Leash length.

Rule of thumb is to equal the same length as the boart. I use a 9ft leash with my 9ft LB, 8ft for my 8’1”, and a 6ft leash for my 5’8” Fish and SB’s that are 6’ and 6’4”.

 

Yeah exactly what DP said. Leash length equals board length. If your in the middle, just round up to the nearest foot.

 

I’m still wearing my 6’ leashe on my 8’0 mini log :/

 

Just curious as to why that rule of thumb exists, what the rationale is behind it. Not taking issue, it's an actual question.
(I use a 6' leash with my 9'2 & 10', mainly cause I don't care for all that cord rolling around under my feet & I don't like reeling in the boart with a longer leash.)

 

I imagine that for long boards, a board length leash (if worn) is desired for nose riding.

 

One thing to consider with a log or LB and a short leash, is when you fall. The shorter leash does not give you any “room” or slack in the leash. I have noticed that if you are towards front of board when you go down (w/shorter leash), the board will kick back towards you faster or flip over towards you. Hard to explain but it seems having more length helps eliminate the boards reaction.

 

I've experienced that as well...Ouch.

 

I go with the same length of board. Works for me. We don't have to be too scientific on this one.
And yes, you are correct, bigger boards are a lot of fun and a lot less work.

And, of course, there is going leash less....lol....that pleases everyone

 

This has always been my understanding of the role of thumb. The nose riding benefit on logs is just a by product. But this extra "slack" applies to both LBs and SBs. It's this reasoning that i say you round your board length up to the nearest foot if you have say a 6'6. 7ft leash as appeared to a 6er for the extra slack.

With that being said my 9footer with a 9 foot leash completly ripped my head open and got me quite concussed so it's not bullet proof. It's just a balance between your safety and others in the water. Long enough for you and short enough to not have your board hurling towards others

 

All the logic being discussed here makes sense. I wear a 6' leash on all my boards up to my 7'0, which has a 7' leash. I want my boards for the big stuff to have leashes that give me a little more space between me and my board. But that's for thumping DOH surf. Otherwise, on a midlength board for waves up to probably head and a half, I'd probably still wear a 6' leash if I'm not moving my feet around much. But I'll admit I do get the conventional wisdom of choosing a leash that's your board's length. Probably the right thing to do.

My log has a 9' knee leash to allow me to get to the nose.

 

Yeah I don’t know how comfortable I’d feel having a 6’ leash zapping a 8’ board back at me.

Even worse would be if it were tombstoning on a big day

 

My leash has been too long according to my wife

 

This. This happened to me last week. Good thing this pothead has cat like reflexes.

 

Was thinking about this threadde yesterday. Saw a bigger set popping up out back, so paddled like crazy to get out to it. Spun around at the last second to take off late on a chunky peak and didn't make it. Turned around to look for my board and it was gone...

Then I see it all the way on the inside... so I swim in to get it. Leashe broke right at the ankle swivel. Piece of sh!t. But I guess that's what I get for being a cheap bastead. Half my gear I find on the beach. The brand? Poor Boy! LOL!

But the surf was too good to leave and go grab a new leash, so I McGyver'd a new fancy leashe knotte around my ankle, tide it off and paddled back out. Not reliable enough to just let the board go... but enough to reach down and have something to grab if I needed to.

How long was it after knotting it up? About 3'.

 

That's funny, "poor boy" HAHA.

 

How old was da leg rope?

 

At least 5 or 6 years. I was serious about finding it on the beach... so who really knows.

 

This is the rule I have always followed. Pops told me this is how it goes when I was a grom and I've never questioned it.