Can anyone tell me what what options I've got to buy a non-severne mast. In general what are the specs I need. CC or flex top etc. ICMS 19, 21, 25 ETC. Thinking of switching over to Severne or Maui sails, but want to match the mast. Cheers, Nigel

Select to expand quote

2035 said..
Can anyone tell me what what options I've got to buy a non-severne mast. In general what are the specs I need. CC or flex top etc. ICMS 19, 21, 25 ETC. Thinking of switching over to Severne or Maui sails, but want to match the mast. Cheers, Nigel

I can only speak for Gators and NCXs. Any constant curve mast will do. Hard top masts also seems to work well - I run a hard top mast in my 5.5 Gator (2012) and 6.5 NCX Pro (2012).

Nb/ After about 2011 (I think), Severne changed from hard top to constant curve.

Select to expand quote

Nb/ After about 2011 (I think), Severne changed from hard top to constant curve.

Is that true? I'd check that carefully before making any purchases.

www.slake.co/products/race-masts/
Some rumors I heard pwa sailers are using these.

There's probably some better references but this is a start ....

http://www.north-windsurf.com/eng/nodes/display/pages/mast-technology

NorthSails compatible masts/sails: Aerotech / Avanti Sails / Ezzy Sails / Goya Sails / Gun Sails / Hot Sails / KA Sails / Loft Sails / Maui Sails / Naish Sails / Sailloft / Sailworks / Severne

NorthSails partly compatible masts/sails (at about 30-40% performance loss): Challenger Sails / Point 7 / RRD / Simmer Style / XO Sails

NorthSails incompatible masts/sails:
HARD TOP: F2 Sails / Gaastra / Vandal
FLEX TOP: Hot Sails / Tushingham / Neil Pryde / Attitude Sails

Hi Nigel,
Looks like they are creeping more towards constant curve
www.unifiber.net/masts-selector
www.unifiber.net/2014/mast-selector

Before you switch I suggest you try and get a ride on both rigs, but by the look of the latest mast curve Maui and Severne have the same mast curve.

Select to expand quote

ikw777 said..
Is that true? I'd check that carefully before making any purchases.

Yeah, I had a quiver of 2009 and 2010 Gators which were hard top. I replaced them last year for a quiver of 2014's. I brought some CC masts to match my 4.0 and 4.7 Gators. I still have the old 2010 Gator 4.7 because it's such a good sail (albeit seen better days). I have kept the old Severne blue line masts (hard top). I use the Severne 430 Blueline with my 5.5 Gator and 6.5 NCX Pro. I haven't upgraded this mast to a CC mast as the hardtop mast works well with the 5.5 Gator and 6.5 NCX.

I'm told there is a good match between RRD and Severne. I know from personal experience that Gaastra and Severne are a reasonable match.

The Severne RDM 100 masts are expensive but worth every cent in my opinion. Super light and very durable. The only other mast I have had in the past that was equally good was a Neil Pryde X9. FYI, I have tried rigging various Neil Pryde masts in different lengths with some Severne S1 and Blades but none of them really worked... not even as a stop gap.

Late comment, but I am happy to share my experience so far. I have tried a variety of Powerex, Naish, Gaastra, Maui Sails, and Severne Redline RDM masts in my Severne Blades and S1s 2007-2013 sizes 4.3-6.7m2.

The Powerex 85% was good in my 2007 Blades, but terrible in my 2009 S1s. Maui Sails 100% was not good either.

400 Naish 85% Firestick was OK, but 100% Firestick looked good on grass, but felt terrible (dead) because it was too stiff.

430 100% Gaastra has been spot on perfect. I have tired 3 and all are as good as 100 Redline in S1s 2009- 2012

Tried a Maui Sails 460 75% RDM in 6.7m2 Blade. The mast was terrible and unbearably heavy. Got the Redline 460 RDM and it is light and perfect.

So, I think Gaastra 100 RDM is your best alternative. Investing in a Severne mast is a VERY good investment. If at all possible, I HIGHLY recommend it. The 100% is so light and makes the sail feel lively and rangy. Just do it.

Select to expand quote

ikw777 said..

Nb/ After about 2011 (I think), Severne changed from hard top to constant curve.

Is that true? I'd check that carefully before making any purchases.

The Severne mast curves have not changed.

Its also worth checking out the Nolimitz (www.nolimitz.com) range of RDM masts, SUMO, Original and FAST, these are bomb-proof, come in a range of stiffness's high in carbon and are the largest mast manufacturer in USA. They also produce masts for Ezzy, Goya and Sailworks but to name a few and distributed in Australia by www.windsurf systems.com.au

yep, they are the bomb, and priced well.

what you need is some sort of Matrix Chart that shows what masts will suit what brands, on this specific topic what models will match the Severne bend profile, I was under the impression that all the No Limitz were CC and the 'Sumo' were 1% stiffer than the normal 25/21/19 numbers....obviously I'm wrong.

