Two weeks ago i got washed by big set and my rig got separated from board (mastbase disconnection), ditched the sail and swim to the board, very luckily one wing foiler found the rig undamaged drifting away on the channel and i paddled/pulled by kiter with my board, sailed back to shore. At beach a friend told me this was the 4th same situation he had seen in last 2 months, two of them lost their rigs, all with cyclops extensions, he witnessed that many times before and for that reason he uses granade extension. Another friend had a theory that rotating plastic part which you tighten touches the release button and disconnects.
Today i see below picture from hookipa with same situation, cyclops extension again.
I reported that to the distributor, he contacted Severne and they replied "this never happens, there is no problem with cyclops".

Did you have or witnessed similar experience with cyclops extensions?

That sucks, not sure I understand how it happened though. I have one cyclops and I really like it for the convenience of a quick rig of my small stuff. The release button is in the same place as it is in all my other extensions, including goya/aeron/severne.

I don't understand what you mean by "rotating plastic part which you tighten"

This one here (not my pic) has the red knob which you loop over and it's on the complete opposite side of the release button. The pull-loop with the clear tubing is looped under the base and through the little notches that secure it before tucking the free end into the sail. What part can hit the release button?

I have 2, an aluminium and a carbon one, been using them for a whole year now and never had that problem

I had been using it for 2 years as well, got washed many times and some were big waves, never had a problem and i love the extension, super fast and easy rigging/derigging. But now after this experience and this picture, i think something may be wrong.

Nobody seems to know exact reason how it disconnected but my friends theory was like that, mastbase touching extension button, but i checked it this morning and its not possible, so i am guessing there may be a problem with pin inside.

The problem may not necessarily be with the design in general, but I would rather suspect that there may be tolerance issues with a batch. Can you see any damage on the pin or the metal clasp in the extension? I could imagine that either the closure does not overlap sufficiently or that possibly the closure is bent by the high forces because it is not sufficiently supported by the surrounding material. I had looked at the Cyclops once and decided to keep my Alu Wave Granade because that one has a metallic guide which surrounds the pin and is therefore less susceptible to wear of the guide by sand.

I've got two Cyclops extensions and they've both been through the washing machine at our local break several times. Never had an issue with either.
In three years, they have been as reliable as the wave grenade extensions I had before - but rigging is now quicker.


On a general note: When extensions disconnect it can be when they weren't paired up correctly in the first place.
Or sometimes you've got sand built up in the sliding mechanism that holds the pin. Worth checking - and rinsing under a tap.

The release button can be bumped and undo maybe
You could get another branded extension with a lock on the button if it concerns you

Loop and go system is too good to give up, and i am too lazy :) new north sails extension looks fine though

There is no damage at the pin, but metal clasp inside the extension is half circle, bottom is very narrow and sides are not wide enough compared to pin gap. I think there is a design problem, or maybe mine is defected.

I got carbon Cyclops a few weeks back new one and have a few comments...

I think that the system and extension is awesome. Cannot go simpler than that. However, with my older Chinook extension I actually had to press the button a bit to attach click-in the rig.
With Cyclops (brand new one) it clicked in so easy I was super surprised, was no need to press the button at all... just move the rig/extension down the spike and it clicks effortlessly. I also noticed that barely touching that button released/unlicked the rig/extension. Can this be a colprit ..?... and maybe a few unlucky ones somehow stepped on that release button with their toe when doing say a tack/gybe.

What I actually did I unscrewed the screw that holds the button, slid the button out, took out the spring and using pliers extended the spring maybe 1mm. It became much harder to click in the sail but then the metal clasp now likely protrudes a tiny tiny bit more.

Also looks like same screw that holds the silver button also serves as a stopper... So to make that metal semicircle protrude more one can take out the silver button and make the hole in it say 0.5/1mm longer. You will lose the Feature :) of your 2 year old be able to click the rig in and out but hopefully it will make random un-clicking much more unlikely.

If you have cyclops, unscrew that one screw and you will know what I'm talking about.

Well I must've jinxed it because I had this happen and now the extension comes off so easily I am not going to use it until I have a look inside. Didn't see any damage on the pin on the base, but almost zero pressure on the button under load and it comes off.

