how about the new north sails mast base ??
like this: activcycles.co.uk/

You need a tool. A friend of mine made a crank for me. Its basically an iron tubular bar thats been bent in a shape like _
|_ (go ascii art, I can't get it) where you grip the bar at the top that has rope looping through it. The lower bar goes through a wooden block that goes into the mast base.

It works well.

I too suffer from back problems. I recommend looking at getting an impact vest back harness. I use a Neil Pryde one and it provides good back support. My back has never felt sore after windsurfing with it, even after sailing over 60 kms in a day.

Most windsurfing shops sell similar sorts of cranks. Windsurfing Sales sells one too. I actually bought one but then sold it to another windsurfer after one was made for me.

Thanks fellas .. Very much appreciated . Will give me a few options to look at. thanks

My stupid lower back will go haywire at the slightest hint of trouble...but I don't use a downhaul tool, I just use a seat harness and the method shown on sean o'brien's excellent website. (Link, plz, someone?)

it puts zero strain on the back; your legs do all the work. If it doesn't hurt my back, it won't hurt anybody's! Trust me!

I use the north powerex extension (ratchet type). I love it and it allows me to put on as much downhaul as I need but it does still put some strain on the lower back, particularly releasing the downhaul after use. Theoretically you can loosen the tension with the negative setting but this often doesn't work or is very slow.
I would recommend a downhaul winch for people with back problems, although releasing the downhaul may again be an issue.

Wet Willy said...

My stupid lower back will go haywire at the slightest hint of trouble...but I don't use a downhaul tool, I just use a seat harness and the method shown on sean o'brien's excellent website. (Link, plz, someone?)

it puts zero strain on the back; your legs do all the work. If it doesn't hurt my back, it won't hurt anybody's! Trust me!

carbonsugar.com/technique/save-your-back-rig-it-right/

WindmanV said...

Hello, TJB,

The Chinook tool can be seen here: http://www.chinooksailing.com/products/index.php?cPath=6_58

You have to specify if the tool is to be used in a mast extension using the Euro Pin (which is the silver pin at the top of the tool in the above diagram) or whether the mast extension is a Chinook-style.

Best thing about Chinook products is that most windsurf outlets have them or can get them.

Hope this helps.

My Chinook rig winch has both the Euro pin and the 'Chinook style 2 pin base', plus I have drilled a hole/slot in it so I can use it with Neil Pryde MXT extensions. It works well.