Im going to buy a new mast coz Im over lookingfor second hand ones that seem to either be the wrong length, over priced or RDMs. Im want to buy a couple of sails for 20-30kts but not before i buy the right mast. I will bay sailing and mainly looking at power wave sails or free style sails. I need a mast thatll be useful for a variety of sails ranging from 4.8 to 5.4. I will only buy a sdm coz thats what ive got now. Should i get a 400 or 430? My extension is about 40cm.


So, Im looking at surffx and theres some reasonably priced sdm masts around the $350 mark. Whats the diff between a wave mast etc.... Im guessing its flex?

I want to buy a North Duke 5.4. Should I buy a North mast? The Sevs look ok too. And then theres th NPs and Naish masts.

Too much to choose from.

I'd really recommend to go with a RDM mast. You can keep your boom and use a shim. Make sure you don't lose it

Lol... I found a spare shim down botany so all good there Karl. Thanks.

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Mobydisc said..

I'd really recommend to go with a RDM mast. You can keep your boom and use a shim. Make sure you don't lose it

With a mast that has a middle of the road kind of bend curve you can use it in different brand sails.
So don't buy NP, Maui Sails etc as they are extreme flex top and hard top respectively.
That is of course unless you love their sails.

As to length that is hard cos for 4.8 to 5.4 a few years back that meant 430, now both would go on a 400. So if you have to buy 5 y/o sails for $100 each due to your budget that will affect your mast choice.

I reckon your best bet is to get a Powerex, Ezzy or Simmer 400 RDM secondhand, say $300. That will allow you to rig 5 to 10 different brands sails, with sizes from about 4.5 to 5.7. Then you have a mast that won't break, and can choose a multitude of secondhand sails over various years (2004 - 2014 ish) and they will work.

Thanks for the insight, Mark. So how come not just buy a 400 sdm?

All wave sails are designed around RDM, and wave sails are great for intermediate level cos you can't bust them!
Likewise the mast itself is waaay stronger then SDM
Particularly SDM 100% carbon masts which break for no reason. Intermediate types buy them thinking they have "the best" - which they do for racing, but not for longevity.

Plus in the last few years there have been a few freeride sails based on RDM, so you can use them for fast freeride later on.

You can buy a quality RDM now and never buy another mast. (Sort of..)

in 2013 I broke 5 x 400 masts (all SDM pryde) but that was with RS slalom cammed sails :)

1 old X6 followed by 3 x 650s and 1 x MX100 mast.

Ezzy RDM all the way. Best investment I ever made in windsurfing.

2035, RDM's are easy to rig, easy to tack, makes the sail easy to carry, easy to gybe (if you do one grabbing the mast), and of course indestructible. Locally, I've never heard anyone breaking an RDM mast, but seen a few people walking out of the water with busted SDM masts.

RDM is the only way to go for freeride/wave, I've had both and will never go back. 2 masts will do most sails from 4.2 to 6.7 give or take depending on manufacturer. So look for a 400 and a 430 and a long extension and this will cover most east coast conditions. 30 knot days are few and far between around hear, actually so are 25 knot days. I spend most of my time on a 5.4 or 5.0 and rarely drag out my 4.7, that said that's for wave sailing and tend to rig on the smaller side and I weigh 95kgs. The smaller guys generally rig 4.7 and smaller depending on conditions. For blasting or bump and jump I'll regularly use a 5.8, I've got a 6.2 but it doesn't get out as much as the 5.8 (perfect blaster for me). You can get away with 3 sail, Something around 4.7, 5.4 and 6.2 or any combination there abouts depending on manufacture. I like a 4 sail quiver to cover everything I do 4.7, 5.0, 5.4 and 5.8, half meter gaps are over the top but I like sails so have em all but 1 meter gaps are manageable through proper tuning.

Oops....Sorry got carried away, Buy 2 RDMs, 400 and 430.

Depends on your quiver of sails but if you're cash constrained (i.e. pikey like me) you could pick up an Ezzy 430 mast top and a 400 bottom to make a 415 mast. My 415 mast works with my 5.8, 5.0 and 4.2 Ezzy sails with a decent mast base extension, although it's not the ideal length for the 4.2 metre and probably a touch too stiff. The Ezzy masts halves are sold separately. The mast should go with any of the middle of the range sails (top not too hard or soft) per the matrix below.

www.unifiber.net/masts-selector

In my opinion, other than performance and durability, the nice thing about the Ezzy sails is the fact that there are a few second hand ones floating around in good nick as well as discounted new ones (typically a season or two old but unused). I figure if the pros were able to pull off crazy moves 3 years ago on these model sails then they will be more than adequate for my needs. It seems that everybody has a bias on the subject of sail brands though.

Thanks a bunch for the advice guys. I've decided to go witth a gc secondhand north viper 400 sdm. The coice of sdm over rdm was made due to not wanting to buy or carry additional gear. I now understand the pros and cons tho (thanks). I've jyst picked up a 5.4 North Duke and I believe this will be a great mast for it. When this one breaks i'll definitely buy an rdm and upgrade my boom and extension at the same time. Again, Thanks for the advice and info.

FYI you shouldnt have to upgrade your boom when you get RDM, just get a shim.

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Pel said...
FYI you shouldnt have to upgrade your boom when you get RDM, just get a shim.

Thanks for the valuable input mate. Just sayin when I upgrade my mast I'll upgrade everything to suit.

Happy sailing!

WOW... gotta say I'm amazed by how light a 100% carbon mast is. The whole mast weighs about a quater of my 30% carbon pole. Seriously thinking about how great it would be to have a carbon boom.

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2035 said..

WOW... gotta say I'm amazed by how light a 100% carbon mast is. The whole mast weighs about a quater of my 30% carbon pole. Seriously thinking about how great it would be to have a carbon boom.

Be careful with 100% carbon masts.. If you leave them out in the sun for any length of time let the downhaul off a bit. I've heard they can break if left in the heat hard downhauled.. If you rig it leave it in the shade..
Also like any masts be careful not to knock them on things or drop them..
If you do this you should love them! I know I love mine!

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2035 said..

WOW... gotta say I'm amazed by how light a 100% carbon mast is. The whole mast weighs about a quater of my 30% carbon pole. Seriously thinking about how great it would be to have a carbon boom.

most booms don't get lighter with carbon, they do get stiffer !!