Sport Today

Spreader or Reactor Bar for a Harness and how do you know what size to get??

Depends on the type of sailing you're primarily going to be doing (spreader or
reactor) though both work in all conditions.     As for size, I'm only familiar
with short and long, and in my experience the short bars are for very slim or
small people (my wife, 5'4, 112 lbs uses a short Reactor, but that's too small
for me at 5'11" 165 lbs.)

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Spreader or Reactor Bar for a Harness and how do you know what size to get??
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Michael  

I've never used the reactor but I just saw a guy in Baja last week have his  
come apart on him while sailing.  I've heard about regular hooks also
breaking off just never personally witnessed it.  

Kirk.

Which kind? I still prefer normal spreaders, in stainless steel. Started
out with aluminium spreaders 15 years ago, tried sliding spreaders,
didn't like them. Had a original reactor once as rental (on Hatteras,
sound side), liked it a bit and bought one. Hated it since in rougher
terrain it would easily release the lines when not 10000% loaded.
Switched to stainless spreaders and never looked back, never destroyed
one (contrary to the aluminium spreaders where i broke quite a few and
which also sawed through quite a number of lines), brake lines quite seldom.
Width: Depends on your own width, like buying harnesses: Try before you
buy. I prefer narrow but i'm also a marathon runner,,,,

Greetings
Wolfgang

  Once I switched ot reactor bar I have never looked back!   I use to wear out
harness lines every season.  Since changing  to reactor I do not beleive I have
worn out that part of the harness lines. I also like the way you can move just
a fraction of an inch with no friction on the lines. I prefer being able to
unhook easy..... it is also just as easy to rehook back in. As for size most
people use the middle size which is 10".
      Andy

My reactor bar took 2 major (and I mean Major!) catapults to lose the
roller. Still lasted good 3 years or so. I've seen regular hooks broken off
as well. Anyway, I tried regular bar after breaking the reactor but went
back soon enough - the regular one chewed off tubing in couple of seshs, and
somehow I just didn't like it.

Peter

How often to you guys replace the roller in the Reactor bar?
Stu Snodgrass

How often do you guys replace the roller on a Reactor Bar?

Hi Stu,
Well, I've had to replace the button head allen that holds the roller
assembly together on one of the original Reactor
Bars (White powder coat which they claimed would last forever, but after
5 years or so, the powder coat was flaking off and the aluminum the bar
is stamped out of began to exfoliate a little.
Since then I've never had to replace a roller and the paint is alot
better on the black bars from DaKine.
So, as long as you get one with the locktite on the button head allen
done correctly, you should never have to replace the Reactor bar hook or
your harness line tubing.
There almost no friction, so the tubing doesn't wear and the plastic
material of the roller is durable enough so there is no were there as
well.
Not a bad idea to check the button head allen once in a great while, and
also check that the roller is not wobbly like the bushing has worn out.
Beyond that, sail them until you see signs of major corrosion or the
roller seems loose.
They make a repair kit, but getting the Locktite right is really the
secret to longevity with the Reactor Bar hook.
I've been using my current Reactor (DaKine type) for
at least 5 years.
Hope this helps.
Roger

After it gets run over in the parking area.
It may need some lube once in awhile though.

Dakine has a new version Reactor bar..... It is all stainless steel.  That
should alleviate the "flaking" of alluminum from the older reactor bars.
    Andy           All Wet Sports