Rear Strap Modification Advice Please

[jdwindsurfer]

I bought a Vivace 282 at the swap meet in may and finally got enough wind to try it this past week. It was great, but I ran into a problem with the rear strap. The board doesn't have inserts for a center position for the rear strap, and my size 13 feet and 220 lbs of weight really make me want to put my foot deeper into the board than the strap inserts allow.

Is there a single, centered strap solution that bridges the usual setup of inserts where the manufacturere didn't put a third set of inserts in the center of the tail? Or has anyone done a mod like this?

My 1998 Bic Veloce 310 came with a center option for the rear straps and that is how I've always sailed it, so I think this would be ideal for this Vivace too. Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated!

[Terry Dunklee]

My son Luke had these cross brackets fabricated by a metal fabricator to make the footstrap mount directly in the middle of the board utilizing the existing holes for dual footstraps. We've never had a problem with them coming loose. Let me know if you want to see them in person.

Terry

[jdwindsurfer]

Terry,

Thanks for the tip and the photos.

I'm going to try to save a few dollars and do esomething similar to this with some old footstraps as the "bridges" first, but if that won't work then I think your pictures are quite clear enough for me to proceed down that path. I only spent $50 on the board, and I'm hoping to keep additional costs similarly low. Thanks much for the response.

[Coach]

That's an awesome mod, Terry. You guys should sell those online. I've got size 13 feet and have had the same problem with certain boards.


-Coach

[Chris B]

Sure ya do; you of all people should know that chicks don't read this stuff!

[steveb]

I got size 13's too.....eat your heart out pencil....feet.
Besides cool chicks do read this site...Nancy if you say one negative word about my post you don't get that new kite. Leave me my illusions.

[jdwindsurfer]

Terry's pictures inspired me to figure this out. I went digging around at Home Depot looking to see if I could find anything to use that would be like his custom metal pieces. I ended up using a piece of landscape edging that is intended to go between block and dirt. It is a tough but pliable flat nylon/plastic strap.

I cut out pieces of it, drilled holes in the center and each end, and fastened the strap to the center holes using a short bolt, washers, and a cap-style nut. Finally, I used a razor to shave off any edges, but the stuff is soft, so not a big risk of a cut anyway. I also always wear Shoes, so am not to worried about that. Total cost of this mod: about $15 and very basic tools. I'll send pics to anyone who might be interested in seeing them, but it was really easy and you could easily do it based on my description. I'm waiting for enough wind to try it and see how it works!

[JRN]

Why do you think I never remove my booties in public? I'm too shy for surgical enhancement, but I did try viagra and couldn't take my shoes off for a week!! JN

[jdwindsurfer]

Here is my hideous, but hopefully effective handiwork adding a center strap option to an older board tail, to accomodate size 13 feet:

<a><img src="http://i7.tinypic.com/20u30bd.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

<a><img src="http://i7.tinypic.com/20u33o5.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

[tyson]

i thought BIC was strictly pens and lighters. who knew they made boards? crazy.

[steveb]

Pens Lighters, Windsurf boards, kiteboards,surfboards and kayaks....that I know of.
Their windsurf boards for years have been great designs, they seem to have a knack for designing boards that excel at nothing but are very good at everything. The Techno 283 has to be one of the all time best board designs from any comapany.