Advantages over 1-bolt mast base systems
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No unintentional loosening of the mast foot from the mast track (significantly increased safety)
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No excessive tightening of the mast base required
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No more stuck mast foot that has to be loosened with a tool
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No need to look for the optimal position again and again
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Weight only approx. 260 gr instead of 350 gr and more …
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Low construction height of only approx. 69mm instead of approx. 85 mm and more …
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The fork can be struck higher, which means more sailing power
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Tidy design
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No sharp edges or annoying levers
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Internal juice leash (R3 joint with aramid tendon)
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Can also be used like 1-bolt mast base systems! Then less than 230gr!
Advantages over 2-bolt mast base systems
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No protruding mast base plate
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More than one mast foot position adjustable
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Weight only approx. 260 gr. Instead of about 350gr and more …
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Low construction height of only approx. 69mm instead of approx. 85 mm and more …
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The fork can be struck higher, which means more sailing power
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Cost savings with 3 boards of approx. 80 €
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Tidy design
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Internal juice leash (R3 joint with aramid tendon)
idea
As is so often the case, the idea comes from the problems or negative experiences that you inevitably go through in your windsurfing career. As a beginner you usually choose the cheaper option, which is usually a 1- Bolt mast base system is. The functional principle is always the same, namely guide the sliding block into the mast rail and tighten the mast base. But how firmly actually? And at which point again? If the mast base is tightened too tightly, the hammer must be used to dismantle it; if it is too loose, it comes loose during the journey, so that in the worst case the board and sail are separated from each other. In addition to the problem of finding the correct torque, the incorrectly positioned mast foot forces you back to the beach. All problems that you don’t necessarily want to have in the surf. Of course, there are also the 2-bolt mast base systems, which, however, also have their disadvantages. On the one hand, there is the bulky plate that can remain on the board, and on the other hand, of course, the significantly higher price of approx. 90 € per mast foot and another 30 € per additional mast footplate. The more elaborate construction not only costs, it also adds more weight. In addition to the price and the higher weight, the system also results in a higher design of approx. 85 mm. The whole thing is not so satisfactory, which is why I thought that it could be better and that, as with the ATW 277, the functional principle of dividing the forces would work well. The result is a combination of both systems, i.e. a kind of 2 in 1-bolt mast base system without the disadvantages mentioned above.
What’s new?
In the case of the 211 base, the forces acting on it were simply broken down. Conventional 1-bolt systems work through a force-fit transmission of forces. The tighter the mast base is tightened, the more securely it sits. The 211 Base works in the same way, but has been expanded so that the horizontal force component is absorbed by a firmly screwed sliding block like a 2-bolt mast foot system. The only difference is that no mast footplate is screwed onto the board, but the screw connection takes place in the mast rail. The last degree of freedom, namely torsion, is prevented by locking pins that grip into the mast rail. This safely prevents the problem of previous 1-bolt mast feet from slipping inside the mast rail. Due to the design, this results in immense advantages in terms of performance, design and functionality.
Why a rubber joint?
The 211 base is coming with a rubber joint. The decisive factor here is the material and the geometry. Many surfers do not even think about this and yet the choice of the joint is crucial. So why not use a Tendon or a cardan joint? The answer to this depends on the area of application. My preferred area is the wave. In connection with this, there are also some ramps. When landing, strong forces act on the base of the mast, which are noticeably dampened by a rubber joint. If, on the other hand, a cardan joint is used, the dampening effect is zero. A Tendon joint, on the other hand, has a much smaller cross-section, so that the material has to be significantly harder compared to the rubber joint, so that here too the damping is much worse than with the rubber joint. The advantage of Tendon joints lies in the low overall height, which allows the surfer to strike the fork higher. The height of the 211 base is comparable to that of the Tendon mast feet. The cardan joint is particularly suitable for training purposes because it enables the board and sail to be connected without exertion.
Why the low overall height?
