Oh dear. Ha!
Fell off the first overhead wave and got smashed by the second.
I looked up at my hydrofoil & it was bent sideways at 45 degrees.
This can happen when the wave hits my board side on.
I remember spinning the board to unravel my leg rope from around the mast before the wave hit.
When I got back to shore I found the base had broken & the bolts bent.
Better than breaking the mast & board. But still expensive. Haaa!
Had to order another base plate.
Lucky I had some awesome 200 meter rides all the way to the shore break & the damage occurred at the end of my session.

Lucky not to loose it . Saw a couple of those in the early days. If you can't get a replacement just weld it on . I did to one of mine lasted years .

Thanks Piros. I was wondering if it could be welded.
I was thinking of bolting the two pieces together if it couldn't.
But anyway I have found a couple of new plates for sale.
Just hoping I can get one soon as I have just ordered a NP Small Wing to try out in big punchy waves. Haaa!.

Seajuice -

I had the same thing happen to my NP top plate. Ultimately I determined that I had not checked the bolts that affix it to the mast often enough and they had backed out ever so slightly, and the resultant tiny amount of play eventually fatigued the top plate. To their credit, NP replaced the plate for free, no questions asked, long after the one-year warranty period. I believe that the M8 bolts saved the day for both of us, M6 would have just snapped and foils would be new artificial reefs. I had the foil attached to the board for many many sessions and wrongly assumed the bolts were tight. Lesson learned. For me it wasn't whitewater or shorebreak that finally broke it, but an attempt at a radical maneuver. Hope this helps. Overall the construction of the NP system is rock solid all around, very happy with it, can't wait to try the HP wings. Also, for 2022, the masts are new lengths (75cm and 85cm,) and are plugged so as not to take in water. Fly on!

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FoilColorado said..
Seajuice -

I had the same thing happen to my NP top plate. Ultimately I determined that I had not checked the bolts that affix it to the mast often enough and they had backed out ever so slightly, and the resultant tiny amount of play eventually fatigued the top plate. To their credit, NP replaced the plate for free, no questions asked, long after the one-year warranty period. I believe that the M8 bolts saved the day for both of us, M6 would have just snapped and foils would be new artificial reefs. I had the foil attached to the board for many many sessions and wrongly assumed the bolts were tight. Lesson learned. For me it wasn't whitewater or shorebreak that finally broke it, but an attempt at a radical maneuver. Hope this helps. Overall the construction of the NP system is rock solid all around, very happy with it, can't wait to try the HP wings. Also, for 2022, the masts are new lengths (75cm and 85cm,) and are plugged so as not to take in water. Fly on!

I dismantle the wings & fuse after every session. I only loosen the plate bolts. But tighten all bolts before use. So not sure if I would believe if slightly loose bolts was the cause. My plate bolts are quite tight when I try to loosen them. I have to be careful not to overtighten the bolts if they have not been lubed as they can get stuck tight & make a crack noise when un doing them.
I would still believe a side on hit from a good sized wave will do the damage as I have had another brand mast with less width bend quite a few times. Obviously it was a softer grade aluminium.
So learning from that I will always try to avoid my foilboard being side on to a wave when not riding it. Unfortunately it didn't happen this time.
Still glad the plate snapped. Better than ripping out the track box.
Just wish the top plates were a cheaper price.

Fixed! Even though I ordered a new one.
And haven't got an aluminium welder. But might have to look at welding if this fails.
I think it will be strong enough. I'll find out.
A lot of filing high spots on the plate & filing off the excess aluminium on the insert so it can fit back on the plate at 90 degrees as normal. Also had to file the end of the mast so it fitted back to 90 degrees also.
Then drilled & tapped two holes to take two M5 stainless countersunk bolts.
Before fitting, cleaned all grease or whatever off the mating parts after sanding & filing. Then applied a metal putty on the mating parts keeping most of it clear of the original M8 bolts. The putty fills most of the gaps to keep the mating parts stronger.
Bolted the plate to mast tightly with the original M8 bolts. Then lastly the new M5 bolts.
I used a knife to scrape any excess metal putty away from around the plate & mast joint.
Left it assembled for around 2 hours for the metal putty to harden before disassembly.
Dont touch the M5 bolts. They need to sieze in to keep the broken insert attached to the plate.

