Black chinese tendon

[manuel]

Hey wind freaks, just received a black chinese tendon. It's a bit thicker on the top and bottom. Fit my streamlined extension without modifying it although it may need a longer safety line as the holes aren't offset like in the generic tendon bases.

Seems flexible. At least not doa !!! Will update with long (or short!) term use.

UPDATE:

Although it fit tightly my newer streamlined mast base, it was more difficult to get it to fit my old one. Two reasons. One, the holes are not necessarily drilled straight, they are slightly at an angle so both off center and non-parallel with the edge. After some sanding and prying on the tendon to fit the screws in, I was able to fit it inside my old base.

The tendon is longer than the Streamlined but the holes are drilled with the same distance from the ends. They are inline so it's best to have a safety line slightly longer so that the safety tabs are in opposite ends otherwise they may bump into each other. I decided to leave it as is as I'm not sure I'll be using those long term, we'll see how it works out on the water.

I will update again after sailing some. It's good that the tendons fit as tightly as possible inside the base and it'll have reduce the stress on the screw holes.

My last Streamlined tendon, used for a few months now, hasn't started to crack while my old ones did after 1-2 months. This last one was a much tighter fit than previous ones, possibly this is why.

[fathomfathom]

Black tendon is typically Chinook.
Streamline and Chinook tendons are within a few mm of each other (both diameter and length) so if you have a Streamline base you should use the orange Streamline extension otherwise it will not fit properly and will have undue play/stress where you can't see inside the base.

[manuel]

The tendon has more meat above and below the holes than the Chinook. Holes line up too. I believe it most fit bases similar to this one:

[manuel]

Although it fit tightly my newer streamlined mast base, it was more difficult to get it to fit my old one. Two reasons. One, the holes are not necessarily drilled straight, they are slightly at an angle so both off center and non-parallel with the edge. After some sanding and prying on the tendon to fit the screws in, I was able to fit it inside my old base.

The tendon is longer than the Streamlined but the holes are drilled with the same distance from the ends. They are inline so it's best to have a safety line slightly longer so that the safety tabs are in opposite ends otherwise they may bump into each other. I decided to leave it as is as I'm not sure I'll be using those long term, we'll see how it works out on the water.

I will update again after sailing some. It's good that the tendons fit as tightly as possible inside the base and it'll have reduce the stress on the screw holes.

My last Streamlined tendon, used for a few months now, hasn't started to crack while my old ones did after 1-2 months. This last one was a much tighter fit than previous ones, possibly this is why.

[spennie]

Geeze, guys, do you really like a tendon that much better? I can't imagine there's any provable benefit except a firmer feel. I stopped using tendons a long time ago for the very reasons stated here---they don't last, and every time you break a uni there's a good chance you're gonna punch a hole in your board. I've used good ol' rubber hourglass unis for decades, they last for years, and if you give them a bend before going out, cracks are easily detected before a catastrophic failure.

[dllee]

Agree with Spennie. Seen too many broken and punching holes around mast base with safety line attached.
Been using mechanical Chinook over 15 days with 85 liter boards. Feels like uni.

[windward1]

15 days is not a whole lot of test time.....

[jpf18]

[manuel]

I'm only sharing my experience with the Chinese tendon. My detailed thoughts about mast bases are on my site here: http://windsurfing.lepicture.com/tips-and-tricks/ the boge and mechanical are both reviewed... !

Anyway, on the Chinese tendon, it seems to be more rubbery than the orange streamlined version. So a bit more absorbing and possibly yield to longer lifespan (will update here). I didn't feel any difference with rig response between the two. As an example I found the boge stiffer and more prone to flip the board over.

The streamlined tendon developed slight cracks after 1-2 months but wouldn't be noticed unless pulled apart. Cracks became large enough needing replacement between 3-6 months. For me this is about 50-100 sessions. In non humid climates I'd except more. They seem to disintegrate here.

Vela had reported a lifespan of about a year+ for their black tendons. I got jealous!

[jpf18]