Warning: Radz Mast Base

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> 10 years ago

General Gps & Speed Waves Foiling Gear Reviews Lost & Found WA NSW QLD SA VIC TAS

nicco

5 posts

nicco

WA, 5 posts

14 Feb 2005 9:14am

Hi, I'm a long time reader first time poster. I have a bit of a warning about a product I'm sure some of you use. Sailing out the back of Lancelin the Radz mast base I was using gave way and sent the mast into my new board, cracking the deck. This left me to body drag for about a 1km to reach the shore.

If you have one of these mast bases make sure the pin is secured with Loctite or similar. If there is any movement the pin will fatigue and give way. If you are thinking of buying a Radz mast base, don't, because it's a bad design.

Just a warning, because cracking boards isn't cool.

Nic

Bertie

NSW

1351 posts

Bertie

NSW, 1351 posts

14 Feb 2005 6:20pm

The truth is if u r wave sailing never use Euro pin (single pin) uni joints. They have a bad habbit of shearing clean off in the surf.
The better option is the chinook twin pin/cup setup.
Oh tendon uni's are also a bit dodgy in the surf aswell from what i've seen. Regular checks of unis are also advised, along with yearly replacement of uj's if ur going big in the surf.

www.outdoorshots.com.au/view_sessionshot.php?eid=43&pg=6&sid=04p1313110
www.outdoorshots.com.au/view_sessionshot.php?eid=45&pg=1&sid=04p2043521
www.outdoorshots.com.au/view_sessionshot.php?eid=101&pg=17&sid=04pc182323

nicco

5 posts

nicco

WA, 5 posts

14 Feb 2005 4:31pm

Its the first time i'd used it in surf, I usually sail at pelican point. Also, I wouldn't have called it wave sailing, just a few bottom turns and small jumps. I reckon the design is actually at fault because the load of the rig is on an 8mm threaded bolt. They should have the pin as one piece that bolts into base. That way the bending load isn't on the thread.

Nic

shmage

318 posts

shmage

WA, 318 posts

14 Feb 2005 4:55pm

nicco, you will find most pins are like this. I have broken a few pins sailing in surf which was pretty small. For surf i would go for the cup ( 2 pin system ), far more reliable

Paul

346 posts

Paul

WA, 346 posts

16 Feb 2005 11:38am

Nicco

The new euro pin system from most companies has been changed to a pin that fixes into the uj as one piece like you have suggested. This has improved strenght dramatically. The old style was known to occassionally break due to stress on the pin, however in comparison to the number sold worldwide this was still in small numbers.

To say that the euro pin is no good is like saying we shouldn't use masts cause they tend to break also.

Have a look at the new systems and I am sure you will be happy with the changes.

I personally use the us pushpin cup, but even these separate from the extension occassionally. Preventing problems is generaly about maintenance. It is amazing how many people don't even check their uj's regularly.

Paul

nicco

5 posts

nicco

WA, 5 posts

16 Feb 2005 5:30pm

I'll have a look around and maybe i can get a pin that will screw directly into my UJ. Save me replacing the whole thing. Cheers
Nic

Mark _australia

23688 posts

Mark _australia

WA, 23688 posts

20 Feb 2005 2:24pm

I agree with paul: I changed to europin a year ago, I sail at Esperance every day it blows and have been trashed bad this season.... no prob's.

I went away from the Chinook cup system when I got too sick of tightening bolts (from the tendon cups at each end). Tried 3 types of loctite, new bolts and nuts etc for 3 years and I drove me insane. Now I just replace the tendon every 12 mths and that's it.

rooster

243 posts

rooster

WA, 243 posts

20 Feb 2005 3:01pm

Dude you really only get what you pay for. When you have got a complete rig worth around 3 grand +, why try to save 50 bucks on the cheaper uj alternative.

I had the same problem with my radz uj, only it was mast high Greenhead, blowing 30+ knots, not fun at all. The following day my spare "cheapy" broke the bolts holding the tendon in. Then the crappy swim saver broke, leaving me to swim! No fun trying to hold together board and rig getting thumped on the head at the same time.

Lesson of the story is to go with good gear. I now have the two pin chinook system and yet to have a problem. Its worth the extra bucks

JEZ

395 posts

JEZ

WA, 395 posts

21 Feb 2005 1:17pm

The only Euro-pin base that I recomend as being suitable for wave sailing is the Arrows long-pin base.
This is because the pin is not connected to the base by a seperate stud ( as in the case of all short pin bases) but has a large diameter thread that goes straight into the base.
Most breakages/bends happen at the join of the pin & stud, usually due to play/wear.(occasionaly unscrewing) It's not only Radz though, all short pin bases, whilst ok for non-wave, recreational sailing tend, are more prone to failure in heavier conditions.
Keep your joints tight!!

Jez www.2ndwind.com.au

Grumpy

60 posts

Grumpy

WA, 60 posts

23 Feb 2005 8:09pm

Nicco

Jez is 100% correct in the problem analysis - most cheap bases have a small diameter screw holding the pin into the top of the tendon cup - from an engineering viewpoint I'm amazed they last as long as they do as the leverage on this small screw would be incredible.

I have only found 2 brands which make pin bases with large diameter screw threads machined around the outside of the pin - Arrows (as highlighted by Jez) and Neil Pryde. I have used both, pulled them both apart, and never had a failure to date with either. I would recommend either, but in both cases buy new and ditch them once they start getting sloppy (worn) where the tendon rotates. I sail a lot (2-3 times/week) with big rigs, and I find I get about 12 months use before they start to feel sloppy. I would rather spend $100 per year and have a reliable base and tendon than lose a $900 sail, $400 mast and $300 boom, plus face a long swim and maybe a cracked board

Haircut

QLD

6491 posts

Haircut

QLD, 6491 posts

5 Mar 2005 8:25am

That seems to be true about the euro-pin design as I have also seen alot of these pins snap just from flat water sailing. I'm yet to see a double push pin one break while sailing (i'm sure someones done it!)

As for the proline tendon arrangement, i have had a bad run with those as well. I broke three of those 20 dollar wine-bottle-cork looking things in a row from catapult type prangs. I bought a couple of hourglass Boge / chinook rubber joints and still have not broken one, yet they have copped more of a beating over a much longer period than the proline tendon model ever did. I have an hourglass boge joint i have used continuously for 2.5 years of flat out sailing and it's still going. I now have a second one I now use for in the surf as i think 2.5 years of continuous use for one joint is probably now getting a bit risky

.

Hey, we have wind today!! YAY

Haircut

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