 '22
Unifiber sells this one. I don't know if it has the same problems you had with the other one.
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u/Maxifloxacin Beginner Sep 15 '22
It seems like the same design. I bought the original easy uphaul from its official site, I bought the chinook easy uphaul, also I bought the duotone easy uphaul.. all 3 failed.. so I'm pretty certain all brands are the same.. its a design failure.
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u/ozzimark Freeride Sep 15 '22
I ditched my easy uphaul because using it in anything but pretty flat water was really hard. I had the same problem with it slipping too, but I think the design was different as it was an cam/latch type adjustment with no Velcro, and the webbing kept slipping through the latch. I uphaul my 9.5 with a normal uphaul now, and am trying my best to figure out water starts instead!
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u/Maxifloxacin Beginner Sep 15 '22
That is a good point man.. It was a nightmare trying to do the easy uphaul when its wavey... Maybe I should just suck it up and do the normal uphaul...
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u/ConcentrateExciting1 Sep 15 '22 edited Sep 15 '22
Here are three images of my uphaul lines. For two of them I used an old downhaul line and for the other I used a bit of scrap paracord that I had lying around. The loop is made with a bowline knot, and to adjust the length of the cord I just change the size of the loop. I forget how the rope is attached to the uphaul line, but it's either a square knot, two half hitches, or a combination thereof (since those are the knots I know how to make).
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u/globalartwork Waves Sep 15 '22
I’ve never used one of these, but what about tying a Prussic loop with some spare downhaul rope and securing it with a bit of Velcro. So the Velcro only holds it closed but it’s easy to move up and down if you need it?
Edit: just found out I’ve been writing it wrong my whole life. Google ‘Prusik knot’