Uni's dont last forever. They are the most important part of your kit. As they are fairly cheap to buy i would recomend replacing them at the begining of every season. i keep the old one as a spare. Replacing a uni joint is just running cost of windsurfing. I would rather spend the $'s every season to replace it.

Think about it when you are sailing your uni is doing sh%t loads of work.

My 2 cents

Was it tendon:



Or, was it boge:



I do not use tendon joints at all. I had one break after 5-6 months of limited use. If your base had a tendon joint, and the tendon lasted from February to now, that sounds about a tendons life span. This has nothing to do with brand, just how tendons are...

One thing that amuses me is that you call yourself FlickySpinny and are surprised your UJ didn't last a season.

I use the Boge type as well and doesn't even look close to breaking yet. Bought it in Nov last year so a season old. I'll probably wait until it breaks before I buy another. Could be a while.

I'd say that was a bit of a short lifespan.. I've had one tendon (which was 2nd hand when I got it) go 18 months of sailing - freeride, mast and a half waves and general learners abuse before it developed a hairline crack on one side and I replaced it. That included being vigorously mauled by a several big waves that had a go at breaking MY tendons, never mind the gear!

On the flip side - one of the guys bought a new NP tendon base and had the double pin part fall to bits on him after only 2hrs of sailing.. So perhaps NP quality isn't what it could be?

I wash the base/extension/boom out in fresh water after every sail, and have a quick look over them for splits or damage maybe every 3 months.

Brand wise.. I think there are only 2 places that manufacture tendons globally, so you probably don't get much choice. I use the yellow tendons in my streamline bases, but that's only because that what the shop had.. I get the impression from comparing them side by side that the yellow ones are a bit tougher than the black ones.

Those reserve bit of string things rarely work.. Streamline bases are cast aluminium (not plastic like some other brands), and I use 400lb plastic coated stainless fishing trace as a backup 'string thing'. Hopefully that's enough if I ever need it!


Edit: You do know that you can just replace the tendon without replacing the whole base eh.... seems like a silly question, but it just occurred to me! About $40ish..

I have an older NP tendon base '05ish and have done 4000km on it in the last year including some pretty big crashes. Bolts are a little more loose than they used to be but have just replaced the tendon (just to be safe, not due to splits) and still going strong.

I have 3 NP bases with tendons and I've used them for about 3-4 years now in all sorts of conditions. Some are getting a little loose and wobbly but no breakages...touch wood.

Now that I have said that I think I'd better go out and replace them to test fate no further.

I think the one you had may have been faulty. With the tendons, if you have a close look while you flex them you can see excessive stress marks or the start of a shear.

Mobydisc said...
I use a Chinook cup with a both Neil Pryde and Chinook extensions. Both are secure.

The NP one I had that wasn't compatible was a slightly older one, so maybe they've seen the light and made 'em the standard size by now?

Flicky probably has a pin sort anyway.

3-4 years is a pretty good effort! But I suppose if you're swapping them around all the time, that's really only a year and a bit each?

www.seabreeze.com.au/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=35359

Mobydisc said...

I use a Chinook cup with a both Neil Pryde and Chinook extensions. Both are secure.

I have two bases, a 2 pin Neil Pryde and a 2 pin Chinook, with Neil Pryde extensions and I have never had any problems with the fit of either base with the extensions.

I though you'd been done for speeding in the channel.

I had the same prob with an NP tendon.. lucky for me it broke just as I stepped off the board at the beach. it was just over 12months old but it was replaced no probs and at no cost.

I was told that when NP changed their manufacturing facility they had some probs with quality control.. given all the other stories I hear, you'd have to wonder how often they change their facility!

I have a mix of other NP gear though, including the replacement tendon, and it's all been good so far! [touching wood, crossing fingers]

Hey Flicky,
At what point did the tendon break across the middle or at one of the attachment holes? I use both types of joints and havn't found the lifespan much different between the two. To check them properly you need to take the tendon completly out to check the holes for stress cracks. I use the genuine chinook tendon and the boge rubber, even if they don,t show any wear after 18 months I replace them. You should be ok with the warrenty on yours. Yours must of had one vulcan to many

Mine snapped where the bolt goes through it to connect to the mast end.

Will have words with the co. that sold it today and see what they have to say for themselves.