OXZAHydrofoil connection systems explained: tuttle, plate, pedestal, T8 and OX Lock
Two connections, two different questions
Riders often say "my foil doesn't fit" when they mean one of two very different things. Separate them and the compatibility question gets easy.
- Board ↔ mast
- Decided by the board. Tuttle box, twin-track plate, or pedestal. Your mast head must match it.
- Mast ↔ fuselage
- Decided by the foil brand. Usually proprietary; REVSTAR fuselages take REVSTAR masts.
- Fuselage ↔ wings
- Decided by the foil brand's interface: T8, EZ, OX or another quick-connect. Wings and fuselage must match.
Board-to-mast
| Mount | How it works | Strengths | Trade-offs | Typical boards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuttle / deep tuttle | Tapered mast head slots into a box in the board, bolted from the deck | Very stiff, light, no plate | Fixed position; board must have the box | Windsurf-foil, race, some kite |
| Plate (twin track) | Flat mast plate bolts to two US-box tracks | Fore/aft adjustment, universal on wing boards | Slightly heavier; tracks must be bonded well | Wing, surf-foil, downwind |
| Pedestal | Short post on the board takes a mast collar | Compact, quick | Brand-specific; less common | Some wing and kite boards |
REVSTAR-M and REVSTAR-MX are plate-mount. REVSTAR-MTC is the Twin-Connect mast: one head that accepts either a pedestal or a tuttle box, for riders who own both board types — see the mast guide.
Wing-to-fuselage
This is where brands diverge and where the system you buy into matters most.
| Interface | Who | Load path | What it means on the water |
|---|---|---|---|
| T8 | SAB, Phantasm-style and others | Bolts plus mating faces | Widely compatible; can develop play as faces wear |
| Proprietary quick-connects | Most major brands have one | Varies — some locate on bolts, some on a keyed surface | Usually locked to that brand's wings |
| EZ | REVSTAR C (EZ), L, R wings | Own interface | REVSTAR-only, performance wings |
| OX Lock | REVSTAR | Machined shoulder carries bending load; bolts only clamp | Stays stiff over seasons, low torque, one 6 mm key |
The engineering distinction that matters is what carries the bending load. When bolt threads do, the joint loosens as threads and faces wear. When a machined shoulder does, the bolts only have to clamp — which is why OX Lock rev 14 moved the load there.
How REVSTAR fits a kit you already own
- You have a plate-mount wing board → any REVSTAR-M or MX mast bolts straight on.
- You have a tuttle windsurf board → REVSTAR-MTC (coming soon), or a plate adapter.
- You have T8 wings from another brand → a REVSTAR fuselage in T8 takes them; add REVSTAR A-family wings at your pace. The migration guide walks through it.
- You are starting clean → OX Lock throughout. Build Your Setup only offers parts that fit.
What we will not do
We will not sell an OX↔T8 adapter. An adapter is another joint, and a joint is the thing a connection system exists to eliminate. Pick the lane; the fuselage is the only part you ever need to swap to change lanes.
Questions
What is the difference between a tuttle and a plate mount foil?
A tuttle box is a tapered slot in the board that the mast head slides into, bolted from the deck — stiff, common on windsurf and race boards. A plate mount bolts a flat mast plate to two tracks on the board bottom — adjustable fore/aft, standard on most wing and surf-foil boards.
Which foil connection is best?
There is no universal best. Plate mount gives position adjustment; tuttle gives stiffness at a fixed position; pedestal sits between. For wing-to-fuselage, a shoulder-loaded quick-connect like OX Lock holds stiffness over time, while T8 maximises cross-brand compatibility.
Can I use a REVSTAR mast on my existing board?
REVSTAR-M and MX masts are plate-mount and fit standard twin-track boards. The REVSTAR-MTC twin-connect mast takes either a pedestal or a tuttle box.