myiW Current Conditions and Forecasts Community Forums Buy and Sell Services
 
Hi guest · myAccount · Log in
 SearchSearch   ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   RegisterRegister 
Mast stiffness

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    iWindsurf Community Forum Index -> Windsurfing Discussion
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
rtz



Joined: 31 Oct 2010
Posts: 296
Location: Oklahoma City

PostPosted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 8:43 pm    Post subject: Mast stiffness Reply with quote

How important is it for smaller size sails? I don't have a mast smaller then a 400 yet. Composite, 40, or 60 carbon?

How detrimental would the softer mast be to the proper performance of the sail?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
techno900



Joined: 28 Mar 2001
Posts: 4161

PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 8:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Others may add to, or correct this, but for the most part, stiffness from one brand to another is about the same for the same length mast. In other words, a 400 cm mast will have an stiffness (IMCS) of 19 regardless of brand or carbon content.

Flex may change from brand to brand for the same mast length, but that is becoming more universal than it used to be.

Look at https://www.mauisails.com/masts
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
coachg



Joined: 10 Sep 2000
Posts: 3546

PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 8:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rtz,
Many small sails have adjustable tops. If your mast is too soft you can let some of the mast out of the top so your sail sits on a stiffer part of the mast.

Techno,

The Nolimitiz Original 400 is 18 IMCS while its Sumo 400 is 19 IMCS. Both masts are 91% carbon with identical mast bends. Stiffness & weight being the difference. I have one of each so I can mix & match tops & bottoms to fit different sail brands.

Coachg
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
U2U2U2



Joined: 06 Jul 2001
Posts: 5467
Location: Shipsterns Bluff, Tasmania. Colorado

PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 9:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.peterman.dk/start-windsurfing-samlet-gb-dk01.htm

When you use a small sail, the wind is greater. Do you want to use a mast that’s not optimal. The softest part of the sail is at the top, do you want the softest part sticking out the sail head

Several things that make up how a mast performs are
Carbon content
Carbon orientation, how it’s wrapped.
The curve itself, the bottom compared to the top.
One thing to remember when using the wrong mast, you will give up some of the performance designed into the sail, if the sail has a lot to start vs a narrow range, it’s not so much.

The shorter mast will be lighter , comparing like carbon content to a longer mast.
The best option on carbon is 90–100%. 65 % is the lowest I would use.

Lots of sailors us a longer mast, than what’s recommended, the sail must have a vario top to do this

_________________
K4 fins
4Boards....May the fours be with you

http://www.k4fins.com/fins.html
http://4boards.co.uk/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
flaherty



Joined: 01 May 1997
Posts: 437

PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 11:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Buy a 370 mast. It will work much better with the smaller sails, as U2 has stated. Skinny masts last a long time, it will be well worth the money spent.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
swchandler



Joined: 08 Nov 1993
Posts: 10588

PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 11:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Which mast length works best for you has a lot to do with your weight. For example, let's compare a guy weighing 140 versus a guy weighing 200. When using a 4.2 sail, the lighter weight guy really needs the 370 mast usually recommended. However, the heavier guy would probably be better off using a stiffer 400 mast and run the extra length out the top using a adjustable top, just as long as it's not too excessive.

With regard to carbon content, I wouldn't recommend going below 75% carbon. For myself, I always go with 90-100% carbon. With any important investment, you are best off getting the highest carbon content product because its weight, performance and handling characteristics are optimized. In smaller sails it's less noticeable, but moving to larger sails the differences are actually quite significant.

In my view, masts are a key component that often last for many many years, and they can used through many different sail quivers over time. It's definitely not a area where I would recommend taking the cheap route.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
isobars



Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 20935

PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 12:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Within reason, mast stiffness is another personal choice. Bigger, more powerful, guys often fare best with stiffer masts, while lighter people and those who simply prefer to sail very efficiently (i.e., on the smallest sail that will get them planing fairly often) can get by with softer masts.

Once again, you're asking for fairly precise answers to issues that cannot be answered so easily. I hope you're not typing when there's ANY chance of getting in some rides.

Mike \m/ [/i]
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
U2U2U2



Joined: 06 Jul 2001
Posts: 5467
Location: Shipsterns Bluff, Tasmania. Colorado

PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 1:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Been there done that got the Tee Shirt.
I ve seen many times that a heavier sailor can use a longer,( stiffer mast ).

I don’t see that the sail knows the weight of the sailor, the sail is designed for a particular length, anything other than that , is a option, and subject to length that can be accommodated, the mast doesn’t know how much someone weights either, using a longer mast changes where the sail bleeds off, and hampers the performance, enough to make it a POS , prob not, it depends on how much you can give up Ins range and performance categories.

The difference in mast bend curves , has gotten closer together.,so towards a constant curve, middle of the road bend curve.

Neil Pryde and Gaastra were opposites, soft and hard top, no way do they have the same mast bend curve. Others fit into this as well.

_________________
K4 fins
4Boards....May the fours be with you

http://www.k4fins.com/fins.html
http://4boards.co.uk/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
U2U2U2



Joined: 06 Jul 2001
Posts: 5467
Location: Shipsterns Bluff, Tasmania. Colorado

PostPosted: Wed Apr 03, 2019 1:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.unifiber.net/en/masts-selector

This chart is updated almost yearly, for older sails go back in years

_________________
K4 fins
4Boards....May the fours be with you

http://www.k4fins.com/fins.html
http://4boards.co.uk/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    iWindsurf Community Forum Index -> Windsurfing Discussion All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum

myiW | Weather | Community | Membership | Support | Log in
like us on facebook
© Copyright 1999-2007 WeatherFlow, Inc Contact Us Ad Marketplace

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group