I think age/corrosion and maybe a flaw in the threads is the likelier explanation. Seeing videos of boards tumbling in waves, freestyle, etc, I'm not thinking uphauling or the occasional catapult is as bad. Just an econ major's take on engineering.
Two bolt works in same track. You insert one bolt at a time and there is a hex key cleverly machined into the bottom of the ujoint that sufficiently snugs everything up. A clip on the base retains the large pin of the ujoint.
It's a robust system. Biggest drawback is that you can't use the ends of the track only about 75-80% of the middle. The initial cost is a bit more but if you have multiple boards, you just need a plate in the board and use same joint instead of having to switch everything.
I don't use one foiling because of the need for frequent changes in position. Otherwise, it's the system I used for 25 years.
Having said all that, a fresh single bolt should give years of service as long as you inspect and replace the joint as appropriate, ie tendon replaced frequently. Other types, less often but still inspected regularly.
I've never had a single bolt break or even heard of anyone that broke one (until now.) I'd put this one down to "stuff happens."
I worry sometimes about single bolt because if the base is not screwed tight enough the base could slide back and pop out of the track. It seems unlikely but dumb things can happen. I got much more worried about this using single bolt when foiling to get the sail back as far as possible. I was always trying to get the mast back as far as it could go, and that means it only needed to move a little to slide out. As a solution I usually put in a loose nut in the back of the track so that the base simply cannot slide all the way back and get out (the base itself prevents the spare nut from coming out.) It doesn't have to be a nut, I've also used a rubber plug - anything the right size and solid enough not to break will do.
—
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Years back , maybe 15 years or so, Chinook had problems with their 1 bolt rubber ( hourglass) bases breaking the bottom bolt and they redesigned them so the bolt was offset. One bolt went into the bottom of the hourglass and a different bolt went into the mast track. On a Hatteras trip, someone in the house had one fail. The guys at the windsurf shop Ride, replaced it with the new model and said Chinook would replace them. Ride replaced mine even though it wasn't having problems.
But, that was a long time ago, so I may be confused.
I definitely remember those weird hourglass bases with the offset bolt, so I think you are probably on the right track Gene. I never could figure out why they have designed them like that and that makes sense.
—
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
In the aftermath of Sunday, something I only recognized in retrospect:
Like drowning, needing assistance doesn't always look like needing assistance. If you think someone is in trouble, seek a positive affirmation that they are okay. We are accustomed to someone hailing us for help when it may be the case that they can't or that they are too busy dealing with a bad situation. Go ahead, be annoying, sail over and even drop in the water if need be (and you aren't endangering yourself).
Secondly, Langdon a while back had the idea of club sponsored emergency whistles to hand out. I need to get working on that again. Voice communication in 35 mph gusts like we had yesterday is useless beyond 10 feet.
Agree with whistles. I actually started to carry one after hearing about Alan's mast breakage (almost used it yesterday when I was wrestling badly with the gust at some point). I have bought a high power emergency whistle for cross-country skiing (after helping rescue someone with a broken hip deep in the woods -from a collision with a tree- about to go into hypothermia). I think they are a great idea for anyone venturing into woods or out on the water, especially -not necessarily- alone.
I'm a newbie windsurfer in NY and went out a few days ago. The air temp was around 30, not sure about the water temperature. The wind was 8 knots sustained and gusting to 20 knots. I got tired quicker than usual, due to the gusts and then struggled to get back to my launch point as I had wind and current (1 - 1.5 knots) against me, added to the fact the channel back to the launch is pretty narrow. I was tacking back and forth upwind making little progress and getting more tired with each tack. A few times, I dropped the rig into the water because I was tired until I finally couldn't uphaul it. I was in the channel, but my car was on the opposite side of the channel and if I landed where I was, it would have been a long walk back to the car. I hand paddled to a submerged rock where I was able to stand up and was able "beach start" to get back to the other side of the channel, about 5 minutes from the car. Lucky for me, guy from my sailing group had checked up on me, and towed my gear back to the car using a club dinghy.
I was never in danger of being blown out to sea because I windsurf in a harbor. The moral for me was that I need to bring an actual paddle next time. And I'm avoiding gusty days for a while.
I wear a drysuit, and wasn't too cold even though I went in the water a few times. I use kitchen dishwashing gloves and liners. My hands got wet because of the hand paddling I think, but barring that I think they would stay dry so long as I've got them tucked under the wrist gaskets of the drysuit.
Randy, one of our local windsurfers used to carry a paddle on his big board for the kind of self-rescue situation you describe. You can see the wide end of the paddle sticking out from the nose of his board.