Hi Jonesy, see my post about the unifibre charts, but now Severne is saying the curve hasn't changed but not so when you compare the two years in the unifibre charts. One would go with Severne's post I would think.

Just wondering if anyone else has had trouble with the gorilla severne mast sticking together an if so how did you pull it apart?

Select to expand quote

Dean 424 said..
Hi Jonesy, see my post about the unifibre charts, but now Severne is saying the curve hasn't changed but not so when you compare the two years in the unifibre charts. One would go with Severne's post I would think.

Yep saw that, also just learned that NL also has what's called a 'Fast' Skinny, stiffer again, seems to be aimed at larger sails...could suit stiffer mast spec requirements don't know, unlike Unibre they haven't got a cross reference chart. www.nolimitz.com/products/

I actually don't know what the Severne curve is ...couldn't see it on the website...just seems to be common knowledge that they are a stiffer top?
The Fast or Sumo may work really well with Severne?

Iv'e run a ezzy skinny in a 7m OD and a 7.5m turbo and it works well even being CC.

Now If I was in the business of selling No Limitz...which I'm not..I'd be putting together a little fact sheet on what sail brands the models work well with

I have used POWEREX (free80?? think it was)..in Severne NCX's....went pretty well...also rigged side by side with the correct redline 100% carbon mast..the ncx when rigged with redline obviously looked slightly more open/loose at leech but dont know if it would have made that much difference on the water..the average sailor wouldnt be able to pick it i dont think...
Also on some of the severne advertising I have noticed the pro riders rigged with powerex masts...I realise they were probably paid to use it but if it didnt work well enough would they sacrifice lack of performance ?..I dont think so IMHO.

I posted this question to the Severne website a while ago and got the reply that the powerex was next best preferred option....

Select to expand quote

2035 said..
Can anyone tell me what what options I've got to buy a non-severne mast. In general what are the specs I need. CC or flex top etc. ICMS 19, 21, 25 ETC. Thinking of switching over to Severne or Maui sails, but want to match the mast. Cheers, Nigel

Why? If you want to match the mast just buy the mast that is made by the manufacturer of the sails you are changing to. It sounds like you are going to buy masts anyway. I can't understand why you are pissing around trying to find other brands that "might" work. It's not like Severne masts are even that expensive in fact the Gorilla is very competively priced and is very durable. They also have a longer warrantee than a lot of others too. Just to clarify also I'm not using Severne at the moment either for any of my wave gear So no bias towards them.

Select to expand quote

qldnacra said..

2035 said..
Can anyone tell me what what options I've got to buy a non-severne mast. In general what are the specs I need. CC or flex top etc. ICMS 19, 21, 25 ETC. Thinking of switching over to Severne or Maui sails, but want to match the mast. Cheers, Nigel

Why? If you want to match the mast just buy the mast that is made by the manufacturer of the sails you are changing to. It sounds like you are going to buy masts anyway. I can't understand why you are pissing around trying to find other brands that "might" work. It's not like Severne masts are even that expensive in fact the Gorilla is very competively priced and is very durable. They also have a longer warrantee than a lot of others too. Just to clarify also I'm not using Severne at the moment either for any of my wave gear So no bias towards them.

probably because it would be good to have less gear, in general. So if you find a mast (regardless of brand) that works in a variety of sails and or brands that you own it would be good, it may not be 100% perfect but say 90%, if you can use it over more sails it would be well worth it. Sometimes stock availability may be an issue not just price, the no limitz research that I have just got back from them last night, could save some customers $HUNDREDS on a sail branded mast.

eg some Sail Branded Masts Retail for over $1kish, the NL $600ish, its just good to know there are options, and if your limited to the 2nd hand market then you need to look at those options that will save you hundreds of dollars on your kit, the savings might mean you can get an extra sail, or better board etc.

It would be great if all sail brands had pretty much the same curve spec, I think it would open up the market to make buying and selling sails swapping brands etc a lot easier, conversely from a manufacturers POV , they probably would encourage the opposite to increase brand loyalty, eg, change brands, change masts..all to hard and costly!

here you go from NL direct...use it as you like.. not a matrix as such but some handy info if you are looking at generic masts, make of it as you will....I should be getting paid to pimp their stuff! Haha. I don't even own one! They just may offer a generic better value solution for some ppl.

