Hi Everyone, I used to sailboard a bit (pre kids!). I just bought a 2nd hand board on ebay because I would like to teach my teenage children to sailboard. However there was no universal joint with the board. Can anyone tell me what sort of universal joint connector I need to connect the mast to the board.

Photo attached. The board is a "Fanatic Bat funspeed 322". Also, any ideas on where I would get the part. Regards Tony.

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awlwiles said...
Also, any ideas on where I would get the part. Regards Tony.

Jurassic Park

[edit]It's the end of my shift, i'm very tired

If you Don't have any luck on this forum try www.lbws.com.au its a site dedicated to longboards and they have a section in their forum for people looking for vintage parts you might get lucky or get advice on how to get around the problem

If you call in to a windsurfing shop that has been around a while they usually have a range of old stuff out the back and can find something to suit.

Its a Tyronsea base. Ask the shops they may have one

thats a genuine fanatic base not a Tyronsea setup as far as I remember

Kato I do know what you mean in that the tyronsea has a 2 pin locking setup but I doubt the diameter of a brass tyronsea pin nut will be the same. i have one here I could measure.

It actually looks much closer to My Vinta board's one...its pretty much a similar size board but has a racetrack. But the diameter of the base looks the same...on the vinta the missing part is actually made of plastic. this may have been too

If you do no good here, It is possible to turn this up on a lathe as finding one may be difficult in a hurry...

you will need a boge uni and cup, bolt a cup to the boge for the mast, on the base obtain a pin and lathe up a threaded circular nut with a groove for those 2 pins.

sorry hard to explain in a hurry but the main thing is to remember its better to persevere with finding a replacement than something drastic as that appears to be a sliding mastrack not on the fly but sliding by hand positioning nonetheless,

best to keep it working considering the plastic mast cartridge looks in good nick [the bottom press button once pressed in and held I believe would allow it to be pushed fore or aft [not on the fly].] a good feature when working.

anything else will limit the boards usability,,,but then again if you cant sort it , i guess it isnt useful anyway...hee hee.

Hi Everyone and thanks for your input. I have managed to bolt an old universal to the board that should last long enough to give the kids a couple of lessons. If they like it, then I'll look at investing in something not so "Jurassic Park" ;-).
I did find the attached photo on the net, which I think shows the part I need (the blue bit).

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awlwiles said...

Hi Everyone and thanks for your input. I have managed to bolt an old universal to the board that should last long enough to give the kids a couple of lessons. If they like it, then I'll look at investing in something not so "Jurassic Park" ;-).
I did find the attached photo on the net, which I think shows the part I need (the blue bit).

It's possible a Tyronsea part will fit.
Check the diameter of the blue bit.

The Tyronsea Brass Connector is 5/8" dia ~16mm
The height of the groove can be adjusted to suit by shimming if required.

Tyronsea parts are available at all good windsurfing shops

Looks like a similar mechanism to the uni on an old Mistral Superlight I have, watch it pull out when you get to the middle of the bay, It'll pull straight out and your whole rig will be disconnected and floating away.

Check also on Ebay. they sell a whole lot of that stuff. It get's regularly re-listed

looks just like my Fanatic Ultra CAT

no idea about the Tyronsea base, butt it does NOT disconnect while sailing
the mast track MUST be locked in well though
as mentioned here have seen them on e-bay and at some places that sell older parts
if it is a CAT - it is a GREAT classique longboard !!!

i had the same Fanatic track on my Cobra Race, about 1984. the insert is bigger than Tyronsea.

Yep definately bigger than the tyronsea..I am looking at one now,
that definately looks similar to the Vinta I mentioned [and as such probably the same as the major manufacturers mentioned above...]..it wont pull out if the pin mechanism is working correctly.

Paul gave you the dimensions to compare...

I have bought a lot of stuff a while back off Paul and got a say he is quick with his service...still have a new Z boom [and a normal boom] in the pack I'm yet to try....grabbed one before they all disapeared as my old Z boom...is ummmm old..

its worth checking out his website for the goodies he sells,

Paul question...the tyronsea base's parts... a lot is out of stock...and I believe discontiued [correct me if I'm wrong]....Are you discontiuing them when sold out..I still have a couple of bases but also find the parts like plastic washers [yellow ones] great for so many other bases too...I have just run out of those washers...will you be remaking them.??? The most useful washers ever I use them on so many different bases.

You guys may have experience with this part but I don't trust it.
When enough force is applied upward like when you fall off the board and the rig hits the water the metal clip just needs to flex a bit and/or the plastic compress and away it goes, there is nothing to keep the rig attached to the board, no safety rope.
It's why they went away from this type uni.

I had a similar problem with my recycled boards. I found that tyronsea bits fitted but did fall out mainly because the groove had worn and become enlarged.
I finally fixed it all by machining new aluminium ones and they stopped falling out by making the groove that bit less sloppy

Measurements for those who are interested:

A 28.9mm
B 19.12mm
C 4.26mm
D 8mm

regards
Tony

It has 3 positions AUF = off in german, 500N = if you apply 500 newton it will eject and fix = locked, you need to use a leash between the board and the rig, it is old fashioned but saved a few feets to be crushed back in the old days of tacking!