Mastbase Failure - Options?
David R. Fielder
It was a Chinook hourglass/rubber two bolt version, fortunately with the
two strong safety straps (almost for sure 3-6 years old). I was fairly
far out at Pt. Isabel in SF Bay. The only other comparable problem I
ever experienced was mastbase disconnect due to hand tightened single
bolt slippage (long ago) - one reason why I don't use those anymore.
First off, I know this happens and that I should be routinely checking
for wear, but have gotten sloppy over the years. Am not sure how wear
would even show - maybe fine surface cracks when you bend it? Perhaps
it's just better to somehow label each mastbase with year of purchase
and replace on regular schedule (if so, when?).
As I've used other rec.wind advice for making it home, such as what to
do when boom breaks (I've experienced that 3-4 times), I'm curious if
there are any secrets for handling this situation. I'll also share what
worked and didn't for me.
Since I wasn't interested in complete derigging for old-fashioned
paddling self-rescue (can't roll sails easily like the good old days),
and have found that swimming with gear at Pt. Isabel seems particularly
unproductive unless you want to wind up at the condos (unlike at
Berkeley), I decided to experiment. First I thought maybe I could just
uphaul and sail back very carefully. However, I didn't even try this as
was afraid that I might somehow punch the broken base end thru deck of
my new board (Xantos in this case), or that it would put too much strain
on the safety straps and break them = truly screwed, or that I'd get
launched and break the nose off my new board due to abnormal lack of
control. Second I thought I'd just hang in waterstart position and sail
back that way. This would be facilitated by fact that I wear a PFD (rib
protection/warmth/safety). However, every time I tried this I couldn't
seem to keep sail under enough control to avoid it flying forward into
water and threatening to break board nose off. I believe that was
mainly due to "slop" of mast foot connection due to the straps (as well
as rotten wind that day). However, for some reason I didn't think of
drastically dropping my boom height so that maybe it would allow resting
boom on end of board (again like the good old days), which is normally
not possible anymore due to new board designs.
What finally worked for me was to position myself directly behind the
board, my body fairly vertical in water and not touching/holding board,
and fly sail with one hand on boom and one on mast over my head. I
think this position worked better than waterstart position as the force
on the base/straps was more directly forward along board main axis. This
usually resulted in interesting body-drag experience, but obvious
progress (parallax sightings are great reassurance). I also know I
probably couldn't have done that given the large sail (7.5) if I hadn't
had the buoyancy of my PFD. That tactic got me back to shore within
about 200 yds of launch after about 1.5 hours total. Length of time was
greatly increased due to experimentation and rotten wind pattern that
Saturday (much larger wind speed range than usual, 5-25 or so, the Cal
Cup racers were all complaining a lot about it as well).
I'd also like to express thanks to one fellow sailor who dropped by and
asked me how I was doing. Don't know his name, but see him often and he
is excellent sailor. He offered a tow, and I did have safety line, but
that would have been a real drag (pun not intended) for him and by then
I could see that I had it figured out and would make it back eventually,
so encouraged him to sail on. Since I don't have a buddy to sail with
anymore, I always leave location and expected return time with wife.
She noticed I was a bit late, but not enough to start worrying.
Anyway, open to all suggestions/advice for "the next time" and/or how to
avoid it.
David
=============================================
"Rig for the Moment" DRF's Statistics: 180 lbs/6'6"
F2 Xantos 290 & Axxis 273
USWA Member #US212 Windwings 9.0race/7.5/6.7/6.5race/
Berkeley-His Lordships 5.8/4.9/4.2
Point Isabel & Wherever
=============================================
Matt
possible to sail with a broken hourglass ... just using the safety straps.
The general consensus was that it was possible. So, I'm kind of surprised
that you didn't try it.
People who responded indicated that with an hourglass (rubber) type joint,
there was not much chance of damaging your board. However, a broken tendon
type joint could definitely puncture a board.
That's why I use a rubber joint.
David R. Fielder <dfie...@cooper.cpmc.org> wrote in message
news:39A81376...@cooper.cpmc.org...
Matt
I went back and re-read the posts of the earlier thread. You should check
out deja.com and do a power search on rec.windsurfing for "broken
hourglass". The thread was during the beginning of May.
One person suggested using a mast pad to protect the board even when using a
rubber universal. Also, make sure your safety straps are in good shape.
WARDOG
First off, you are lucky that this has only happened once in 17 years.
I have had numerous bogie joints, mast bases shearing in half (North),
single bolt mast feet disconnecting,
twin bolt Chinook quick release disconnects and North quick release pin
system breakage (3 times).
I never go more than 2 seasons on any of my bases or mast feet and I rinse
,inspect, and maintain them.
This is good policy for anyone who sails frequently and jumps.
These are some of the most important and cheapest components of your kit.
Chinook had a bad problem years ago when they were using colored bogies
(non-black).
The blue and clear ones were particularly bad.
For the record, I think the safest, best engineered base/mast foot system
available today is the
2 bolt ,quick release, tendon system from Streamlined/Windsurfing Hawaii:
http://www.surfingsports.com/product.asp?prod=wsh_02371
An ounce of prevention as it were. I'm glad you got your rig back to shore.
It is amazing however,
that sailors have suffered severe exhaustion, or worse, severe hypothermia
or have died trying to save their rigs, when they could have paddled the
best flotation device available (their board) safely into shore.
You can get your gear covered by your homeowners policy.
Windsurfing gear is going to break (not as much as it used to) and you have
to be prepared to deal with it
on your own, without endangering another sailor by practicing good
self-rescue techniques, as you did.
