Hi All,
just getting back into windsurfing. Im just beginning to learn water starting.

So Im buying some new gear. Got a new 124L free ride board (im 73kg). Im now trying to decide on a sail and mast combination but this seems to be a difficult because what Im trying to do is get a mast type that is as universal as possible so that i can use as many different brands of sail as possible.

Im looking for:a sail/ mast that is
non-cam
freeride
6.4m, (later on Ill get a 5.5, and 7.5)
say 40% carbon mast, 430cm, RDM.

Im wondering if there is brand that best fits the above "specs". Perhaps what gear is most commonly used by fellow windsurfers and where could this gear be brought from at good prices.

I really dont want to go down the track where Im locked into one brand or need to purchase a new mast to suit a new sail each time.

I would appreciate your advice.

Thanks and pardon the dumb question.

What works with what:



as far as big mast brands go, Fiberspar, Ezzy, Simmer, technolimitz, older NoLimitz etc are middle of the road bend curve and suit many sails.

You want to avoid Neil Pryde and Gaastra / mauisails as they are mast specific.

BUT if you get your first mast and sail at a ripper price then have to stick with that brand later (and it is commonly used or sold wherever you are) then what's the harm?

mast/sail compatibility changes year by year :(
use unifiber mast selector - have it year by year
www.unifiber.net/masts-selector

Mark,

Is that table applicable for 2015? Looking at some of the unifibre tables, compatibilities seem to change.

I assume sail/mast matching is very important to get the most out of sail performance.

Joe,

Im not sure what the 5 columns mean with the unifibre chart. Is it just a diagramatic "spread" of compatability or does it relate to carbon content?

if compatibilities change nearly each year, then I guess what Im asking is almost impossible to achieve?

Can you guys advise on what brand sail is the most common in Australia. (Im in SA).

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Im not sure what the 5 columns mean with the unifibre chart. Is it just a diagramatic "spread" of compatability or does it relate to carbon content?

No......it refers to how much top flex the sails require more to the left less flex in the top more to the right more flex in the top.

Unifiber make 3 versions of each of their masts Hard top, Constant curve and Flex top. the chart refers to which of their masts best fits the sail brand you want to use it on.

if you want to run 5.5, 6.5 and 7.5 sails all on a 430 the only sail I know that can do that is the neil pryde "ryde"

pretty much every other sail manufacturer will require you to get a 460 mast for the 7.5

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Discus said..
Mark,

Is that table applicable for 2015? Looking at some of the unifibre tables, compatibilities seem to change.

I assume sail/mast matching is very important to get the most out of sail performance.

Joe,

Im not sure what the 5 columns mean with the unifibre chart. Is it just a diagramatic "spread" of compatability or does it relate to carbon content?

if compatibilities change nearly each year, then I guess what Im asking is almost impossible to achieve?

Can you guys advise on what brand sail is the most common in Australia. (Im in SA).

Near enough, which brands are hard top and soft top has not changed. It is a good enough guide for your purposes of selecting brands with best chance of interoperability.

As to SA I dunno what most guys there are using.....?

I second the Neil Pryde 'Ryde'.
http://www.neilpryde.com/sails/freerace/2015-ryde.html

One mast and also one boom for 5.5 to 7.5 is pretty impressive. Makes life easy.

It's also designed for intermediates. No cams, easy to rig, very stable, etc. etc. These sails would last someone like that for many years. Hell my quiver is exactly like that (super freaks).

Cons: The buyer will be in Neil Pryde land, but only because of the mast. And that is not a bad place anyway.
You'd probably have to buy brand new.

If you are just learning to waterstart I would recommend a 75% carbon mast. They are a lot lighter than 40% and easier to lift out of the water. Do not think OK I'll go 100% then. The 100% are too fragile for your level of sailing experience.

Lads,

I really appreciate your time and effort to help me out. What a great forum this is!

My aim was not so much to limit my mast to one length but rather to find a mast (with characteristics) that are compatible with the widest number of different sail brands (for no cam type sails). Im trying to avoid the situation where each time you buy a new sail of a different brand, you also need to buy a new mast as well!

Those tables that Mark and Joe Windsurf have brought along are spot-on what Im after. By the various comments made I now have a a bit better understanding of what they mean and their relevance....perhaps a bit risky though to use these tables to decide on buying a new sail to suit an existing mast that I may have.

Thanks

I wouldn't buy a bunch of sails of different brands.

I'd stick to one brand. you then get size consistency and a familiar feel across the sizes.

Yep, I would also avoid mixing sail brands. It is much easier to learn how to rig the sails right and you also get the correct sizing/overlap in you quiver.

Believe it or not, in this industry a 5.3 from one brand is not always the same size as a a 5.3 from another...

But, just get yourself a nice constant curve mast and it will work just fine with the majority of sails out there.

Why no Ka Sails in that table? Considering that that brand sails works with a wide range a masts and has a very good cost/ performance ratio.

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kato said..
Why no Ka Sails in that table? Considering that that brand sails works with a wide range a masts and has a very good cost/ performance ratio.

The chart is from Germany... given the number of sail brands worldwide, we can forgive them a little.

Don't stress too much about this. If its 20 knots, give me any 5.8 on that list with any mast it would still be a blast. Give the same rig to any pro and they're still go faster and then land a double forward over the top of you for good measure.

So for a wind range of 8 to 20knts ( including 30knot gusts), what STABLE cam-less sail and size would you recommend that will get me planning on a lake ?

Any reasonable brands/ models?

I would choose my 6.4 ka kult.

The wind range you mention is going to test any sail brand. Most sails have got about 8 knots wind range in them.

Gestalt,

Thanks for the advice on wind range.

Its funny, and to be expected..some are telling me that 6.4-6.5 is too big and I should go more than a 6m!..I guess it depends on the sail and sailors ability.



......Who is a reasonable priced seller for ka sails?...what model would you suggest?

For the 6.4 kult 8-20 is right in the pocket. For me it's a 12-18 knot sail. Dredge in less than 12 knots or put up a 7.5.

For what you are asking I'd say kult but you could also get the koyote. For the 7.5 I'd say koyote for sure.

Thing is most modern sails are excellent across brands.

Check out the powerex mast range. A very adaptable piece of kit. Agree avoid Neil Pryde. Severne, Naish even Maui are moving to constant curve so unless you are Neil Pryde wild id avoid ( it's pricey also).

Thank you all for your advice Gents.

I appreciate your time and effort. sounds like constant curve mast and 6.5 -7.5 sail area is the go.

may investigate Ka sails as well.