Just got my new Foilglide. Exciting. Threading up the downhaul I encounter a silly pulley which will only take a perfect rope end. Very annoying when pulling hard to fight with threading it through. Contrast easy open Gaastra one.
Next...why put the big hinge lump on the face taking all the tension of your mast base? Turn it 90 degrees. Numbers can be anywhere. You only look at them at insert time. My sail gets stuck everytime and is tearing the cloth.
Last. Clever looking groove for the downhaul stops any on water downhaul adjustment. Trying to release the mast partially is always hard especially with floaty wide boards. Then theres the risk of complete disconnect and not being able to get it back on...disaster.. it looks neat and if its meant to stop accidental downhaul release its daft, just doesnt happen with tension involved.

Dont like elastic tie up peg much. Disc ...just used to them

Apparently no one else says anything about the hinge . Hard to understand. Good system just turn 90

Why don't you just unscrew the pin from the pulley? It is designed to be removed if using Cyclops.

Dont know what a Cyclops is but thank you for advice. Hadnt turned pulley block over in the few times used so had not seen socket head top. Not something I have encountered in blocks. Its gone now....great.

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shaggy696 said..
Why don't you just unscrew the pin from the pulley? It is designed to be removed if using Cyclops.

Got the same problem fiddling the rope in. I just discovered pin is removable yesterday after using my Foilglide 7.0 around ten times before.

But why is severne constructing such a narrow space in the first place? It did not even fit neatly with a new severne extension and original uncut rope-end. I do not see any advantages constructing it so narrow. Current construction was for me a little annoyance in an otherwise excellent foilsail.

One of my sails' plastic pulleys have melted towards center quiet a bit after 2 seasons, i think they should use more durable material.

Rope (red over black) on my granade extension has weared out in second season, i guess cyclops comes with formuline or similar rope, i think cutting cost on rope is wrong, which can cause safety problems on water if it breaks, mine was half way to be broken at the time i recognized it.

I think the groove is good, i cant imagine how you can downhaul without removing the sail from the board, on water or on land.

Agreed with this, sails luff enterance weared out very quickly because of this, it gets stuck every time i derig my big sail.

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improvit
Next...why put the big hinge lump on the face taking all the tension of your mast base? Turn it 90 degrees. Numbers can be anywhere. You only look at them at insert time. My sail gets stuck everytime and is tearing the cloth.

The mast extension spring clip collar can only go on one way - or else you'll damage your mast. The mast base has to sit on the whole diameter of the collar.
If you swap that collar for a conventional one with a pin then you get a different downhaul setting for each hole - usually an extra 15mm.

It's good to keep your downhaul rope ends cut and burnt neatly to help quick rigging.

The Severne tack sheave offers two settings, in that you can remove the pin to allow the loop and go system offered by the latest Cyclops extension. If using the old extension, set as a 6:1 then you use all three pulleys on this tack sheave and the pin is then useful to ensure the lines don't jump out of place.

Make sure the pulley sheaves aren't encrusted in seawater salt and that they can turn freely - or else your downhaul line can wear them quickly with rope-burn friction.

The older 'wave grenade' extension does indeed make it difficult to adjust downhaul when out at sea - but who does that anyway?
Although with a good bit of downhaul rope, you can. Because I have done this.


I'd say the Severne hardware is pretty good.

Have the same issue with the mast collar and there was a discussion on here a year or so about it. Stupid design.

Did I read "plastic pulleys" on the sail? Really? I mean, really?

Whatever they were smoking, I want some.

the collar design is a pain in the ass - not on the wave sails / RDM, but on the SDM extension and an 7.5 NCX - always (without fail) gets stuck if you just release the downhaul when derigging + torn the soft elastic neoprene mast protector material. Found you need two people - one to release the downhaul whilst another hand pulls the material sideways over the offending hinge that sticks up.

What other collars would fit the extension?

