We asked Peter Gyori for an interview and talked to him about his new mast base.
Peter, what was your motivation to develop your own mast base?
We were not satisfied with either Boge-Joint or Tendon systems (Tendon = tendon; editor's note). With the Boge-Joint, the threaded sleeves are only glued into the rubber, which is not secure. On mast bases with tendons, the cross-section of the tendon is reduced by the fastening screws. You can't see when the chord starts to tear at the hole. We have had bad experiences with both systems. We wanted to create something better. I'm responsible for design and calculations, my brother for production and assembly. We both do the testing.
What distinguishes the design of your mast base from other models on the market?
The upper and lower parts are made of stainless steel. The moulded string is not screwed together with a bolt, but instead is attached with conical half-rings in a completely form-fitting manner, i.e. without screws. This does not weaken the string. Of course, it can also become brittle at some point, but it does so where you can see it. To be prepared for the worst-case scenario, we have installed extremely tear-resistant kite lines as a safety system. The shortcoming of the design is that the mast base is significantly heavier than conventional models at just under 500 grams.
Where did you make your prototypes? And how long did it take?
I'm a qualified mechanical engineer and have been working in individual machine construction for 13 years: we've been working on mast base prototypes since 2013, and the current version is already the sixth. It is more than a concept, but less than a market-ready product. My brother made the first parts himself, and we turned the metal mould for the string ourselves. Freestyle pro Balz Müller also helped us with the testing.
What happens now? How do you want to bring the project to a conclusion - and to market maturity?
Neither of us currently has the capacity to bring the project to market maturity - and to take care of everything that would be involved, such as sales, marketing etc.. Nevertheless, we are convinced of our idea, as every windsurfing fan needs a safe and stable mast base. We therefore hope to be able to sell the idea, ideally to a brand from the windsurfing sector.
