Currently my only decent mast is a 460 100% Loft

Looking to venture into the waves and choppy bump n' jump in ocean

So should I use this mast in these conditions (with large amount of headstrap out top)

Or, do I buy a 400? And if so what is the best carbon percentage to run for these conditions?

What do most of you use for this? Brand/carbon%/type etc

Thinking of Gun 400RDM 65%($486) or Billows 400RDM 75% (think $400ish), which would be the pick, or neither?

Cheers,
Deano

The Lofts are fine for waves and well made. I know nothing of Billows but they only offer 6 months warranty for "peace of mind". That does not fill me with confidence as I thought most masts have 12 months warranty (of a manufacturing fault variety). I could be wrong with Billows - if I am, sorry.

As for length of mast - any mast/sail combo used with a load of headstrap will not be as good as the right sized mast. In B&J and waves you want a flexy sail with some give to cope with bumps, jumps, depowering etc - using a sail rigged on the stiffest past of a mast will not help!

Go the smaller size mast, but get one that works with your smaller sails (as in right curve, stifness, flexy top etc..).

I use Lofts as they're 100% carbon, a good price, and work with my Loft sails!

As crash said, you want to get the right sized mast for the sail.

Definitely RDM, and if the budget will stretch to it then an Ezzy is the pick of the bunch imo:
* If you break a section you can buy just that section, instead of buying the whole lot again
* You can mix and match tops and bottoms
* They are seriously bulletproof!

I can't speak for the Lofts though, if they have a good warranty then you should be OK.

One thing I've learnt is that in waves you want everything, EVERYTHING to be 100%. It's one thing to break something out on the estuary and wade home with an embarrassed grin, it's something completely different when you're getting rinsed and hanging onto your broken gear trying desperately to get ashore without drowning...

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nebbian said...

if the budget will stretch to it then an Ezzy is the pick of the bunch imo:
* If you break a section you can buy just that section, instead of buying the whole lot again
* You can mix and match tops and bottoms
* They are seriously bulletproof!

Nebs, surely it depends on whether an Ezzy mast is compatible with dism's sails? They are good masts, I used and abused a few in Maui.

Hi Crash,

Ezzy, Loft and Gun are constant curve masts. I'm using Ezzy masts in my Loft sail (soon to be sails) and it works really well.

Thanks Crash and Nebbian for the help

Would all RDMs fit eachother (i.e: would the ferrule be different diameters?)

Nebbian - by saying 'you want everything in the waves to be 100%', are you just implying all you kit to be in good nick and quality, or are you also hinting at 100% carbon masts too? Any Ezzy mast dealers in Nth NSW or region?

Crash - Which would be better in the waves for a beginner (keeping mast in one piece is priority atm, later the performance will be it) who is gunna get washed (65% Gun Cross or 100% Loft RDMs)?

Currently running (sails):
- 4.7 Gun Mc Wave (thanks Crash!)
- 6.5m Gaastra Matrix (heapsa monofilm - think i'll keep it outta the waves)

Thinking of filling in quiver with:
-5.7 Gun McWave
- approx 7.5-8.0 Gun or Loft Cammed Freerace (Booster or Blade)

So looking constant curve

Any suggestions on the proposed quiver? Would you spend your money on a 400mast or on the sails first (i'm a student!)?

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dism said...

Would all RDMs fit eachother (i.e: would the ferrule be different diameters?)

Nebbian - by saying 'you want everything in the waves to be 100%', are you just implying all you kit to be in good nick and quality, or are you also hinting at 100% carbon masts too? Any Ezzy mast dealers in Nth NSW or region?

Hi Dism,

Ezzy and powerex are certainly incompatible with everyone else because the ferrule is on the top bit, not the bottom!
I don't think you can mix and match mast brands all that much, that said I mix and match powerex and ezzy because they're the same specs (and I think they used to be made by the same manufacturer).
Pick a brand and stick with it, I reckon.

By 100% I mean everything should be in top shape, no dodgy bits. Some people say that 100% carbon stuff is too brittle in the waves, I don't have any 100% carbon bits so can't comment on that.

Will the 5.7 Gun mcWave fit on a 400?

Would all RDMs fit eachother (i.e: would the ferrule be different diameters?)

Nope

Nebbian - by saying 'you want everything in the waves to be 100%', are you just implying all you kit to be in good nick and quality, or are you also hinting at 100% carbon masts too? Any Ezzy mast dealers in Nth NSW or region?

I think he means products that are good condition, well made and not fatigued.

Crash - Which would be better in the waves for a beginner (keeping mast in one piece is priority atm, later the performance will be it) who is gunna get washed (65% Gun Cross or 100% Loft RDMs)?

Some say a lower carbon content is stronger due to carbon being brittle and glass stronger (and heavier). However, if you're spending $450, I'd recommend another $150 for 100%. Most high quality RDM wave masts are 100% carbon.

