Foot Straps - Worth Having?

Chris Murray · 26 July 2003, 20:38

I would be interested to know your views on foot straps.

In particular, do you regard them as essential safety equipment to keep you in the boat when emulating AP? Those RIBnet members who have them fitted, do you use them as a matter of course, like a life jacket and kill cord, or only when conditions are "exciting"?

If you do use them, are there different kinds, are they adjustable in terms of "size" and position? Is there anything else about foot straps that you think it would be helpful to share?

Thank you for your thoughts!

GOOD LUCK Alan and the crew of "The Jolly Sailor"! Tomorrow's the BIG DAY.

Regards,

Chris.

Richard B · 26 July 2003, 22:25

Chris, what a good question!

Not having had my RIB for very long, I sort of ask the same question, but...

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris Murray
are they adjustable in terms of "size" and position?

This I can answer... they are made from 2" velcro, so adjustable to a particular foot size, and there are two pairs of them on either side, a pair in the sitting position and a pair in the standing position. And Mr Jelley seems to have a good idea of where to place them.

You really do sound like a prospective Scorpion owner to me!

David Hickman · 26 July 2003, 23:03

The RNLI have them fitted to the Atlantic 21's and 75's. There are some fitted on a 7.8m Ribcraft that I sometimes helm but I have never used them.
I do not have them on my 7.2 Ribeye, even though I am out is pretty bad weather teaching. Not having them has never caused me to have any "moments". Sometimes they can become a tripping hazard when you are moving around the RIB.
Adjustable would make sense to me if I was ever having them fitted to a RIB and also keep them pretty flexible so that they would lie flat on the deck when not in use.

Pete7 · 26 July 2003, 23:18

Chris, in 12 years never found that I needed them and they look like an obvious trip hazard. No thanks just a good none slip deck and sensible seating arrangements. I suppose if you did want to fit them a trip to a windsuring shop might be the order of the day.

Pete

Richard B · 26 July 2003, 23:30

...In which case buying my old windsurfer might be a more economical idea

John Kennett · 27 July 2003, 09:14

Toe straps seemed to be very popular a few years ago, with lots of RIBs appearing with them. You don't see many boats with them any more though.

I personally hate them and would much rather have the option to move my feet if I need to. I suspect that they are something that seemed a good idea a the time but don't get used much.

There have also been stories of ankle/leg injuries caused by foot straps although I don't have any specific details. Anyone have any first hand experience of this?

John

narked · 17 September 2003, 00:36

Personally I think they could be handy when you have people sat on tubes, providing they do lie flat when not in use due to the trip hazard thing. There have been times when out on the dive club's RIB that foot straps would have been extremely handy (or footy..) due to someone inexperienced being at the wheel throwing the boat around. Wouldn't have them for the people with proper seating though.

Matt (resurrecting dead threads 'cos I'm bored!) Brown

bogib · 17 September 2003, 06:00

In our SAR boat we have them fitted, also we fitted the boat with extra soft handles on the Hypalon collar on both inside and outside for easier holding on to in bad weather, with waves up to three metres.

Keith Hart · 17 September 2003, 07:03

What you need is good jockey seats with hand grips. Having experienced some very 'exciting' conditions recently I didn't feel that foot straps would have helped at all.

Keith Hart

thewavehumper · 17 September 2003, 17:04

I am going to get them gitted to some of our Ribs, I recently damaged my leg, and feel the damage would have been less if I had footstraps. I also feel at speed or in the rough then they give the driver a betterhold on to the boat as an alternative to grasping the stering wheel and Throttle

Chris Murray · 17 September 2003, 18:27

Hi Matt and other RIBsters who have kindly contributed to this thread,

Thanks for resurrecting this one!

I had the opportunity to try these out on Richard B's boat ("Blue Ice") when "Jolly Sailor" came home but felt that they didn't really add anything and, as had been suggested earlier in this thread, could be a potential trip hazard.

I took the opportunity to visit Graham Jelley and his team for the Scorpion open day last weekend prior to visiting the Boat Show. Wow! What fantastic boats! I can see why there are so many Scorpions on the water.

I have seen some superb racing-style seats on the 10 metre (no-I'm not in that market!) that would, in my opinion, make the need for any other crew-retaining gear unnecessary. They can be seen in the current edition of RIB International.

I can't order my boat for a while, for various reasons, but when I do, I want some of those seats!

Happy RIBing!

Chris.

The Jackeens · 17 September 2003, 18:41

I too have been on Richard's boat in bad conditions and felt very comfortable in the straps and prefered to be in em (Richard's driving

)

Mind you having Windsurfed for many years they are second nature to me and give a certain reassurance. I can understand that some might find them hard to adjust too different strokes for folks.

Wavehumper could have done with then a while ago

paul