Tendon or Mechanical Base

Jorionw96 · Joined: 18 Mar 2001 Posts: 33

As a life long single bolt user I am offended by you saying it takes 2 minutes to attach my base to my board. When I attached my single bolt to my board this afternoon to secure my sail at Sherman island this afternoon I counted 1 1,000 2 1,000 3 1,000..... and suddenly it was tight and secure. Then I sailed for over 4 hours without it slipping. After that I removed it in roughly the same amount of time. 2 bolts are great and many people use them, but just because you like them so much doesn't give you the right to say it takes 2 minutes to secure a single bolt. Any windsurfer who has ever used a single bolt knows it only takes a few seconds to secure it to there board.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

1.I never said it takes anyone two minutes to secure a single-bolt to a board.

2. I didn't even say it takes anyone but me two minutes to install, secure, loosen, and remove a single-bolt. Why, I did it in a mere 100 seconds the next time, 80 another. (If the nut comes off the bolt in the grass or in the track, all bets are off.) That's still 10 times the time it take me to do that with a two-bolt uni setup, and it leaves more opportunity for operator error.

3. You did not install a single bolt, as per the steps described in my post, in three seconds. It takes longer than that just to run the nut all the way out to the end of the bolt so it engages the mast track. Just running the collar down to the deck without letting the bolt slide in the track, not counting tightening it so it won't slip, takes me 6-8 turns of the collar.

Not to mention the convenience factor and the reduced opportunity for operator error. Putzing with a single-bolt base strikes me as mighty similar to removing the fin we KNOW will get used again next time even if storage space is not an issue; it's an option I'd rather not bother with.

justall · Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 442

After reading this thread, I think I will use my two-bolt, especially for offshore. I have had the one-bolt slide off during a session. I don't know if I just didn't tighten it because I was so psyched to get on the water or if I had sand between the plate and board that eventually rinsed out leaving the plate more free to slip. But, I do know it was very difficult to reconnect in offshore, deep water, with a lot of chop and swells. So, while I think the odds are low of it happening again, I might just as well use the two bolt.

Though, just to add to the above dataset, I timed my own installation of a single bolt. Assuming I have the plate in my hand (actually does usually take some time for me to find it in my bag), it took 14 seconds to install and 21 seconds to install and remove. About 7 seconds was consumed with me wiping sand off the base plate and board. I don't pre/post twist the nut, as I seem to have the number of turns built into muscle memory. Though, one could argue that this muscle memory and relatively short installation time is what also resulted in the rig disconnecting from the board during the above-mentioned session.

bred2shred · Joined: 02 May 2000 Posts: 989 Location: Jersey Shore

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

How do you guys even just run the collar down to the deck in less than 15-20 seconds without the bolt/nut sliding forward or aft in the slot?

It sometimes takes me many irritating seconds just to jiggle the bolt an inch or two in the track. It sounds like your nut glides through your track without snagging, which would make it even tougher to keep it in the right location while running the collar down.

My times are with a collar/plate with four raised flanges to grab; it's even much tougher with the single offset raised tab many bases have, especially with the volcano pad hiding that solo tab.

No volcano pad, you say? One broken toe will change that tune. My front/driving foot too often slips on every deck I've ever sailed when I'm dancing around on the deck, plus I often use that pad as a toe block when trying to get planing or when slogging home. It's also especially advantageous on smaller/wavier boards, on which the sail's forward thrust minus hull drag -- the driving force we must actually deal with -- is greater than on bigger, earlier-planing boards. Just the thought of kicking another exposed joint with bare feet makes me cringe.

isobars · Joined: 12 Dec 1999 Posts: 20935

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

"No volcano pad, you say? One broken toe will change that tune. My front/driving foot too often slips on every deck I've ever sailed when I'm dancing around on the deck, ..."

With isobars' front foot up by the universal, and the other planted in the rear footstrap, it's no small wonder that he often slips and jams his front foot into the universal. It's a recipe for disaster.

Given isobars' last post, I have to point out that he's posted 14 times on this thread. In the majority of them, he has been arguing with others that are quite satisfied with a single bolt universal. Seems to me that he's being more that a bit hypocritical in his comments.

justall · Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 442

techno900 · Joined: 28 Mar 2001 Posts: 4161

No volcano pad? You bet, I have worn booties for 30 years, with never a foot injury. No cuts, no toe bangs, no twists/sprains, no blisters or skin abrasions. I know, it not cool and the experts need the sensitivity and feel of bare feet. I am fine with booties and a single bolt. Life is good!

I can see that bare feet would be good in the sand and surf, but I am mostly lakes. All my booties have slices and cuts in the bottom after a few months of wear.

I should add that I have always has booties with a strap over the arch to keep my toes from getting jammed into the end of the booties (not good for the big toe nail).

I guess I should add that it takes me about 15 seconds to put on my booties, which is time well spent for me, and my feet almost never slip on the board.