I've got a Sailworks LipStick 430 SDM, 55% carbon, MCS: 26.5 & IMCS: 22.5 mast. I've been told that it is too stiff for a Loft Lip Wave 5.0 or 5.2 however I'm not sure if this is "hero" speak from guys that think they can feel the difference?

I'm an intermediate sailor, predominantly flat water up to now and just starting to have a go in the waves. Don't know if I'd know the difference if I was running the recommended mast v's what I've got but I don't want to destroy the sail or give myself obstacles in learning on the waves.

Anyone got any feedback about SDM masts they are using with Loft Lip Waves or what types of sails they might be using a Sailworks LipStick mast with? Also interested in any feedback about similar types of masts in use with the Gun Wave MC 5.3.

P.S. The answer is not a new mast - affording the sail is hard enough!

Hi Boz,

I was waiting for someone more experienced to write in, but it looks like your post slipped under the radar.

The recommended mast has an IMCS of 19, while you've got a 22.5 -- I think it will be OK. You will probably need to heave a bit more on the downhaul to get the right amount of leech floppiness, but it shouldn't damage the sail.

Anyway the answer is in not being able to afford a new mast (I'm in the same boat!) so you may as well use the one you've got

BOz

Sorry i only read the beginning of your post not the end part (the bit about Wave MC's). I run my 5.3m MC on 430 RDM IMCS 21 Loft mast. I always asumed that if the IMCS was about 3-5 + or - recommended then you wouldn't get the ideal performance/feel from the sail. However I know that you can put a slightly stiffer mast into a sail for more power (good if you're a heavy weight) or softer mast for more twist (for a light weight).

The Gun sails, I believe, are desgined to be compatible with RDM or SDM, but the sails will feel a little softer with better rotation on the RDM's (pretty obvious really). As for the IMCS, damage won't occur but the feel may be a little "tighter" and more powerful than if you tried my sail with the loft RDM.

If you're based anywhere around Sydney you can try rigging my sail with an SDM and see what it looks like....

and i haven't mentioned Loft sails as i have no experience with them.. except visiting Monty in his sail loft a few years back!

I think Crash's advice on trying the sail on different masts is the best. Take your sail into a shop (hopefully there is one near you?) and rig it on a 19IMCS mast. If there is a big enough difference you will see it.

My example is a 5.3m Arrows Impact Wave that I was rigging on a 21IMCS mast for about a season. A few people told me I had it on the wrong mast and I, like you, called BS. Later on I bought a 19IMCS mast (the recommended) and tried the sail again. WOW what a change. It went from being a fussy dog of a sail with a narrow sweet spot to a dream ride with beautiful power and twist.

WRT visible differences, on the 21 I couldn't get enough bend in the mast via downhaul to get the battens off the mast. I'd pull extra outhaul on to compensate but the sail looked very flat and rigid. But now I have it on the right mast, the battens sit nicely behind the mast pocket and don't connect with the mast when gybing. I can push on the front of the sail near the boom and it has a nice amount of give/spring.

I'm not familiar with the Loft sail but if someone on the beach has taken the trouble to point out that your sail's not setting right then he probably knows what he is talking about.

As for spending the $$ to get the right equipment, save yourself the hassle and just do it. Trust me, it's worth it. I spent years stuffing around with bits and pieces from here and there and it ultimately held back my progression - especially when i got into the waves.

Now I have equipment that works and I can forget about it and focus on cracking the next move.

Good winds.

Cheers everyone for your advice. It's such a pity that masts/sails aren't very interchangeable. There seems to be just that slight difference in IMCS (and now with RDM vs SDM muddying the waters) to stop a given sail working with a competitors mast.

Perhaps I should just get a Sailworks Revolution!

get a revolution, the 2007 ones are awesome. i have the 5.2 and about to get 4.6 and maybe 4.2

BOz,

The BAD news is it is not just IMCS.
I can't tell you whether it REALLY makes a great deal of difference but on the starboard forum they bang on about a soft tip vs constant curve vs stiff top.

Gaastra's do or did like a stiff top,
Naish, Servene like Constant Curve (Powerex for example)
North, Pryde and HotSails maui like a softer tip.

The guy from Sailworks (forget his name) would be a great source of info.

This will do your head in.
http://2006.star-board.com/forum/starbulletin/read.asp?ID=6626&t=2006612142029

Happy hunting.

Ashley

I am using an ezzy skinny 430 mast, and it works fine