Keep your head and don't "freak out".
I was once becalmed, while sailing Crissy Field on an outgoing tide with the
fog moving in and out......
15 other sailors were all getting sucked out of the Golden Gate and someone
started screaming for help.
That started someone else screaming and freaking.......I just yelled " shut
the f*uck up and swim!",
which some of us did and we pulled ourselves up on the rocks by Fort Pt. and
walked back to the parking lot. We are seeing at least one rescue a day with
kiting 'round here, so same thing applies.
DO NOT SAIL/KITE OUT FURTHER THAN YOU CAN SWIM IN!!!
You don't have to breakdown to get yourself in trouble.
Help another sailor if you can, it's your duty as a "boater" . We recently
rescued over a dozen sailors at San Carlos during big swell/ high tide
episode because they wanted to milk it to the end........
He/she who milks the wind swims it in!
WARDOG
http://www.surfingsports.com/
"David R. Fielder" wrote:
> For the first time in 17 years of windsurfing I had a mastbase failure.
> It was a Chinook hourglass/rubber two bolt version, fortunately with the
> two strong safety straps (almost for sure 3-6 years old).
snipped well written self rescue story
David R. Fielder
conscientious reader of rec.wind I missed that thread, perhaps another sign of
my getting a bit lax.
After having now read the deja.com archive re this subject, the consensus seems
to be I should have at least tried to uphaul and sail home, but with mast pad
as protection to prevent board damage (one out of about 5 examples had deck
damage from hourglass break - given circumstances, I wouldn't have risked those
odds without the protection). The straps were in reasonable shape, so probably
would have not been too much risk there.
As no one had rubber failure prediction advice, other than replace after
reasonable amount of wear/time, I guess I'll start doing that. Already,
yesterday I retired one base I kept available, where the straps were almost
worn through even though rubber appeared fine. Could detect no cracking in any
of the rubber joints on my 3 remaining bases (none are the "colored"
versions). Went out and bought a new one. Note: the Chinook rubber mastbase
foot only is available for $35 (without the flat part with bolts), at least at
my shop, Berkeley Boardsports. Mike F's comments in the May thread about how
"cheap" we can all get re line replacement was telling. I'd already decided to
be a bit less frugal in that area, as well.
In retrospect, I probably should have qualified my 17 years a bit, as first 10
+/- were ones where I was not yet completely addicted (somehow). Also,
although I am slightly self-conscious about all the extra "stuff" I wear/carry,
it does give me a lot more confidence that I can survive/manage many of these
situations (Mike F. has been good proponent of this approach over the years).
Having SF Bay feel like a backyard pool, even after 1-2 hour swims with gear
(seems like I get that opportunity about twice a year), is reassuring. I still
recall the windsurfer who died from exposure here several years ago (wore
shorty and spent the night drifting).
David
Mike F
don't use them regularly anymore.
2. I suspect/hope Chinook's Hydroshok base may greatly extend mast base
durability because a) it used their almost-bombproof mechanical joint and b)
absorbs much of the shock that stresses joints and boards.
3. The two times I've had bogie joints with webbing joint save straps fail,
I just waterstarted carefully and sailied in gingerly on a plane. Once was a
short trip but in high winds, the other from a couple of miles out in Kehei
Bay, Maui but in steady, controllable 4.5 condtions.
4. When you must waterstart on a board on which your booms won't rest on the
tail, lay your spare hand on the tail with your forearm sticking straight
off the back of the board. Rest your boom on the forearm as though it is an
extension of the board. But as tails have gotten (relatively) shorter, I've
just lowered my booms and shortened my harness lines. I don't sail boards if
I can't rest my booms on the tail ... too much like work.
5. I quit worrying about breaking noses once I began padding both the noses
and the mast. The day I began that was the day I went from breaking a nose a
week to breaking none now in 5-6 years, despite sailing more outta control
now than then.
6. I add "breathing" to a float vest's "protection/warmth/safety", but then
I sail mostly in fresh water.
7. I usually sail upwind of my launch if I have ANY reason the think the
wind may quit, so I can "sail" back to my dog on a broad reach, in the
waterstart position, both feet in the straps and hooked in, almost
completely relaxed. Also works if some parts break, and is an EASY way to
tow a broken sailor to shore effortlessly.
Mike \m/
To reply directly, remove the SpamDam.
"David R. Fielder" <dfie...@cooper.cpmc.org> wrote
> I had a Chinook hourglass/rubber two bolt mastbase failure ...
>Am not sure how wear
> would even show - maybe fine surface cracks when you bend it? Perhaps
> it's just better to somehow label each mastbase with year of purchase
> and replace on regular schedule (if so, when?).
>
I decided to experiment. uphaul and sail back very carefully ... afraid
that I might somehow punch the broken base end thru deck of
> my new board ... put too much strain
> on the safety straps and break them = truly screwed, or that I'd get
> launched and break the nose off my new board ... hang in waterstart
position and sail
> back that way. This would be facilitated by fact that I wear a PFD (rib
> protection/warmth/safety ... > drastically dropping my boom height so that
BDSinclair
>wind may quit, so I can "sail" back to my dog on a broad reach, in the
>waterstart position, both feet in the straps and hooked in, almost
>completely relaxed. Also works if some parts break, and is an EASY way to
>tow a broken sailor to shore effortlessly.
>
>Mike \m/
What he said. Recently towed a friend with a broken mast 1/3 mile back to the
beach on my dead sinker using this technique. Could not put me feet in the
straps though, just not limber enough I guess.
bs