I ride the 9'8" starboard sportech fish which has 2 x leash plugs installed. I have just fixed an old ankle strap tight onto the unused plug for hanging onto when getting battered by the whitewater or, if your leash snaps. I hope to
go in later this afternoon as it is small and glassy today. Has anyone else rigged up something similar?
Yes, but here's another idea. First of all, loop a piece of good line (like windsurfer downhaul line) through both plugs and connect your leash to that. In the unlikely event that you pull one leash plug out, the other should hold. A well installed leash plug is mighty stout, but stuff happens. If nothing else this distributes the pull to both plugs and reduces the likelihood of failure.
Don't use a loop for the handle--you don't want your hand caught. I used a piece of strap cut from a bad tiedown. I doubled it, passed it through the leash rope and then passed the strap through the doubled loop. I tied an overhand knot about ten inches from the rope, and then tied overhand knots in each of the ends. If you make even a flailing grab at this handle you're likely to get enough purchase to slow the board before the wave rips it out of your hands. That's often enough to keep it out of the pocket and get it onto the back of the wave. In most cases you'll be able to hang on to the board. It's really great when you're getting pasted by head high whitewater, because you can breathe most of the time.
When I first did this I thought I made it too long, but it's really good. this picture shows the ends without the overhand knots. they come out sometimes during the course of a day's surfing. But you get the idea. Long is good. At this length the strap has no effect I can determine on how the board feels. Possibly a great surfer would feel it, but that ain't me.
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