Same issues with the grenade collar. I've replaced it with the Unifiber rdm HD collar, same hinged design but has a rubber mounding and sets firm on the tube, no wobble, less chance to rip the sail material. Also, done this to my chinook extensions(saw you have one)but there due to those plastic pins breaking. Snug fit as well

Yes, agree for the Severne extension. Ripping my sails mast pocket too. I have three SV extensions but stopped using them long ago.
Same for severne adjustable harness lines. The older versions got completely stuck after a season, impossible to adjust anymore. The new versions with the loop on top are too loose so that within a session, my harness lines get longer and longer.
Both need a redesign.

But otherwise, Severne sails, masts, booms, boards are excellent, well designed, light but still robust.
I just would wish for the engima slalom booms to have integrated adjustable outhauls :-)

Yes, agree for the Severne extension. Ripping my sails mast pocket too. I have three SV extensions but stopped using them long ago.
Same for severne adjustable harness lines. The older versions got completely stuck after a season, impossible to adjust anymore. The new versions with the loop on top are too loose so that within a session, my harness lines get longer and longer.
Both need a redesign.

But otherwise, Severne sails, masts, booms, boards are excellent, well designed, light but still robust.
I just would wish for the engima slalom booms to have integrated adjustable outhauls :-)

Glad to see I am not alone. A different design that smoothed out the hinge point is conventional fix but they might have a million collars in stock so it will be a while.

Re downhaul I find a few cms on or off is useful to correct for conditions. Standing in the shallows with harness hook and bowline loop allows a good pull but not when line is trapped in the universal ~base joint

Isn't the solution to the downhaul rope groove, simply to not use it?

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northy1 said..
the collar design is a pain in the ass - not on the wave sails / RDM, but on the SDM extension and an 7.5 NCX - always (without fail) gets stuck if you just release the downhaul when derigging + torn the soft elastic neoprene mast protector material. Found you need two people - one to release the downhaul whilst another hand pulls the material sideways over the offending hinge that sticks up.

+ 1.
I can usually hold it away from the mast as I let the downhaul off. I find it depends on the height of the pin. Sometimes it's not as big an issue.
It would be good if they fixed it.

The collar problem they did actually fix on the sdm, by rotating the extension tube a quarter turn, so the pointy hinge on the collar doesn't line up with the catch point anymore. Not sure why they haven't done it with the rdm extension too.

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swoosh said..
Isn't the solution to the downhaul rope groove, simply to not use it?

Yeah, thats what i thought too. But i tend to pull up on the beach(or bank) if i want to adjust downhaul and actually detach the board from the sail so i can get purchase with my foot on the bottom of the extension. Where do you put your foot with the board still attached?

Re downhaul adjusting. I make the loop, hook on harness and push board away by poking behind out. Usually trying to let a bit off after being too energetic on the initial rig up.

Ben. A gaastra collar and pin goes on with light file. I dont really like that pin system as much though as it always falls out as you fiddle about and the string wears, you get slack and dont replace it then pin is lost somewhere.

Re not using the groove. Tried that but the way the cleat jaws are angled you dont get a very secure grab. Havent tried but getting the angle to grab if you released it with mast base on while retaining tension is a challenge.

I have included a collection of base systems just for interest. Neil Pryde has a similar under the pin lock. Its an older thing but I think I am meant to stuff all spare rope up the hole. Severne better idea. The Ga one works well with easy access. The Chinook is nicest with that little cutout.

Bit of fun, nothing serious but interesting approaches and different people have different needs. Most gear is superb but that hinge thing did the catch act to me again today!

You choose

If you want to adjust downhill on the water, then buy a Duotone Power XT mast extension. They work a treat.

Ha I'll add my bit of whine, let's call it feedback :)

Indeed the type of hinged extension collar, used by many brands, totally ripped my Loftsails and Naish wave sails. And the rubber band holding it all together, well, it's always broken/gone and then it's easy to loose the collar itself, needs rethink for sure! It's not ripping my Blades thou.

Severne, the sails, these later years the roll-up closure button is only on one side of the sail (Blades at least). So you can roll your sails one way only, that is just annoying as anything. No reason I should prefer Severne extension and boom so I want't to roll up my sail the side I choose.

