Going thru some old windsurf mags, and I found this. I remember when they first came out, and I instantly thought that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. I bring you "Da Claw", from 1985. Can we say launch in 3.....2.....1 
Back to fooling around with gullible windsurfers, only one problem, there aren't any, from '84.
Cccccccccccccccccc'mon somebody has to say it....
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Site-is-up-on-Wingsails?page=1
Select to expand quote
Looking like a knob with to go windsurfing - I don't ever want to find anyone wearing fluro Bolle sunnies windsurfing again!
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..
Cccccccccccccccccc'mon somebody has to say it....
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Site-is-up-on-Wingsails?page=1
Actually I found both a "high tension wing/flex sail" (almost a full wing) and a "solid wing sail", similar to what MW has, which Fred Haywood was working on, both came out in '83 and publicized in early '84, but both have since disappeared. Got the mag, Wind Surf June '84, I set it aside, but haven't taken any pic yet. Also another one in Wind Surf June '87 of a full double surface wing sail, similar to MW's again, no pic yet, it also had a similar future.
But in the mean time, check this out~
www.google.com.au/search?q=jezqs+knob&client=tablet-android-google&prmd=simvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiMq4HivMrYAhUMVLwKHZRjBPIQ_AUIEigC#imgdii=DUFhblxQWwdqeM:&imgrc=ErbmwmT42ABJjM:
Not sure if good or bad. Did they work?
Select to expand quoteHaircut said..
www.google.com.au/search?q=jezqs+knob&client=tablet-android-google&prmd=simvn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiMq4HivMrYAhUMVLwKHZRjBPIQ_AUIEigC#imgdii=DUFhblxQWwdqeM:&imgrc=ErbmwmT42ABJjM:
Not sure if good or bad. Did they work?
I've got one of those somewhere. It workd well enough at protecting the nose but it was a damn nusiance when water starting if the rig was in the wrong place.
I doubt that you could fit one into the typically short mast tracks we use today.
I remember it was possible to pull the mast track out of a Bic using those things. The leverage of the rig weight over a very short lever arm demanded more resistance than the extruded aluminium tracks could reliably provide.
the mast deviator gets my vote ,stops the mast hitting dead center and redirects it about 100 mm of center,cracks the board , then jams between your sail and mast so you can not water start,what a piece of crap.cracked my brand new jp ss because i believed the bull**** that this worked
^^^
I remember this system , when u heard horrible cracking noises pulling the boom down it was still wobbly.
Select to expand quoteMastbender said..
Worst inventions ever for windsurfing
Kitesurfing ?
Seabreeze.com.au
.......I used to drive an hour and half down the coast with great anticipation, loaf around the beach and fish and chip shop through middday all positive like......even hang in right through the afternoon in the vain hope that the wind would come up.
.......now i'm Disappointed the moment I get out of bed and check the 'net.......spend the whole day mopin' around, apparently??
Select to expand quoteswoosh said..
north shox
north ifront with the adjustable wobbliness
Carbon has low resistance to abrasion. All carbon boom heads end up wobbly. But North has the stupidest design - narrow plastic ridges which produce a massive amount of wear on the carbon.
Select to expand quoteMastbender said..
Going thru some old windsurf mags, and I found this. I remember when they first came out, and I instantly thought that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. I bring you "Da Claw", from 1985. Can we say launch in 3.....2.....1
That one looks like some fun.
Great entertainment for those on the beach watching the gybes.
be one with your rig, through every manoeuvre!
Select to expand quoteAusMoz said..
How awesome was this to rig up!!!!!!!
I cant belive you guys uses to have to sail them, The modern boom clamp must have been the best thing ever when it came out
Select to expand quoteFaff said..swoosh said..
north shox
north ifront with the adjustable wobbliness
Carbon has low resistance to abrasion. All carbon boom heads end up wobbly. But North has the stupidest design - narrow plastic ridges which produce a massive amount of wear on the carbon.
The Shox is phenomenally good in choppy conditions. For high wind freeriding, it makes a huge difference. I don't use it for slalom because it's another thing that can go wrong but it really does work. I do use mine in racing with the 5.4 Warp when control is important. Never had any issues with the adjustable iFront either. I've used that head (which is plastic not carbon) on a Silver boom with carbon masts for seven years and the masts are pristine.
Select to expand quoteSparky said..
Z booms?
Oh yeah! Actually I had a friend who bought one, I tried it a few times, kind of comfortable, but the biggest problem was with the pinch on front end, it had no boom clamp, it just pinched the mast, so it was always slipping. Ad from '88.
Select to expand quoteAusMoz said..
How awesome was this to rig up!!!!!!!
A lot better than the early wooden booms, I can tell you.
Kids these days..... :-)
