Safety foot strap

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

I'm arguably doing that now by sailing conservatively, setting my straps in HUGE mode so my feet fall out easily, and making sure my feet don't go into the straps very far.

Windnc · Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Posts: 85

As I stated in my earlier post regarding the "FootSaver" foot strap, here are some photos of the strap and release mechanism.

The FootSaver straps which I first bought back around 1998-99 from a guy in California if I remember right, came in "light", "medium" and "hard" versions. This was dependent on the thickness of the jaws where the teflon pin would pull free from upon release.

Once released you simply put the jaws end back between the pin hole end and reinserted the pin back through. I found getting the pin out to reinsert was sometimes difficult on the water so drilled a small hole in the head of the pin. I then ran a couple loops of dacron sail thread through the pin hole and attached the other end to the release mechanism. This allowed me to be able to pull on the string to pull the pin out, and then reattach the straps. It also kept you from losing the pin on the water.

For my 200 pounds I had too many false releases with the "light" version but found the "medium" and "hard" to work well. I used the hard on my wave/high wind boards.

Overall I had a few really hard wipeouts where the straps released as advertised and I did not even feel it so I felt they did work. However, I had problems with foot comfort on the side of the strap where the release mechanism was. It created too much of a hard point that rubbed on the side of my foot. I experimented with different additional padding and that seemed to help.

The last I heard about these straps was that the guy who invented and produced them sold the rights to the straps to Chinook Windsurfing. If this is so then obviously Chinook never did anything more with them that I know about but I sure wish they or others would. I think the basic concept is good and certainly can be improved upon.

Chuck

jc_surfsail · Joined: 15 Jan 2002 Posts: 24

The footsaver design looks a lot like this patent that Dan found.

http://www.google.com/patents/US5378181

I found a couple old rec. windsurfing threads talking about them and the fact that they seemed to work good but chinook did nothing with it.

http://www.sporttaco.com/rec.windsurfing/Footsaver_3524.html

http://www.sporttaco.com/rec.windsurfing/ReleaseType_Footstraps_Any_Hope_3942.html

jc_surfsail · Joined: 15 Jan 2002 Posts: 24

Here are some photos showing how it releases

https://www.flickr.com/photos/48262653@N00/sets/72157600198794482/

MalibuGuru · Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300

Very good posts everyone! So much valuable info.

I'd be willing to pay at least $150 for a set. How about the rest of you? Normal set runs about $80+-. If we could get 50 orders that would be $7500. I'm sure a Chinese manufacturer (OR AMERICAN) would do something like this as a test run.

I'd buy 2 of those today. Maybe even produce the plastic parts on CAD or 3D printer? Don't know enough about that stuff, but possibly a loft on Maui would sew some proto types?

CAN'T TAKE ANOTHER BROKEN ANKLE. Wink

jc_surfsail · Joined: 15 Jan 2002 Posts: 24

I e-mail Chinook yesterday:

Hi,
I am curious about a windsurfing safety foot strap design (foot saver) that
I think Chinook purchased the patent on back a long time ago.

Any chance you guys would develop a new version of this safety strap???

Might not be a big money maker but there are many sailors who appreciate fewer foot, ankle, and knee injuries.

I actually got a quick reply:

Thanks for the comment...Right now we don’t have any plans to re-introduce the strap. Too many variables with it releasing at the wrong time.

It's on the back burner.

Thanks for contacting us though!

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

Probably the big thing working against a releasable footstrap is the potential liability that a company might face if the product releases at the wrong time and someone gets hurt or dies.

reoggy · Joined: 08 Apr 2009 Posts: 8

MalibuGuru · Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300

I was thinking something like an extra pad attached to the regular pads that would stick up high enough to block your foot from jamming into the foot straps too deep. Possibly foot shaped to match the pattern of your big toe all the way to your small toe. The back of surf boards often have a heel bump. This would be a toe bump shaped like the front of a foot instead of a heel.

Maybe even a pocket of some sort that would stop your foot from jamming too deep into the straps. DAKINE, ARE YOU OUT THERE?

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935