just a waist of money
it does help a little while learning the basics, but its unnessicary
but let the wind pick up the sail and you will be out befor the waterstarter gets you out
oh rite,
well i like the idea behind that, while i was still learning and has to uphaul i hated the initial lift up of the sail, if you can get one for the same price or only a few bucks mroe, i would say give it a shot because you can still use it as a normal uphaul if it is crap
Go, you wont need the up-haul, watch the water start section, and try it yourself and you will be surprised how fast you get into water starting. An option to the float thing, Half a pool noodle works just as well, and stops sail sinking.
I have a waterstarter and it works it,s the kind of thing you use and then pass on
i dunno if this is 'good' for your board, but what i do to help get the sail out of the water while uphauling, is lean on the windward edge of my board pushing it underwater, the other side of the board will pop outta the water, and help clear the sail from the water which is the hardest part in my opinion. Once the sail is out of the water the rest of it is easy peasy. Obviously you need a floater to do this, and be gentle! I haven't noticed any dings etc from this method.
I think it depends on how big your sail is really i mean on my formula board there is no way i could water start i have a 9.0 sailworks and a 11.7 rs:3 and they would just push me under the water.
Those easy uphauls are nice for big sails (8 +). However its just as easy to tie a bit of rope onto the middle of your uphaul. Tie a loop in the end with a slip knot so you can adjust it on the water. Let it hang free. Its easy to reach. You just start to uphaul as usual but grab the new bit bend your knees and hook it onto your harness and just lean back.
If you don't use big sails then I wouldn't bother with it unless you are a beginner. Then it could really extend your time on the water. I remember those days when I was barely able to raise the strength to hold onto the booms because uphauling had turned my forearms to jelly.
Oh, and back on the topic...
My Dad has an official easy-uphaul.. he's never actually used it like it was designed. I copied it with materials from the local outdoors place, but I waterstart most of the time, and don't have any issues with straining my back during an uphaul, so I've never used mine in anger either!
They're more expensive than your ordinary uphaul, and have more knots/buckles etc to crush between your mast and board which leave dents in your deck.
It seems like a good idea, especially if you were regularly uphauling a massive sail (8m and up) but it'd have to be pretty low wind not to waterstart anyway. Probably a race sail with the big luff tube full of water would be a good candidate..
I have heard that some of the resort places only use the easy-uphaul..
So, in answer to the original question: Yes, it does work.
I couldn't make it do much other but go straight up wind, but that's another story.
haven't got it back yet :(, should be done end of week, so tomorrow/friday hopefully.
bit the bullet and got a new sail on order as well, should be here tomorrow :D 07 NorthSails Duke.