I think age/corrosion and maybe a flaw in the threads is the likelier explanation. Seeing videos of boards tumbling in waves, freestyle, etc, I'm not thinking uphauling or the occasional catapult is as bad. Just an econ major's take on engineering.
Two bolt works in same track. You insert one bolt at a time and there is a hex key cleverly machined into the bottom of the ujoint that sufficiently snugs everything up. A clip on the base retains the large pin of the ujoint.
It's a robust system. Biggest drawback is that you can't use the ends of the track only about 75-80% of the middle. The initial cost is a bit more but if you have multiple boards, you just need a plate in the board and use same joint instead of having to switch everything.
I don't use one foiling because of the need for frequent changes in position. Otherwise, it's the system I used for 25 years.
Having said all that, a fresh single bolt should give years of service as long as you inspect and replace the joint as appropriate, ie tendon replaced frequently. Other types, less often but still inspected regularly.
I've never had a single bolt break or even heard of anyone that broke one (until now.) I'd put this one down to "stuff happens."
I worry sometimes about single bolt because if the base is not screwed tight enough the base could slide back and pop out of the track. It seems unlikely but dumb things can happen. I got much more worried about this using single bolt when foiling to get the sail back as far as possible. I was always trying to get the mast back as far as it could go, and that means it only needed to move a little to slide out. As a solution I usually put in a loose nut in the back of the track so that the base simply cannot slide all the way back and get out (the base itself prevents the spare nut from coming out.) It doesn't have to be a nut, I've also used a rubber plug - anything the right size and solid enough not to break will do.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
Years back , maybe 15 years or so, Chinook had problems with their 1 bolt rubber ( hourglass) bases breaking the bottom bolt and they redesigned them so the bolt was offset. One bolt went into the bottom of the hourglass and a different bolt went into the mast track. On a Hatteras trip, someone in the house had one fail. The guys at the windsurf shop Ride, replaced it with the new model and said Chinook would replace them. Ride replaced mine even though it wasn't having problems.
But, that was a long time ago, so I may be confused.
Gene
Gene Mathis
I definitely remember those weird hourglass bases with the offset bolt, so I think you are probably on the right track Gene. I never could figure out why they have designed them like that and that makes sense.
What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.
In the aftermath of Sunday, something I only recognized in retrospect:
Like drowning, needing assistance doesn't always look like needing assistance. If you think someone is in trouble, seek a positive affirmation that they are okay. We are accustomed to someone hailing us for help when it may be the case that they can't or that they are too busy dealing with a bad situation. Go ahead, be annoying, sail over and even drop in the water if need be (and you aren't endangering yourself).
Secondly, Langdon a while back had the idea of club sponsored emergency whistles to hand out. I need to get working on that again. Voice communication in 35 mph gusts like we had yesterday is useless beyond 10 feet.
Agree with whistles. I actually started to carry one after hearing about Alan's mast breakage (almost used it yesterday when I was wrestling badly with the gust at some point). I have bought a high power emergency whistle for cross-country skiing (after helping rescue someone with a broken hip deep in the woods -from a collision with a tree- about to go into hypothermia). I think they are a great idea for anyone venturing into woods or out on the water, especially -not necessarily- alone.
Great idea Langdon!
Got mine ready
Alan
Dakine used to have a whistle built into their harness strap buckle.
Gene
Gene Mathis
I'm a newbie windsurfer in NY and went out a few days ago. The air temp was around 30, not sure about the water temperature. The wind was 8 knots sustained and gusting to 20 knots. I got tired quicker than usual, due to the gusts and then struggled to get back to my launch point as I had wind and current (1 - 1.5 knots) against me, added to the fact the channel back to the launch is pretty narrow. I was tacking back and forth upwind making little progress and getting more tired with each tack. A few times, I dropped the rig into the water because I was tired until I finally couldn't uphaul it. I was in the channel, but my car was on the opposite side of the channel and if I landed where I was, it would have been a long walk back to the car. I hand paddled to a submerged rock where I was able to stand up and was able "beach start" to get back to the other side of the channel, about 5 minutes from the car. Lucky for me, guy from my sailing group had checked up on me, and towed my gear back to the car using a club dinghy.
I was never in danger of being blown out to sea because I windsurf in a harbor. The moral for me was that I need to bring an actual paddle next time. And I'm avoiding gusty days for a while.
I wear a drysuit, and wasn't too cold even though I went in the water a few times. I use kitchen dishwashing gloves and liners. My hands got wet because of the hand paddling I think, but barring that I think they would stay dry so long as I've got them tucked under the wrist gaskets of the drysuit.
Randy, one of our local windsurfers used to carry a paddle on his big board for the kind of self-rescue situation you describe. You can see the wide end of the paddle sticking out from the nose of his board.
Barrett
sodani
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