Tendon or Mechanical Base

[isobars]

Wow. That's pretty impressive, and I appreciate the effort you went to. I changed boards, and the next one was easier because the nut actually slides in the track rather than requiring serious coaxing. But that, of course, allows the base to move around even more as I screw down the plate, which requires at least three times the revolutions yours does ... every one of which moves the base in the slot.

Your base appears to have no bolt offset, so you can hold the base in place while tightening it down. That's a HUGE advantage, well worth buying if I saw any advantage to a single-bolt.

I also would never install a base as lightly as your video shows. I've had them come loose and even separate when installed much more tightly.

Then there's the volcano pad, which gets in the way the whole time. I don't WS without a harness, a helmet, AND a volcano pad.

On the other board I almost beat a minute to install and remove to my standards.

But even if I could install and remove a single-bolt in 2.5 seconds, it still has at least six strikes, all covered above, compared to the double bolt. I've never had even one, let alone both, double nuts loosen, and I do check them every once in a while.

BTW, none of my nose pads resembles yours. Mine are 1/4" thick, 1/2" inch wide, and not obvious at a glance unless I chose a contrasting color.

[justall]

I always wear heavier-toed booties, so that is probably why I haven't noticed banging my foot/toes into the mast base ... yet.

Agree with the double-bolt pros, and will be using my double.

Ah, mostly meant that your earlier advice for a nose pad (with caulking around the seam) resulted in me applying one and preventing some significant damage, I think.

[isobars]

[whitevan01]

I have the double bolt bases on all of my boards. Note: make sure to check the tightness of the bolts once in a while. I was having a great session last year, when I noticed that the mast base was moving during jibes. So, I came in and the both screws had loosend to the point where the base was sliding in the track. So, I went to tighten them, and the head of one them sheared off!!

I replaced it with one from another board and went back out. so, not nearly catastrophic, just kind of a PITA.

Otherwise, the 2 bolt bases have been bulletproof for me.

[coachg]

[westender]

I could never understand what barefooters are feeling that I can't feel through my booties. The footpadz are so thick what's the diff?? Got Neuropathy?

I don't mind a single bolt but especially when you're testing and swapping gear the 2 bolt with quick release can't be beat. It all works.

[isobars]

[coachg]

[dllee]

I wear Aleeda 3 mm round toe booties here in NorCal.
For Hawaii, Baja, and Puerto Rico, I never wear booties for windsurfing.
Takes about 3 minutes to adjust, about 2 completed jibes.

[swchandler]

Why do most folks in the world wear shoes? To protect their feet. It's pretty simple really, and it hasn't inhibited folks, even those excelling in sports.

In the sport of windsurfing, many of us launch in environments that pose risks of injury to our feet, so using booties offers some protection and a certain degree of confidence in less than perfect conditions. Not everyone agrees on this, but those that elect to sail barefooted can be just a step away from an injury that can leave them compromised, or in the worst case, beached.

Having used booties surfing long before I started windsurfing, I know that they aren't a liability. I find it a bit ironic that barefooted sailors welcome footpads, which are essentially barriers that prevent direct contact with your board. Although I always wear my booties in all conditions, all of my slalom type boards (4 of my 7 boards) are less any footpads. So, when it comes down to it, I'm actually sailing in closer contact with my boards than barefooted sailors using footpads.