Replacing Mast Foot Base Tendons ?

Does anybody have anyway to tell when to replace a mast foot base tendon? Cracks or lack of stiffness? Number of Seessions?

ANY sign of wear in my book. I've been getting about two years out of mine.

Be proactive! You should inspect your UJ (universal joint), inhaul, outhaul, uphaul and harness lines everytime you go sailing. My policy is, if you are sailing in life critical conditions (cold H20, long swims, big waves, boat traffic, reefs, sharks...etc.) and you care about your life, gear and family, the few minutes and dollars it takes to maintain these parts is miniscule compared to the consequences of them failing. I change rigging lines out frequently, even if they don't look worn and unis out every season, whether I think they need them or not because I sail hard and as much as I can, jump high, get worked in the surf, and sometimes land pretty hard. I would change your uni and harness lines out every two seasons regardless of the situation. I haven't broken a pair of WH Hard Ones fixed lines yet, but I remember going through many of another popular brand...a harness line snapping under load can cause you grief if you hyper-extend your elbow or pull/stretch a tendon in your arm. A fresh pair of footstraps are not essential, but they sure can make your board feel new again and are kinder to your ankles. I know what they go through. I used to sail my gear until it broke, which it ALWAYS did, eventually...just a matter of time...not worth losing a dollar to save a dime. The Streamlined tendons are $15 MSRP and the premium black rubber WH uni-joints are $18 MSRP, harness lines are $25, footstraps are $17/ea and line is $1.50/ft. What's your gear , body parts or life worth to you? I also use the Streamlined foot and plate components with the Windsurfing Hawaii cups and bases. I have three seasons on my WH bases...there are guys out there with ten! Windsurfing Hawaii has been there from the beginning and so has the Streamlined stuff from Dave Dominey. It is muy duro...it hasn't changed since 1983.
http://www.surfingsports.com/product.asp? prod=wsh_02371 http://www.surfingsports.com/product.asp?prod=wsh_02211

Lots of surfsailors are buying fresh masts right now for the upcoming season so that they have renewed confidence in them and to get a fresh warranty. I've gotten two seasons on my main pair of HPL carbon booms, when I've never been able to get one out of any of the others...I'm not going push it to three, so they have becomne backups.

WARDOG

{very long rant snipped}

Well said!!!!!

Hey Wardog.

Do you also replace the cups on your Streamlined? Mine are all 6 or 7 years old. Got them when they first came out. I'm with you on replacing uni's. I usually go through about 3 per year - keeping the freshest one for ocean use and using the next oldest on the lake where there isn't a penalty (except a little swim).

My booms don't tend to last very long either. Probably am gonna have to preemptively replace my larger HPL this spring. Although it's tempting to keep using it to take advantage of the warranty. Have you had many or any warranty turn-ins on the HPL's? Has the company responded well?

Dave in Charlotte.

Hi Dave,

I'm sure that Wardog will jump in and talk about warrenty issues with HPL, but I'll tell you about my experience with HPL in replacing a defective boom. It was one of the best experiences that I've ever had. My first generation HPL race had each side bend down in the head of the boom, because of defective glue (that's what I heard later on). I had won the boom at the Nationals, so I didn't think that they'd be willing to work with me. I called HPL, and they said that I could either fix it myself with parts that they'd supply, or I could send it to them to be fixed. I did that, and instead of fixing it, they sent me a completely new boom.. and a larger one than I had in the first place. HPL stands behind their products, and you can expect top-notch service. I've since picked up more HPL race booms, have had no problems at all, and couldn't be happier.

Bri,

Second that on HPL/Surfingsports.com warrantee. I broke one last year after a few big-guy crashes and them getting worked in the surf - but yet, Wardog got me a new set with no worries.

You simply can't go wrong with HPL at this point. I know others in the group will talk up their booms as well - as long as you get good, solid reports from people who've owned and had warrantee service - you should be good to go.

Good luck,

<<I better quit, because he's gonna beat me up tonight. Deb_Dog has invited Will and wifey over for Valentine's Day cheesecake this evening...>>

Hey Warren... through up a pic of Will on your rec.dot page.

That's Will at the back of Rudy's (Rudolpho) truck...and recycling a Halibut carcass. http://www.surfingsports.com/gimages/ psc_pescadore_lg.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/gimages/ psc_pescado2_lg.jpg Rudy is my campanero and pescadore...great fisherman...he supplies the seafood at the campo..
http://www.surfingsports.com/rec_images/willv_atr.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/rec_images/will_v_atr.jpg

Here is Will sailing: Sail is a 7.0m2 wavesail...local secret spot....

Will's website is down right now...but he has lots of good stuff there on the special needs of the bigger sailor. http://www.ispros.com/labay.html

I will do a montage... I need to get Hans up there too...but I better get the Deb_Dog some chocalate body paint for V-Day...that Valentine's screw didn't go over so well.

WARDOG

<<That's Will at the back of Rudy's (Rudolpho) truck...and recycling a Halibut carcass. http://www.surfingsports.com/gimages/ psc_pescadore_lg.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/gimages/ psc_pescado2_lg.jpg Rudy is my campanero and pescadore...great fisherman...he supplies the seafood at the campo..
http://www.surfingsports.com/rec_images/willv_atr.jpg http://www.surfingsports.com/rec_images/will_v_atr.jpg

Here is Will sailing: Sail is a 7.0m2 wavesail...local secret spot....

Will's website is down right now...but he has lots of good stuff there on the special needs of the bigger sailor. http://www.ispros.com/labay.html

I will do a montage... I need to get Hans up there too...but I better get the Deb_Dog some chocalate body paint for V-Day...that Valentine's screw didn't go over so well.>>

Great pics of Will, I'd hate to run into him coming down the line. We have our own East Coast version of Will, 6' 8', some say 6' 10', my guess would be 270 lbs, and sailing an AHD 77. He's in Maui as we speak. I have all the respect in the world for big sailors going for it. I call it 'Bear in the Air.'

Hey Will.

Haven't seen basketball as a non-wind activity at San Carlos. Is there a hoop nearby? Don't be snaking me dude or I may have to dunk on your a**!

Dave in Charlotte.