Its a cool idea but I find the Abracadabra wobbles slightly and its really annoying waiting in the lineup with this little instability under my feet. Thinking of going back to the simplicity and weight saving of the old 4 screw system. Aluminium tape doesnt seem to be helpful. Anyone else solved this problem in a practical way?

You could have just saved me ?200. Be very interested to hear how others are getting on with them.

I get mine very tight using electrical tape. Two strips parallel on the bottom of the mast insert will generally tighten the gap sufficiently. Although it will also make it harder to slide in and out. Obviously in order to have a quick releasing easy to use system like this, there is always going to be an amount of minimal play to allow it to slide. If the absolute tightest and most solid mount is what you are after, then the STD mount is possibly a better option. But in reality, the connection with the Abra is generally fine. With all components on any foil, if you're out to get the tightest fit possible, you're going to need to tape some of the joints to remove any tolerances. This will make you foil harder to assemble and disassemble though. No foils out there are perfectly fitting to achieve zero play, plus alloy grows and shrink with heat.

Another option is depending on which horseshoe you are using, you may be able to get a tighter fit with a first gen model. See your local Naish dealer and ask them which you have, they can call me if need be and I will help them explain. I am happy to send you a gen 1 horseshoe if need be. (These do not work very well on a board with any rocker as they have a lesser tolerance and will be too tight, but can make for a much tighter fit).

I hope this helps,

Kind regards,

JB

Are you sure its the abracadabra? There's play in the fuselage and the mast top... but thats the case with every aluminium foil set up. Just pack with parcel tape.

The other way to cure it (other than jb's advise) is to tighten the four bolts in the the US slot boxes. You'll notice the tighter they are the harder it is to get the abracadabra in. I have mine set so tight that to get the abracadabra out, i first put a rubber handle screwdriver up against the trailing edge of the mast and give it a hit (you'll have one in your hand for the quick release screw anyway). After that it slides straight out. Zero play in mine and no tape.


of course all of the above may be explained by me having a 'first gen model'.

I do not have this gear, but from experience with US box fins, I would advise to use a tear-resistant tape (not vinly or alu). Otherwise you run the risk of the tape bundling up like an old sock and getting the thing stuck.
Things like mylar tape (used to repair sails). I used a lot old radiographic films glued with superglue on fins, it worked beautifully and was very durable.

I have this set up and only loose part is the mast into the mast base plate.
A couple of wraps of electrical tape around the mast fixed that.
Plate to board - I tighten and loosen the bolts to fit and remove the mast and no issue.

Every mechanical system wich slide need to have a setting to correct that little gap du to the normal movement of the materials.

www.instagram.com/p/BrI8969oJdB/

Just today the Gong shaper said(*) that he had to give more room for the assembly between the mast and fuz. The first models were perfectly tight, and customers complained that they were too hard to assemble and put apart, so he made them loose on purpose. I confirm that I must hit my mast+fuz quite hard on a wooden post to take them apart...

(*) Source in French www.gong-galaxy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=136025

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colas said..
Just today the Gong shaper said(*) that he had to give more room for the assembly between the mast and fuz. The first models were perfectly tight, and customers complained that they were too hard to assemble and put apart, so he made them loose on purpose. I confirm that I must hit my mast+fuz quite hard on a wooden post to take them apart...

(*) Source in French www.gong-galaxy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=136025

NOoooooo

don't compromise your foil because of a few kook customers. We want that connection tight.

There is even one brand of foil that ships the foil with plate pre mounted to the mast, tight tight tight, and recommends you never take it apart.

If you want a different length mast, you get it with another plate. Make it permanent

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DWF said..

colas said..
Just today the Gong shaper said(*) that he had to give more room for the assembly between the mast and fuz. The first models were perfectly tight, and customers complained that they were too hard to assemble and put apart, so he made them loose on purpose. I confirm that I must hit my mast+fuz quite hard on a wooden post to take them apart...

(*) Source in French www.gong-galaxy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=136025

NOoooooo

don't compromise your foil because of a few kook customers. We want that connection tight.

There is even one brand of foil that ships the foil with plate pre mounted to the mast, tight tight tight, and recommends you never take it apart.

If you want a different length mast, you get it with another plate. Make it permanent

my thoughts exactly! I caught myself taking the mast out the base plate to wash the screws and thought to myself, why am I washing this particular bit after every 3 days?? Do I really care if it seizes up?

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DWF said..
don't compromise your foil because of a few kook customers. We want that connection tight.

Knowing Gong, they listen to their customers (the benefit of selling direct), so although I have the same opinion as you, I guess it was not just "a few" customers. And the more they sell, the lower they can drive the price, so we all benefit. If you are a "power user" it would be easy for you to just resin the mast/fuxz/plate together if you feel the connection is not tight (and/or waterproof) enough.

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colas said..

DWF said..
don't compromise your foil because of a few kook customers. We want that connection tight.

Knowing Gong, they listen to their customers (the benefit of selling direct), so although I have the same opinion as you, I guess it was not just "a few" customers. And the more they sell, the lower they can drive the price, so we all benefit. If you are a "power user" it would be easy for you to just resin the mast/fuxz/plate together if you feel the connection is not tight (and/or waterproof) enough.

Seems like mistake on their part. Intentionaly making a connection "sloppy" is going to interpreted as poor quality. :(

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Fishdude said..
Seems like mistake on their part. Intentionaly making a connection "sloppy" is going to interpreted as poor quality. :(

I would not be so sure that it is a mistake. As discussed in the "State of the Australian SUP market", for a commercial brand, the mistake is going bankrupt, and not reading the market is one of the reasons. So, although like you I like my foil parts to fit tight, I understand I do not have all the picture, especially the sales number and all the customers feedback.

As we say in French, "Those who advise are not those who pay".

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colas said..

Fishdude said..
Seems like mistake on their part. Intentionaly making a connection "sloppy" is going to interpreted as poor quality. :(

I would not be so sure that it is a mistake. As discussed in the "State of the Australian SUP market", for a commercial brand, the mistake is going bankrupt, and not reading the market is one of the reasons. So, although like you I like my foil parts to fit tight, I understand I do not have all the picture, especially the sales number and all the customers feedback.

As we say in French, "Those who advise are not those who pay".

I think it is a mistake, I ordered a Gong foil with an extra 45 cm mast that fits nicely in the fuselage and the plate.
I can push it in without tools no taping.
It was probably produced before the thickness of the masts was changed.
The standard 65 cm mast that I received is 0,3 mm thinner and has to be taped, pita
I can't glue things permanently because I want to be able to use the short mast...