Severne Pyro foot straps, these plastic stoppers on a 2021 board, still? Really? How hard would it be to put 4 screws per strap? Got to make few more holes and ship 4 more screws. On a Fox pulled 2 screws out of the board while sailing, annoying. 2 would hold better at least. Would make installing the straps easier too, not to worry about the angle, and if it's tight enough.... JP has it what's up with the others?
And Pyro foot straps itself, no, just put on some Drakes that are fully padded end to end not eat in your feet.

There's few factories that make most of the hardware for major brands. Production and design quality doesn't differ much and obviously cheaper to produce something that's out there already. Industrial design and engineering can be pricy sure but not putting 4 screws per strap that's just ignorance to me.

I think secretly they know nobody really cares about any of it once being on the water having fun I know I don't :)

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Subsonic said..
The collar problem they did actually fix on the sdm, by rotating the extension tube a quarter turn, so the pointy hinge on the collar doesn't line up with the catch point anymore. Not sure why they haven't done it with the rdm extension too.

It's moved but still catches almost every time.

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Ben1973 said..

Subsonic said..
The collar problem they did actually fix on the sdm, by rotating the extension tube a quarter turn, so the pointy hinge on the collar doesn't line up with the catch point anymore. Not sure why they haven't done it with the rdm extension too.

It's moved but still catches almost every time.

It was a constant problem for me too, back when they were straight. but i've not had any issues since they changed it.

Tanel, I've never seen screws ripping out on the massive number of SV boards here in WA so I think you might be doing something wrong? 4 screws per strap is not a standard and I don't think necessary for strength

As to the SV wave grenade extension collar - I've been using it for years and it only used to catch on another brand sail, not on the SV Blades I use now. Once I realised it was catching I lust let the downhaul off slowly, then when it was stuck (ie sail would not slide up the mast any further, i just pushed the tack towards the mast to unsnag it. No damage caused. This discussion is like if you guys dragged your sail to the car each session and them complain it's wearing. Jeez.

On a positive note for SV - I got new Blades and the bag now does not have the foreskin looking opening that stops you from removing the sail. Its like the bags of days gone by and its bloody brilliant.

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Tanel said..
Severne, the sails, these later years the roll-up closure button is only on one side of the sail (Blades at least). So you can roll your sails one way only, that is just annoying as anything. No reason I should prefer Severne extension and boom so I want't to roll up my sail the side I choose.

The sails are design in Western Australia... wind always comes from the left here... so hence you always roll out your sail into the same direction ... no need for a button on the other side. ;-)

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Severne Pyro foot straps, these plastic stoppers on a 2021 board, still? Really? How hard would it be to put 4 screws per strap? Got to make few more holes and ship 4 more screws. On a Fox pulled 2 screws out of the board while sailing, annoying. 2 would hold better at least. Would make installing the straps easier too, not to worry about the angle, and if it's tight enough.... JP has it what's up with the others?
And Pyro foot straps itself, no, just put on some Drakes that are fully padded end to end not eat in your feet.

I think if you pull foot strap screws out of the board you might not have screwed them in far enough. The Severne boards have a fairly stiff deck pad which requires quite a bit of force the first time to screw them in. In regards to 2 vs 4 screws that comes down to personal preference. I find 2 scores allow the straps to adjust better to your foot. Especially on wave boards that makes a big difference in my opinion.

As for the foot straps themselves. I have been using Severne straps for the past 2 years. I find them on par with Fanatic straps in terms of comfort. Don't know what JP straps are like these days but in the past when I had JP boards the straps wore out within a few sails and from then on dug holes into the top of your feet.

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I think secretly they know nobody really cares about any of it once being on the water having fun I know I don't :)

I think Severne differs quite a bit from many other brands. Firstly the people that design the gear are windsurfers themselves. You'll find that Ben often asks people on the beach about feedback on the gear. They don't generally change things unless they think it will actually make the product better.

I use exclusively Severne sails and have done since about 2014, S1pros for waves and HG2's for foil racing (also have some Mach1's). Now Iove the sails, the S1pros were so far ahead of the game in terms of lightweight waves sails that I think the others are still catching up, just epic. That said over the years i've seen a few design issues in some of their gear.

The early S1's had an issue with how the batten tensioners were attached to the sail, the assymetric nature of the attachment made for some weird loading and they failed over time. They rectified that somwhere around 2015 I think and has been fine since.