Thanks for getting in touch, NoLimitz masts do work in Severne sails. We have two team riders, Mike Burns & Wyatt Miller who ride the Severne Freeks, and they both use the NoLimtitz Sumo mast in them. As for the freeride/race sails I would say using the Sumo or the FAST would be fine. As for going to a stiffer tip section, we also have Matt Pritchard riding on Gaastra, and we have found for the Gaastras doing our NoLimitz Original Base & Sumo Tip works well. So for a 400: 400 NoLimitz Original Base 400 Sumo Tip I would say going with a straight up Sumo or FAST would be fine. If you are looking at a 460cm both mast lines have a 460cm, but the FAST will be a touch lighter due to using higher modulus carbon. Basically with higher modulus carbon you can use less material and get the same stiffness characteristics.

We do have a 460cm & 490cm mast, 460 sumo and FAST, and the 490 in the FAST. You can’t use a NL piece with an Ezzy piece as the connecting ferrules are in opposite sections! You can use any of my information in the forums, another useful bit would be a link and discussion about our company which NoLimitz is part of: Innovative Composite Engineering (www.innovativecomposite.com)

yes it's an interesting debate at the moment. I concur with Dean 424, if you look at the unifiber chart from 2011 to 2014, there is a difference in the bend curve of the severne masts.

www.unifiber.net/masts-selector

www.unifiber.net/2014/mast-selector

The reference point in all of this is the Gaastra RDM. It hasn't changed over the 3 years, yet the severne RDM has.

I got into measuring mast curves after I got a bad batch of severne masts in 2010. The 400 did not set my 2010 blades well, yet the 430 did. On measuring the 400 it was a 13% bend curve and the 430 9%. The Gaastra masts I managed to get all ran 8-9%. My point is that you can get a large variation even within brands.

My 2010 and now my 2013 blade's all work really well on the Gaastra masts, however I have my suspicions with the 2014 and 2015 blades (I have a 5.3 14 and a 15 pro, the 13 got trashed), as they set and feel different. I have to fine someone with a 2015 severne mast or a 2014 naish mast to measure, rig and try my sails on. I have a whole set (5) of Gaastra masts, hence I don't want to change masts due to my sails. I'll have to sort this mess out when it comes to updating my sails, might to go to GA sails as the cost of mast changer over it too high and GA has been consistent, even though I really like my 2013 blades.

I can only refer to RDM masts, I have no experience with SDM's.

The changing world of mast compatibility really does tend to drive me nuts

I agree. Windsurfing is already quite expensive compared to other sports. ( e.g. Kite boarding). And all these different mast curve really add the the complexity and cost. Perhaps for the pros it would make a difference, but for me I doubt it

Select to expand quote

MvB said..
I agree. Windsurfing is already quite expensive compared to other sports. ( e.g. Kite boarding). And all these different mast curve really add the the complexity and cost. Perhaps for the pros it would make a difference, but for me I doubt it

Just not true, 2-3 kites and a board will easily cost you $2-3k. Pretty much exactly the same as windsurf gear and then you have to account for the flooded second hand market here in WA which kiting does not have.

to be fair, i think most people would be lucky to pay much less than 2k for a new current model windsurfing board alone (for a world wide popular known brand), unless getting mates rates from the store

i use a severne gorilla in a 4.2 and 4.8 neil pryde sail, and it works perfectly well. I only have 3 sails. though bigger sails might not be so good with the wrong curve, and i'm more focused on early planing rather than top end speed / control. some kind of constant curve mast might give you the greatest compatibility overall, particularly if you are like me and you aren't looking for absolute performance. i think the fun starts to end once you get too anal about the equipment

Could we all get together and measure our own masts and make up a data base on seabreeze?
How can someone at home measure their mast? Do you extend a 430 to 460 then measure it?

Select to expand quote

FINMEISTER said..
Could we all get together and measure our own masts and make up a data base on seabreeze?
How can someone at home measure their mast? Do you extend a 430 to 460 then measure it?

Here's the test: www.sailworks.com/pdfs/MCS_test.pdf
It's not difficult. You don't need a lot of fancy equipment just a couple of trestles ~700 mm high for short masts and some way of supporting a string line directly above it to measure from. That works if you have reasonably compact weights like exercise weight plates. You need 30kg.

Select to expand quote

Pongo said..
Just wondering if anyone else has had trouble with the gorilla severne mast sticking together an if so how did you pull it apart?

Pongo, I had the same problem with one of my severne masts. I used the gorilla method shown on Boardtests: boardtests.com/2011/09/windsurfing-mast-stuck-together-how-to-fix-it/

// Adam

Yeh this is what we do to get windsurfer sails to set correctly when "base mounted" on our land yachts.
A bit of mix and match to get them to set correctly, as the boom is only 250mm up from the base of the mast.
I have found not a lot of measured "IMCS numbers" actually match what is printed onto the masts.
Would love to know why.

I'm still looking for a standard diameter 5300 or 5500 that's around IMCS 38 that's going cheaply.

Select to expand quote

trimmer said...
www.slake.co/products/race-masts/
Some rumors I heard pwa sailers are using these.

Do you think they are much better than Severne SDM 100 masts?