The advantages of a gimbal are obvious - the board and sail can be effortlessly joined together without having to place the board on its edge. Especially if you prefer to bring the sail and board into the water separately and it immediately gets deep in the shore area, putting them together can be a tedious endeavour. The problem with gimbals in the past was that they could only be used in light winds and could not withstand the stresses of planing winds for long, partly because they can normally only be bent in one direction. US manufacturer Chinook has now combined the advantages of both systems - chord and hinge. A chord has been fitted to the lower part of the mast base, onto which a universal joint is then mounted. This makes it easy to insert the pin into the extension. If the sail falls into the water outside the direction of the joint - normal universal joints would lock here and break in the medium term - the tendon in the lower part ensures that freedom of movement is not restricted. In the practical test, the system worked without any problems. As tried and tested components are used throughout - the chord is also used for the wave-compatible mast base plates - the system appears to be fully developed. Individual components, such as the chord, can be replaced at any time.
surf conclusion: Why it has taken so long for someone to combine the advantages of both systems is actually a mystery. The Pro Flex mast base (price: 105 euros) is perfect for freeriding and foiling. We would only recommend classic models for wave and freestyle use - not because the system is too fragile, but rather because the bending resistance is not the same in all axes, which can sometimes be a little irritating when doing tricks and jumping.
Info under www.chinooksailing.com
Manuel Vogel
Editor surf
Manuel Vogel, born in 1981, lives in Kiel and learned to windsurf at the age of six at his father's surf school. In 1997, he completed his training as a windsurfing instructor and worked for over 15 years as a windsurfing instructor in various centers, at Kiel University sports and in the coaching team of the “Young Guns” freestyle camps. He has been part of the surf test team since 2003. After completing his teaching degree in 2013, he followed his heart and started as editor of surf magazine for the test and riding technique sections. Since 2021, he has also been active in wingfoiling - mainly at his home spots on the Baltic Sea or in the waves of Denmark.
