Want to sail your SUP in light winds on flat water but it doesn't have a mast base screw fitting? Read about my solution to the problem in the SUP forum.
Gives me an idea - could mould a bit to fit in the handle, with a long bar protruding forward or aft (running along the deck) to mount the rig in the right place
You could make a threaded adaptor sleeve and screw it into the vent plug. Cut a gasket to fit the mast base.
Unfortunately, lots of SUP handles are set "off centre".
Not sure how strong the valve screw holders would be either.
-curious to know how these go from people who try them, though.
No, this is fantastic. The best spectator sport from when windsurfing was young was watching the mast step pop out when people were uphauling. Very "Funniest Home Videos". I reckon it'll bring back a whole retro style thing
I've already helped with a small repair from a pin 'popping' out and going through the deck on a mate's board...can see a few issues, but good concept all the same!
As a passing comment, would the board (and grip insert) stand up to the additional force the sail will put on it? Both my sups have w/surfing rig attachments, and I was under the impression (maybe a delusion, but...) that those boards are designed stronger to handle the additional force?!?
I heard a hot rumor about a new 'suction cup' mast base to attach sails to Sups.. It looks kinda like a toilet plunger and it sucks itself to the deck...
Stay tuned..
In answer to my supporters and detractors:
Using the valve perhaps re-threaded wouldn't work unless there was stengthening in the board at that point, and there isn't in my Fanatic Fly 12'6'' and I suspect a lot of SUPs. If you tap the board with your finger you will find out where the stringers or cross members are.
Although the handle looked 10-15cm too far back for a mast base setting, to my amazement it wasn't. It could be on other boards. I thought of a metal fixture projecting forward from the handle but it turned out to be unnecessary.
The 4 mast plugs on my board make a tight fit and when they're all in I can't wrench the the mast base fitting out. I also thought of making a moulding to fit the handle. This also turned out to be unnecessary.
Even if the star base pulled out there is a rubber plug screwed on the end of it, so the worst result might be a black mark on the deck.
Remember I'm suggesting this for flat water in 4-8 knots. I'm not recommending this fitting for the surf.
I have tried the alternatives for light wind days and sub-planing sailing. As I said I have owned a Serenity. It had it's (severe) limitations. Try to gybe it, or sail downwind when the wind has kicked in. My Starboard K15 (an SUP) with sail on it was everthing the Serenity had tried to be, and more, and you could gybe it, but it was round bottomed and didn't have boxy rails, so relied on a bolt-in tuttle fin to get much purchase upwind, and it weighed 17kg.
Most of us have to put up with 2-3 months a year when there are few if any windy days. Paddling is great, but it's not windsurfing, and if you get 4-6 knots and your desperate enough you'll windsurf anything that moves. This fitting works on my board. It might work for you.