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Euro-pin U-Tendon separation BEWARE
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bthiel



Joined: 10 Jun 1997
Posts: 57
Location: South Seaside 24th Ocean & Bay

PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 11:59 am    Post subject: Euro-pin U-Tendon separation BEWARE Reply with quote

Those Euro-pin U joints are the worst. I was in the ocean at 24th Seaside on a very very windy Sunday, 8/5/12 about a mile or so out. I did not realize that the small bolt which holds the top of the tendon to the extension fell or broke off with only the safety lines keeping the mast and board together. I had no idea this happened which was a good in that I didn't see the danger and panic.

I had all kinds of trouble water starting. After about what seemed like forever I got up and sailed back in. Once on shore I was shocked to see the safety lines were my only connection to not losing my complete rig less the board.

I would never buy one of those, I found that one left or thrown out, some years ago, but was forced to use it as I lost my US, two button universal.
I now believe it was thrown out as that system is garbage.

It broke down on me, plus that red button got sand in it every day oceanside.
Stay clear of that gear!

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motogon



Joined: 19 Aug 2000
Posts: 376
Location: Philly

PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Did you damage deck of the board?
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shreddbob



Joined: 31 Mar 1987
Posts: 361
Location: Hawaii

PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The failure you describe is not with the pin system; rather it has to do with the bolt securing the top of the tendon, if I'm correct in my interpretation. Seems like you had a thread locking failure ("Loctite" or the like). If you talk to Chinook they may provide perspective on this issue. Also, I can see this failure mode happening just as easily with the tendon version of a two button system.

I've preferred the two button system as well, with the rubber hourglass, ever since a North Euro-pin sheared off at the base of the pin leaving me holding the rig as the board squirted away. At least your failure was not as serious. My other uni failure was a brand new two button hourglass type where the bolt at the bottom of the hourglass spun out to within 2 threads of separating, on my first sail with it--also a thread locking failure. Chinook apologized and sent me a new uni right away. Any piece of gear can fail.

BTW: What's up with the SOFT rubber hourglasses on the "std" two button uni's these days?? These were much firmer in past years.


Last edited by shreddbob on Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:48 pm; edited 1 time in total
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bthiel



Joined: 10 Jun 1997
Posts: 57
Location: South Seaside 24th Ocean & Bay

PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The board is undamaged, which surprised me, unless, which I doubt it came undone as I came back on the beach.
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motogon



Joined: 19 Aug 2000
Posts: 376
Location: Philly

PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 1:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

bthiel wrote:
The board is undamaged, which surprised me, unless, which I doubt it came undone as I came back on the beach.

Probably. Usually top piece of tendon damage board by swinging around on safety line.

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bthiel



Joined: 10 Jun 1997
Posts: 57
Location: South Seaside 24th Ocean & Bay

PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 1:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

thread locking failure ("Loctite")
Yes, that was what happened. That small bolt came out. I never really looked at the way it was held on. So I am wondering if it was secure in the first place. I have only used it five or six days, plus I found it over 15 years ago, so it may have been loose. Believe me I am very happy those safety lines held. I figure there was going to be noway to get it secure and there goes about $1500 down to the bottom. I was blessed!

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shreddbob



Joined: 31 Mar 1987
Posts: 361
Location: Hawaii

PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 2:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glad everything worked out ok Very Happy

Thanks for posting your experience.
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bred2shred



Joined: 02 May 2000
Posts: 989
Location: Jersey Shore

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 11:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Joint failure can occur with any type of u-joint - rubber hour glass, tendon, or mechanical. That's why having safety straps/lines and doing regular inspection of your gear is critical. The safety lines did more than save you $1500 worth of rig. They likely saved you a loooong swim. If your board and rig separate, it's almost a guarantee that the board's going to get away from you and blow downwind faster than you can swim to catch it.

On another note, last Sunday was an excellent day. We sailed Spring Lake and while I wouldn't describe it as "super windy" it was one of the nicest days of the year- sunny, warm, and plenty of breeze and swell.

sm
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bthiel



Joined: 10 Jun 1997
Posts: 57
Location: South Seaside 24th Ocean & Bay

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 12:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

bred2shred wrote:
They likely saved you a loooong swim. If your board and rig separate, it's almost a guarantee that the board's going to get away from you and blow downwind faster than you can swim to catch it.

On another note, last Sunday was an excellent day. We sailed Spring Lake and while I wouldn't describe it as "super windy" it was one of the nicest days of the year- sunny, warm, and plenty of breeze and swell.

sm


I was wondering IF it separated, I could swim that fast. My guess is no, on any given windy day the board and rig start going downwind fast, but tends to slow down from rig drag. Whenever this happens I swim asap to catch it. My thinking is now to get the board right away as a general rule of thumb if this ever happens to anyone. It is one of those unknowns unless you think about the nightmare in advance and have a plan especially in the ocean.

A good advancement would be a way to attach a leash to the base and rig as a secondary cheap last chance of saving the rig and board. I know one guy who suffered separation anxiety while sailing the bay. He lost control of his rig and board. He found the board later downwind on the bay shore by the SS bridge.

I think he tried to save the rig but could not swim and keep it from sinking at the same time.

Another great idea is this new double safety U-Joint line.
palety Streamlined
NEW refined “Universal” tendon joint
We invented the tendon universal joint design from 1981 and it is the strongest joint of all. Our unique design has evolved, and has been refined over the years while every other company plays catch up using our unique design. Ours still has the same basic original design, the overall size has increased and the materials have been upgraded. Further we have added a safety line to assure you can sail back even in the unlikely event of a tendon failure. Since 2008 we machine the end caps from billet 6061 T-6 aluminum, anodize them hot red, and designed them to incorporate a true four line safety line. This design is not only safer, it keeps the universal closer together, were there a failure, it would be easier to sail in and virtually eliminates damage to the deck of your board.

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115 Fanatic Freewave
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Tiger 5.8-6.3 Ezzy Wave 4.2-5.0( 6.3 FOR SALE)
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motogon



Joined: 19 Aug 2000
Posts: 376
Location: Philly

PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 12:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I prefer Chinook 2-bolt hourglass base.


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