Tendon joints are mainly used in the performance area. The lower height of up to 20 millimeters compared to conventional mast base systems with rubber joints allows the surfer to strike the fork higher, which reduces the flex in the top. So the lever arm of the mast above the fork is reduced, which physically means that it becomes stiffer. The sail opens less and thus generates more power, which enables higher performance. A lower mast foot means better planing performance and higher speeds. With a height of approx. 69 mm, the 211 base is only approx. 6 mm above the allegedly lowest Tendon mast feet of approx. 63 mm. However, with the difference, the much better damping properties of a rubber joint.
Where is the safety line?
I am of the opinion that this external strap is ugly and annoying, and makes it difficult to detect damage to the rubber joint. The fact that damage is more difficult to detect naturally also reduces safety, which is why I laid the safety line in the core of the rubber joint. The so-called neutral fiber runs through the core area of a component. The neutral fiber of a component is the area in which the stress due to a bending moment is zero. A hollow core is therefore statically unproblematic. However, if the outer jacket has even a slight tear, the entire cross-section is at great risk of rupture. For example, if you look at a cotton swab with a plastic shaft, this shaft is usually hollow and yet it does not bend so easily. But if you only slightly notch this shaft and bend the rod in such a way that the notch is stretched, the rod breaks even with the slightest load. Therefore, before each session, check whether there are cracks or the material is porous by bending the joint in all directions and replace the joint if necessary.
European
The Europin used is of course made of one piece with an M10 Thread turned. This makes the pin more resilient than two-part M8 Europin threads and there is one less adhesive point that can come loose. The Europin and the threaded pin are glued with green Loctide.
material
The plastic parts of the 211 Base are injection molded in heavy-duty PA6 (nylon).
Available colors: Black (white and neon yellow expected to be available from January)
Metal parts made of S316 stainless steel (V4A)
Area of application
Due to the rubber joint, the 211-Base is particularly suitable when it is choppy or jumps a lot and harder blows have to be absorbed. In choppy water, the rubber joint works like a suspension fork on a bicycle, so that bumps are ironed out. Due to the extremely low overall height, the system does not need to hide from a performance-oriented Tendon mast base. High speeds are achieved with a good balance between power and control. The 211-Base offers the required power thanks to its low height and makes it controllable thanks to its cushioned rubber joint. Accordingly, the 211-Base is equally suitable for use in waves as well as in shallow water. Only in training operations would I give preference to a mast base with a cardan joint because it is much easier to handle.
Set up
The mast foot system comes with a double slot nut as standard. This is fixed in the mast rail using the grub screw provided. The mast rail of a series board is made of glass fiber reinforced polyamide and is therefore extremely resilient. The fixation is therefore harmless. However, custom boards can also have self-made mast rails of unknown load capacity. So if you are not sure, ask the respective manufacturer. The system can be expanded to include any number of sliding blocks so that the perfect trim is permanently saved.
installation
1. Insert and position the double sliding block in the mast rail.
(Several sliding blocks can be fixed in the mast rail)
2. Place the washer over the free thread of the double slot nut
3. Screw the mast base into the free thread of the double slot nut. Make sure that the holes above the mast rail are centered.
4. Attach the fuse cover.
The locking pins prevent the cover from becoming detached from the base.
The uninstallation takes place in reverse order. To loosen the fuse cover, reach into the mast rail under the cover with your fingers and loosen the cover using a rocking movement.
Alternatively:
The 211 Base can also be used like any other 1-bolt mast base. To do this, simply guide the sliding block into the mast rail and turn the mast foot until it is firmly in place.
In this case, the grub screw and the cover do not need to be fixed. The weight of the 211 Base is then less than 230 g and makes it easier to adjust if you are uncertain about the optimal setup. However, such a use is associated with the aforementioned disadvantages of each 1-bolt mast base!
The 211 Base can also be used like any other 1-bolt mast base. To do this, simply guide the sliding block into the mast rail and turn the mast foot until it is firmly in place.
In this case, the grub screw and the cover do not need to be fixed. The weight of the 211 Base is then less than 230 g and makes it easier to adjust if you are uncertain about the optimal setup. However, such a use is associated with the aforementioned disadvantages of each 1-bolt mast base!