The extension collars are without a doubt an absolutely stupid design. It's not as bad in the RDM extensions as the downhaul loads aren't as extreme and there are no cams so you can keep the sail away from the hinge on the collar when rigging/un-rigging. On the SDM's though it's ridiculous, it shreds sails! I like to think i'm very carefull when rigging but it happened to me. After using one for only about 10 sessions and the sail getting ripped (HG1, wasn't old at the time) I 3D printed a collar cover to solve the issue, problem solved....but it should come like that from factory. Then not to mention losing the rubber band that's supposed to hold the collar closed (not an issue with my 3D printed cover)....it's just not a well engineered solution.

The cams on the HG1, HG2 (was revised in the later HG2 versions and subsequently the HGO). Due to the design the rotation is absolutely horrific; too short of a cam design, meaning the amount of 'over centre' the cam has to overcome to pop is extreme. Should never have been released like that in my opinion, not sure how they never encountered it in testing; and yes I have Apex masts.

I love the gear for the most part and probably every brand has a few issues here and there but i'll be honest the collar thing and the rotation on the HG's did surprise me as they are both pretty fundamental design failures, yeah I found solutions but probably should not have had to.

To one of the OP's questions; the pulleys are so close to the pin, in my opinion, to stop the rope jumping between pulleys when you are rigging. It isn't a problem if you have the correct size rope, just make sure that the end is not 'mushroomed' when it has been cut with a heat knife as is often the case. That will be an issue and it's good practice to always make sure the melted end is never a larger diameter than the actual rope.

Ive been having mushroom problems with my rope for the last month or so. Drives me nuts.

Tonight going to take my extension to my gas cooker and hopefully flatten it out till it starts again in 6 months or so.

My Neil Pryde extension - the rope frequently crosses across to the next runner. Solution is to keep the tension on it as much as possible.

The much older Arrows extension were light years ahead of their time and are likely still the best extension on the market.

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hashbrown said..
Ive been having mushroom problems with my rope for the last month or so. Drives me nuts.

Tonight going to take my extension to my gas cooker and hopefully flatten it out till it starts again in 6 months or so.

Who has a heat knife?!?

I think it's easier to cut the rope, secure the end with a tape and then drip some superglue at the very end.

Regarding collar it's really bad design.

I've heard a roumor that some pro's in slalom like the 2 screw system and even shorten the screws in order to weaken the strap if they get in to uncontrolled catapult to protect the anckle...

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lukasijaner said..

I think it's easier to cut the rope, secure the end with a tape and then drip some superglue at the very end.

Regarding collar it's really bad design.

Yep, cut the rope at 45 degree angle to get a point and dribble superglue over it.

Severne seem to use short masts with long extension settings for a lot of sails so the collar is going to be a long way up the luff tube. If it was always near the base the mast pad part that could be folded out of the way. I've never had a similar issue in 30+ years of windsurfing. Its no good people saying you should be more careful, it should be designed so you dont have to think about it.

Could you put a section of cycle inner tube over the mast/extension joint after you've put them together so the sail slides over the top without catching.

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hashbrown said..
Ive been having mushroom problems with my rope for the last month or so. Drives me nuts.

Tonight going to take my extension to my gas cooker and hopefully flatten it out till it starts again in 6 months or so.

My Neil Pryde extension - the rope frequently crosses across to the next runner. Solution is to keep the tension on it as much as possible.

The much older Arrows extension were light years ahead of their time and are likely still the best extension on the market.

I am still using Arrows Extensions from the late 90s, best Ext ever made!
I did have one explode as it was old & brittle & had a heap od DH on it

I have epoxied RDM Carbon Extensions into them & now they are the ultimate
The collars (standard collar & pin) also catch inside some sails but only when using a lot of extension.
Rotating the Severne one might help a bit but won't solve the issue completely.
The problem is a narrow luff sleeve & the curve of the mast gets locked in with the extension collar holding the DH on even when the DH tension is released.

To solve the issue with mine, I cut some RDM mast about 200mm long & slip it on top of the collar & adjust the collar down 20cm to compensate.
This stops the collar catching completely when you initially let the DH off