There were 2 common failing points on the original Go Joes.
1) The base plate would break for one reason only, the belly strap was not tight enough to hold the base plate firmly attached to the board. If the belly strap was loose the base plate would be too and it would allow the go joe to flex too much and crack the plate. The cause of this was 1 of 2 issues. Either the user did not install the Go Joe with the belly strap properly installed or the user's grab handle was not as wide as our Ocean Rodeo ones are and did not spread the strap wide enough to cause proper tension.
This issue was addressed on the new Go Joes by making the new base plate much more flexible and soft, less likely to break. We also addressed it by having the belly strap run right through the base plate so that the grab handle's width had no bearing on the downward tension it would generate.
2) The belly strap - when properly installed - generated a lot of downward pull on the top of the Go Joe and put a strain on the underside belly seam where the Go Joe was sewn shut and where the belly strap was sewn to the Go Joe.
This issue was addressed by putting what amounts to a saddle around the top of the Go Joe and sewing the belly strap off to this saddle, as well as having the belly strap wrap the whole way around the Go Joe. In this way the strap puts no load on the bottom seam of the Go Joe and, further, the load pulling down on the Go Joe is spread across a wider area and not focused on a 1" wide piece of webbing.
Since releasing the revised version of the Go Joe we have had 1 warranty issue reported to us and this related to a faulty bladder, something that is known to happen from time to time with all bladder based products.
Thank-you for choosing to ride safely with out a leash and for considering Ocean Rodeo for your next purchase!
John Z - OR
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