Dear Jeff, I'll tactfully avoid the replacement shroud theory and confess that even though the coke bottle top is good enough I do actually use the 'hobie' teflon chips. Mine last around 6months of normal use, if they don't get spat out. I've been using alot of rig tension lately with a high crew weight and that does seem to chew them up, I killed one and a half chips over 6 days at the Aus nationals. My biggest destroyer of chips is when they get spat out so if you have any theories on how to keep them in place I'd like to know. My best effort has been the use of contact cement on the under side of the chip just before raising the mast, that chip lasted 6 months and only got spat out after a couple of strong wind races. Any other ideas?
Cheers Phil