I did essentially what leto said he did. The spring looked to be in good shape, just stretched it a small amount. I think the large retainer with the shape or spring was hanging up on an internal ledge. Seems like you just need to inspect the Cyclops every now and then and make sure that it is returning all the way to the extended point.

There is a chamfer on the side that lets it go on easier. I was worried about damage on the other side, which actually engages the flat on the euro pin, but I didn't see anything significant. The spring just wasn't pushing the retainer all the way to hold the pin.

Stretching the spring can only go so far making the button harder to press but the stopper's little hole can be filed a bit (green marker) to allow more of the metal ring to go into the pin channel. The SV button will also stick out a touch more, will not be as flush

There's not much metal either side of the hole in the clip. Could that bend and cause binding?

Here the same problems with both Cyclops (24 en 36 cm). Severall times I had to swim after my stuff in cold freezing water. So far it has gone well... On some sails, the lower part of the mast protector contacts the sv button. Mainly the sails that needs a minimum of extension. Possibly this in combination with a slack spring causes that the extender disconnected during a washing
There are stories from inside SV that is was a known problem.....

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Wavesailor01 said..
Here the same problems with both Cyclops (24 en 36 cm). Severall times I had to swim after my stuff in cold freezing water. So far it has gone well... On some sails, the lower part of the mast protector contacts the sv button. Mainly the sails that needs a minimum of extension. Possibly this in combination with a slack spring causes that the extender disconnected during a washing
There are stories from inside SV that is was a known problem.....

If that's true and they even just sent out some stiffer springs that would be really cool.

Or if there was a spring spec of something that would work better that would be cool as well (but not as cool).

You all just forget about euro anything... Go with US and be done with it.

You couldn't get back to your rig after getting the board?

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Manuel7 said..
You all just forget about euro anything... Go with US and be done with it.

You couldn't get back to your rig after getting the board?

Never had a euro pin problem with Streamlined extensions.

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Manuel7 said..
You all just forget about euro anything... Go with US and be done with it.

@Manuel7 with all due respect (and you might just be poking the bear for fun here...), I really don't think this is down to Euro Pin vs US Pin design shortcomings. All systems wear and need care, maintenance and regular checking; no-one likes to be washed, or swim for miles.

Some Euro-Pin Systems are implemented better than other Euro-Pin Systems; equally
Some US-Pin Systems are implemented better than other US-Pin Systems.

Were this an endemic failure of the Euro-pin design itself, we would have seen thousands upon thousands of reports vs far fewer of the US-Pin (per unit used). In my view this is simply not the case.

It may be that this particular manufacturer's implementation of the Euro-pin design was lacking (see the positive suggestions above as to where it might be falling down) and if so, sufficient cases will arise and they will have to rectify it, which I am sure they will do, if it is clear it will impact their brand image.

At the end of the day, we all just want to surf, without a breakage or failure impacting our fun, or safety.

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Manuel7 said..
You all just forget about euro anything... Go with US and be done with it.

You couldn't get back to your rig after getting the board?

In my experience, the US cup system is a disaster over time - always becoming wobbly and then failing at the nipple clips if you don't chuck them away after a year. This system also has more potential points of wear, plus compatibility issues between brands.

The Euro-Pin system is just fine as long as you keep your extension (any brand) clear of grit on sandy beaches.
It's usually that sand that stops the sliding 'Vee' of metal from connecting fully with the U/J pin. The warning clue comes when you see the button hasn't fully reappeared after you pressed it in to connect the rig.
If you haven't sailed for a while, then you might also have a salt water corrosion build up - so rinse your gear with fresh water after use if it is to be stored.

On topic, I have two Severne Cyclops extensions and one 'Wave Grenade' extension and have not had any disconnect issues.

It happened again!

I am back to Mauritius, we had some nice swell lately, got washed by a mast high wave in Manawa that has already broken several meters behind me and was not so strong as last time, ducked the sail and held on, then i noticed my board was gone again, luckily it was not too far, and even more luckily my sail stayed in breaking zone and was totally fine with red mast while i was getting my board. I waited for my sail to come to me while paddling against the current, got it back and continued sailing.

