Hello, I bought a second hand North Rave 5.3m sail and it doesn't seem to fit my mast. I can get it onto the mast but have to fully remove the battens first - the battens lock in via a allen nut. The shape is appalling and not worth using, any hints?

Gday, the mast is a Mistral haven't got it here to get the specs but it's pretty solid. I've put heaps of downhaul on but then the luff creases severly, this is only partly remedied by outhaul. The battens seem to go half way around the mast.

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nebbian said...

What sort of mast are you using?

It sounds like you need more downhaul. Tie a loop in the downhaul rope after it's all threaded, stick something through the loop (harness hook, screwdriver etc), sit down, put your foot on the bottom of the extension, and lean back like a rower.

http://www.capesport.co.za/tips_faq/windsurfing/windsurf_sail_rigging_downhaul.pdf

Is the mast fibreglass? They don't work well with modern sails.

Can you take a photo of the sail rigged up? If you've got a carbon fibre mast then it really sounds like you need more downhaul (yes, really!)

That said, the lower battens on north sails do tend to go halfway around the mast, which makes it a pain to rotate when the wind is light. They shouldn't stick past the front of the mast though.

n.b; my guess only...

Apparently your using a mast that is to stiff (as Mistral don't make masts anymore I'm guessing its pretty old)

Wave sails need shorter masts, which are in turn softer (bendier), as they bend more per cm, to still attain the right 'curve'

I get the same sorta thing when I try to rig my 4.7 on my 460cm mast (but not quite as bad coz I spend alot of dough on a new RDM)

The only thing you can do is try getting heaps more downhaul on it (like nebbian said), or get another mast

edit: North Sails need flex top masts (someone double check me on this), so maybe your mast is stiff top. My battens go half way around the mast and get stuck when I rig my Gaastra (stiff top I think) on a Loft mast (constant curve) without enough downhaul. But prob fibreglass mast...

Thanks, I'll get a pic of it rigged on the weekend and post it. The mast is fibreglass and a pain in the arse as it has exposed little fibres that stick in your hand and cause little stings for a few days.

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nebbian said...

Is the mast fibreglass? They don't work well with modern sails.

Can you take a photo of the sail rigged up? If you've got a carbon fibre mast then it really sounds like you need more downhaul (yes, really!)

That said, the lower battens on north sails do tend to go halfway around the mast, which makes it a pain to rotate when the wind is light. They shouldn't stick past the front of the mast though.

Gday dism, thats in the back of my head, didn't want to admit tho as it means selling the sail or buying a new mast. The sail was cheap and in great nick...

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dism said...

n.b; my guess only...

Apparently your using a mast that is to stiff (as Mistral don't make masts anymore I'm guessing its pretty old)

Wave sails need shorter masts, which are in turn softer (bendier), as they bend more per cm, to still attain the right 'curve'

I get the same sorta thing when I try to rig my 4.7 on my 460cm mast (but not quite as bad coz I spend alot of dough on a new RDM)

The only thing you can do is try getting heaps more downhaul on it (like nebbian said), or get another mast

edit: North Sails need flex top masts (someone double check me on this), so maybe your mast is stiff top. My battens go half way around the mast and get stuck when I rig my Gaastra (stiff top I think) on a Loft mast (constant curve) without enough downhaul. But prob fibreglass mast...

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shwell said...

Thanks, I'll get a pic of it rigged on the weekend and post it. The mast is fibreglass and a pain in the arse as it has exposed little fibres that stick in your hand and cause little stings for a few days.

Fiberglass shards are nasty, stay away, no throw that mast away

You'll end up tearing your new sail and getting stuck out somewhere in the water you dont wanna be

Yes, I know the pain in the wallet (uni student here) of masts, but they are the backbone of your kit, without a half decent one, how do you get the power and control to windsurf?

Sorry for the bad news, but i'm telling it as it is (My first gear I still have is all broken and fiberglass masts that dont fit my new sails, so been there done that)

Btw, chuck the mast, keep the sail

Yep, chuck the mast..

I have a North Rave 5.7 which rigs beautifully on an older NP (approx 10yr old) 430 mast, cant remember exactly which mast but its 2 piece 30% carbon, hope that helps.

I have a North Natural 7.0 on a 20 your old fibreglass mast...

Make sure you have downhauled the sail until it is literally all the way to the end of the mast.....even then North sails can be a bit tricky

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lalalamort said...

I have a North Natural 7.0 on a 20 your old fibreglass mast...

yeah, but does yours give you gifts inside your hands everytime you rig it?

Isn't a north natural a new(ish) sail, thats the equivalent of getting a new car and pissing in the tank to fuel it!

Ok, i'm being mean now. But old masts have caused me strife (therefore this rant is directed at them not you lalalamort, sorry man)

Funny thing is my 4.7 doesn't fit on my 460, thus i'll prob try it on a shorter fiberglass mast

Make sure you check the north sails rigging guide. Can be downloaded somewhere on the web. My North Natural sail requires completely different order to rigging than my other sails.

Put the mast right in and DO NOT downhaul.
Attach boom to mast at lowest point available on the mast.
Outhaul fairly strongly.
Then add your first lot of downhaul.
Adjust to preference.

If you downhaul before any outhaul the battens stick past the mast like a $#$@!

This may or may not help, but can't hurt to make sure you are rigging correctly.

North sails ten years or less old have a narrow luft sleeve and battens that pass along side of the mast. You need a narrow mast, preferably a North and probably one of their drop shapes. Is your sail a VTS one?

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Rubby said...

North sails ten years or less old have a narrow luft sleeve and battens that pass along side of the mast. You need a narrow mast, preferably a North and probably one of their drop shapes. Is your sail a VTS one?

As above, a fibreglass mast would be the old larger diameter masts, ie. bigger than the current standard diameter mast (SDM). The sleeves on most sails in the last 10 years are too small for this mast. So use is as a flagpole or sell it to someone with an old windsurfer one design.

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dism said...

lalalamort said...

I have a North Natural 7.0 on a 20 your old fibreglass mast...

yeah, but does yours give you gifts inside your hands everytime you rig it?

Isn't a north natural a new(ish) sail, thats the equivalent of getting a new car and pissing in the tank to fuel it!

Ok, i'm being mean now. But old masts have caused me strife (therefore this rant is directed at them not you lalalamort, sorry man)

Funny thing is my 4.7 doesn't fit on my 460, thus i'll prob try it on a shorter fiberglass mast

haha, it actually is quite easy to rig. By that I mean I can downhaul it myself.....my mast is surprisingly bendy, so it all works out. Just oculdnt be bothered forking out another $400 for a new mast when i have a useable one. brb, just pissing in my new car

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Leman said...

Make sure you check the north sails rigging guide. Can be downloaded somewhere on the web. My North Natural sail requires completely different order to rigging than my other sails.

Put the mast right in and DO NOT downhaul.
Attach boom to mast at lowest point available on the mast.
Outhaul fairly strongly.
Then add your first lot of downhaul.
Adjust to preference.

If you downhaul before any outhaul the battens stick past the mast like a $#$@!

This may or may not help, but can't hurt to make sure you are rigging correctly.

Ahhh, outhaul before downhaul....this should solve my problem with the battens

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lalalamort said...
haha, it actually is quite easy to rig. By that I mean I can downhaul it myself.....my mast is surprisingly bendy, so it all works out. Just oculdnt be bothered forking out another $400 for a new mast when i have a useable one. brb, just pissing in my new car

Well if it works, then stoked, saves you heaps (damn expensive masts!!)
Whats the go with pissing in your new car??
Sounds interesting, can I have a go? haha

its "enriched" fuel