Hey Guys,
What is the best all round mast to go for?
We were windsurfing today, had a 7m up, came ashore for about 45 mins or so, then went to grab the kit and the mast just broke. So now we need 2 new ones!!
Not sure why it would have broken, it wasnt in the sun for that long! But we have just shipped all our gear back from the UK in a shipping container, do you reckon the heat in the container could have weakened it?
Matt
45 minutes is plenty long enough for your mast to heat up to failure point. If i'm leaving my sail for over 20 minutes it is left in shade and/or with tension off.
I can't suggest which mast lasts best, they are pretty much all on par if you look after them (with a few exceptions which are all 100% carbons).
Best is to get the mast which suits your sails, if you use several different types I really like the drop shape masts such as North or Sunshine.
Well that sucks, i've had the same thing happen to my older style masts, just rigged the thing up, beach started and with one pump the one piece was easier to fit into the car
Without stealing mkseven's thread, can i extend the question further
Looking at setting up a quiver from ~4.5 - 7.5 (currently 5.5 7.5 cammed race sails old ones) and looking to add freerides ~6.5 etc
I've heard of the North Prismas, but is there any other low number of mast brands out there/ I'm looking to get sails ~3-6yr old
i have a problem that i recently just saw with the carbon mast and i hope it fits in this thread..i've noticed the bottom part that meets the top portion is expanding at the tips
and no wonder the cams get stuck at that part..is this just too much use or downhauling where eventually it rubs and so much pressure is exerted that leads to this
am in a way stumped too!
Hi Matth,
I'd go for a cheap low carbon mast as you won't cry too much when you break it (already broken one this year being stupid) and from what I hear of 100% carbon masts, they are very thin so knocks and camber wear can affect them more. The wall thickness of my 30% carbon 460 mast is 2.6mm which is reasonably thick I think.
Also people will argue that 100% or 75% carbon is so much better, but if you never sail one, you'll never know. So don't sail one. Then you will have the joy of never having to spend heaps of money on an expensive mast. 
Hey why are 100% and 75% so much better? Is it their weight ? or does it have to do with the amount of flex they have ?
Weight and responsiveness. Most modern masts of 75% are at least or more durable than lesser carbon contents. I've found in the past that lower carbon content masts start to get bend in them first, supposedly indicating small breaks in the mast fibres.
Don't leave your rig lying around in the sun if you can possibly help it. If you have to, try and put it at an angle that minimises its exposure to uv.
As for masts, I too like the drop shapes. The Sunshine 80% c is priced right. For a 460 though I might go for a sdm 75% c. It's not as tough but a bit lighter. Oh and don't forget the curve. Now there's a can of worms. Have a look at www.peterman.dk/windsurf-mast-article-gb01.htm