I went to Severne shop right after the session to get a new cyclops, brought mine too to compare. All of them had similar issues, mainly about 1-1,5mm clasp, olso i found out that some had very sensitive spring and some not, some plastic buttons were flush with case some were sticking out from one side, this tells me qc is not working properly, not even for such an important part of the system.

I am done with cyclops, ordered a duotone "uni.xt sls", because i don't have access to north windsurfing extension here, but this looks good too, its just a little wobbly in the severne mast. I started with everything Severne, now i only have sails, masts and harness lines from them.

www.duotonesports.com/en/products/uni-xt-sls-14220-7300

It's simple , just buy euro pin chinook ext and base . Never had a problem . They can even handle a bit of sand , not like NP.

^^^ agreed with the base

Simple. Strong, pin can't snap off, bolts are bigger so can replace the tendon in the desert with a screwdriver and not rounding off heads, and sand can't fk it up.
Will never go back

Never had a problem with SV wave grenade RDM extensions over many years.

But Mr Lotus, get a ratchet thing if ya want and best wishes

I've got friends that like the duotone ratchet extensions because of the easy adjustment.

for me the simmer sx10 is the extension to get. it's a very simple design with not much that can go wrong. Also easy to let downhaul off and has a return slot for the rope.

Patrik extension looks similar to simmer

In my book any kind of pin extension is problematic. You keep hearing/reading/seeing about problems.

I have been using the Chinook cup system since 1987 with zero problems. Zero. "Chinook stuff just works." A little more difficult to assemble and disassemble, but they never come apart. They just work.

Just get the chinook euro pin.
Forget the other crap.

Thank you for Chinook recommendation, seems like everyones favorite, i will try to get their base later.
But as i mentioned before loop&go system is too good to give up for me, which are severne, duotone and north.
The one i ordered does not have a rachet, instead it has an additional loop in front which makes it compatible with severne sails too.

I've never used an extension that didn't work on the sail I was rigging regardless of pulley orientation and I've used many brands over the years. Currently Simmer and Severne.
it just comes down to how you loop the rope.

I guess with loop and go it's an issue.

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Sea Lotus said..
It happened again!

I am back to Mauritius, we had some nice swell lately, got washed by a mast high wave in Manawa that has already broken several meters behind me and was not so strong as last time, ducked the sail and held on, then i noticed my board was gone again, luckily it was not too far, and even more luckily my sail stayed in breaking zone and was totally fine with red mast while i was getting my board. I waited for my sail to come to me while paddling against the current, got it back and continued sailing.

I went to Severne shop right after the session to get a new cyclops, brought mine too to compare. All of them had similar issues, mainly about 1-1,5mm clasp, olso i found out that some had very sensitive spring and some not, some plastic buttons were flush with case some were sticking out from one side, this tells me qc is not working properly, not even for such an important part of the system.

I am done with cyclops, ordered a duotone "uni.xt sls", because i don't have access to north windsurfing extension here, but this looks good too, its just a little wobbly in the severne mast. I started with everything Severne, now i only have sails, masts and harness lines from them.

www.duotonesports.com/en/products/uni-xt-sls-14220-7300

In Agoust this year I used North Sail mast, sail and extension. All was ok from Manawa to Oneye, I've also used my old Severne rig and always was perferct. My tips is don't use carbon ext. when Manawa is big, and never never use Carbon ext in Oneye also when is small.

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leto said..
Stretching the spring can only go so far making the button harder to press but the stopper's little hole can be filed a bit (green marker) to allow more of the metal ring to go into the pin channel. The SV button will also stick out a touch more, will not be as flush

Today i spoke to a guy who had the same issue 2 times in oneeye, he modified it very similar to what you explained, but the opposite way.
He sanded down the green highlighted area 0,5mm, that made the sv button stick out a little, there was significantly more metal clasp at the hole, and spring was harder to press (he said he didn't change the spring, but you never know with this qc).

I contacted Severne directly after the second incident and just got a reply email from Severne saying they are aware of the problem and they are going to fix it next batches or so.