Currently running (sails):
- 4.7 Gun Mc Wave (thanks Crash!) No problem! Have you used it much?
- 6.5m Gaastra Matrix (heapsa monofilm - think i'll keep it outta the waves)

Good plan, unless the waves aren't too big. I used to have an MC 6.2, but it was too big for waveriding.

Thinking of filling in quiver with:
-5.7 Gun McWave (Nice sail)
- approx 7.5-8.0 Gun or Loft Cammed Freerace (Booster or Blade)

So looking constant curve

Any suggestions on the proposed quiver? Would you spend your money on a 400mast or on the sails first (i'm a student!)?

A 400 mast would make the 4.7 feel much better and potentially a 5.2 if you have one. However I'd be looking at getting sails as the 460 should work with a the 5.7 and the 7.5 (maybe not a 8). Having said that, a 5.2m is an important size sail - do you have one of those?

Are you in Coffs this weekend? There'll be a load of us at Woolgoolga from tomorrow if you fancy a sail. You can also rig up your 4.7 on your 460 then on my 400 to see the difference.



ps I'll be selling some more sails at the end of this month...

I am very happy with my Fiberspar Radius RDM masts which are 100% carbon, but they may well be out of the price range you are looking at.

One thing to resign yourself to with the waves...you are going to break gear. It wont always be the biggest pounding that does it either, I have been out on huge days and got drilled with no issue and then done a mast and boom months later on a shoulder high day, just the way it is and dues we pay.

Looking at your quiver and without knowing your weight - 5.7 to 4.7 is a pretty big gap for wave gear. I would look maybe at something closer to 5.4. Remember the bigger the sails the bigger the gap you can carry, when you get down to below 5.5 much more than .6 of a M tends to leave a bit of a hole.

And never forget the most important thing of all, it's not about the gear, but what you do with it!!! Just have fun.

Oh...get yourself to Woolgoolga over the weekend for the NSWWA comp...never know you might pick up a cheap bit of kit there.

I agree with the Ezzy. I used to break a mast a season, sometimes two. 4yrs on the same two Ezzy RDM's now .

Also they will work with lots of different sails.

If price is an issue, I think 75% is plenty in an RDM.

Also, if price is an issue I'd try to save money on the sails to a point and buy better masts. By save on sails I mean NOT crinkly mono that is just asking to split, I mean last year's sail with $200 off, rather than new, or a virtually unused 3 y/o sail

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Crash Landing said...

Would all RDMs fit eachother (i.e: would the ferrule be different diameters?)

Nope

Nebbian - by saying 'you want everything in the waves to be 100%', are you just implying all you kit to be in good nick and quality, or are you also hinting at 100% carbon masts too? Any Ezzy mast dealers in Nth NSW or region?

I think he means products that are good condition, well made and not fatigued.

Crash - Which would be better in the waves for a beginner (keeping mast in one piece is priority atm, later the performance will be it) who is gunna get washed (65% Gun Cross or 100% Loft RDMs)?

Some say a lower carbon content is stronger due to carbon being brittle and glass stronger (and heavier). However, if you're spending $450, I'd recommend another $150 for 100%. Most high quality RDM wave masts are 100% carbon.

Currently running (sails):
- 4.7 Gun Mc Wave (thanks Crash!) No problem! Have you used it much?
- 6.5m Gaastra Matrix (heapsa monofilm - think i'll keep it outta the waves)

Good plan, unless the waves aren't too big. I used to have an MC 6.2, but it was too big for waveriding.

Thinking of filling in quiver with:
-5.7 Gun McWave (Nice sail)
- approx 7.5-8.0 Gun or Loft Cammed Freerace (Booster or Blade)

So looking constant curve

Any suggestions on the proposed quiver? Would you spend your money on a 400mast or on the sails first (i'm a student!)?

A 400 mast would make the 4.7 feel much better and potentially a 5.2 if you have one. However I'd be looking at getting sails as the 460 should work with a the 5.7 and the 7.5 (maybe not a 8). Having said that, a 5.2m is an important size sail - do you have one of those?

Are you in Coffs this weekend? There'll be a load of us at Woolgoolga from tomorrow if you fancy a sail. You can also rig up your 4.7 on your 460 then on my 400 to see the difference.



ps I'll be selling some more sails at the end of this month...

Crash - yeah will be in Coffs at some stage, coming down from Armidale to check out the wave comp.

Haven't used the 4.7 yet, only test rigged it and it sets alot nicer then the Gaastra (better curve characteristic), wasn't windy enough during the uni hols when in Coffs unfortunately.

Haven't got a 5.2 either

Will come down to Woopi for a sail, hoping there is a real easy section, i'm still dodgy on the flatwater but keen to give easy waves a go

Won't need the wave sails till uni break, so PM us at end of the month if have some sails in the 5-8m region

Anyone going to Woopi wanna sell a waist harness about a M-size (32inch waist)? Only got a nappy, haha!

That'd be good to to try the 4.7 on the 400, cheers

See ya's down there sometime tomorrow