Nice work but yes it will probably hold for normal surf foil but any crash or white pounding it will definitely fail 100% . The problem is now you have put the metal putty in you can't weld it and BTW the metal putty will do nothing. Should have just done your M5 bolts then welded it . Fixed forever. I'd definitely be putting a safety leash onto the mast for when that fails . The force on that base plate is enormous and the M5's don't stand a chance . Really good effort though but be very careful where you use it.

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Piros said..
Nice work but yes it will probably hold for normal surf foil but any crash or white pounding it will definitely fail 100% . The problem is now you have put the metal putty in you can't weld it and BTW the metal putty will do nothing. Should have just done your M5 bolts then welded it . Fixed forever. I'd definitely be putting a safety leash onto the mast for when that fails . The force on that base plate is enormous and the M5's don't stand a chance . Really good effort though but be very careful where you use it.

Thanks Piros. Understand that. Thinking of putting another 3rd M8 bolt through the plate into that spare 3rd threaded hole in the mast.
But yeah. I could still lose it one day. Good excuse to buy another foil set. Haaa!
But anyway my spare plate has just arrived by courier. So will use that in dirty water & bigger swell. The repaired plate in smaller clearer surf to try it out. Cheers.

I bent a NP mast and base plate in the same spot after being caught inside by an overhead wave. The mast and base plate were cactus, I just ended up getting new ones.

I have also bent 2 Axis 19mm masts! One getting smashed on a punchy reef wave and one I actually did winging in flat water! Was trying to ride backwind and did a weird backwards taco and body slammed on the side of the board with the mast horizontal. Was very surprised it bent in that situation though.

In any case can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs

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Youngbreezy said..
I bent a NP mast and base plate in the same spot after being caught inside by an overhead wave. The mast and base plate were cactus, I just ended up getting new ones.

I have also bent 2 Axis 19mm masts! One getting smashed on a punchy reef wave and one I actually did winging in flat water! Was trying to ride backwind and did a weird backwards taco and body slammed on the side of the board with the mast horizontal. Was very surprised it bent in that situation though.

In any case can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs

Whoa! So it isn't just me.
Your body slamming on side of board would be just like a wave slamming into the side of my board. It's instant with a lot of weight.
I am having second thoughts on getting a carbon mast foil now.
I think I will be looking for the cheapest good quality aluminium mast & plate set ups when buying my next knew foil. And I think it just may be the Axis so far, without looking into it at this stage. And thinking I may just buy a couple of spares in case.
But anyway. I am still happy with the build strength of Neil Pryde.
Many a time my foil has been hit & come up smiling. Haa!

Hey seajuice, the NP was twice as expensive because I had to replace the mast and base plate whereas with the Axis I just had to replace the mast. Alot of carbon masts are thicker at the top so less likely to bend in the same spot.

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Youngbreezy said..
Hey seajuice, the NP was twice as expensive because I had to replace the mast and base plate whereas with the Axis I just had to replace the mast. Alot of carbon masts are thicker at the top so less likely to bend in the same spot.

Thanks for that. I was attracted to Axis anyway. Due to their parts availability & price. And range.
Would like to see an Axis Windwing! At good quality & price similar.

I started out on the NP foils and at the time I felt they had an edge over the first gen Axis wings but then it took waaaay to long for NP to come out with any new stuff. The latest Axis gear is really light years ahead of the old NP stuff. Also Axis has one of the most rigid connections and best selection of big wings for sup and winging.

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Youngbreezy said..
I started out on the NP foils and at the time I felt they had an edge over the first gen Axis wings but then it took waaaay to long for NP to come out with any new stuff. The latest Axis gear is really light years ahead of the old NP stuff. Also Axis has one of the most rigid connections and best selection of big wings for sup and winging.

Yeah. I think this will be where I stop on the NP & go with a brand that can keep delivering on parts to our surf shops. And hopefully the surf shops can stock enough parts as well.
The Axis brand seemed to be in stock all the time.
I will in future try the high performance foil.
Sounds like Cabrinha may just be at the top with their new wings. But expensive.
I wouldn't hesitate going to a cheaper good brand if their performance wings are close. Which I am sure Axis will.
The other thing is, if I go with axis & just have a high performance wing or two. I don't think it would be too difficult to retrofit the NP wings to suit the Axis fuse. Or maybe fit the NP fuse to the Axis mast.