Flight Clips magic placement FCT 2nd Gen?

[Chexi]

I have a 2nd generation FCT and just bought some flight clips for the cross bar. They fit fine, but I could not find the magic placement such that the inside board's bindings won't hit the tower. Most pics I see show the clips toward the rear of the crossbar, but for me that was the worst possible location. I moved mine forward such that the clip toward the front was almost as far forward as it could go. This seemed to work pretty well, but I still get a little contact between the bindings and the tower. Is there some magic placement of the clips that permits no contact between the board bindings and the tower or is this just a minor design flaw/inconvenience that I have to learn to live with?

As a side note, I really do like the flight clips. They are so much easier to load and unload than my prior wake racks on my old boat. It actually makes me wonder why people feel the need to get spinner racks, but hey, it's a free country, and I got my flight clips at a good price from someone who upgraded to spinner racks, so who am I to complain. I am a bit concerned about the 100 degree max warning on the rubber parts (especially as I live in Dallas, TX), but we will see if that is really a problem.

[BKinSoCal]

RE: Flight Clips magic placement FCT 2nd Gen?

Chexi,

I have the same issue with my clips. I accept it for what it is. Just make sure you don't put a closed toe boot on the inside rack as the pressure can push in on the toe and dent it in. That happened to my Watson boots. I thought riding would help push it back out, but all it did was hurt my toe. It was a challenge to get it pushed back out, but I'm happy I did it. I shoved a small bottle in the boot and let is sit there for a couple of days. They are now almost as good as new.

Also, I keep my boat on the Parker Strip on the CA/AZ border. It averages somewhere around 105-110 degrees during the summer. I have had no issues with the rubber breaking down and my boat has been there for three years.

BKinSoCal

[Chexi]

RE: Flight Clips magic placement FCT 2nd Gen?

Thanks BKinSoCal. It sounds like there probably is no magic placement, which is what I thought. I do have closed toe bindings myself (RonIX scouts that I love) and fortunately caught the risk that you noted right away. I said to my wife, "only wakeboards with open toe bindings or wakeskates go on the inside of the flight clips!" I have a 3rd more traditional rack mounted on the lower crossbar as well, so if I somehow end up with 3 or more boards in the boat with closed toe bindings, I have a place for them. It's just not quite as easy to load and unload from.

It's also good to know that you have not had problems with the rubber breaking down in 110 degree heat. I was a bit worried that I would go to grab my board and have it either not be able to pull it out or have a bunch of black sticky goo stick my board.

[BKinSoCal]

RE: Flight Clips magic placement FCT 2nd Gen?

I personally would never have put my board on the inside rack, but I was with a group of buddies and one of them put it up there after I rode in order to pull another board out. I wasn't paying attention, which was my bad, and I paid the price.

That same trip, someone dropped my board flush on the nose and split it wide open (Quite a trip). I had a buddy fix it to the best of his ability, but I am now riding a Ronix Covin...which I like better than any board I've riden in the past.

As far as the heat, I've been more concerned about the rubber breaking down quicker, not melting. But still no issues with that either.

[Chexi]

RE: Flight Clips magic placement FCT 2nd Gen?

I hope that the someone who droped your old board bought you your new board.