Dear Mast Manufactures,
Considering I've just broken 3 carbon masts, (all bottom sections), in the past 2 months, I'm suggesting you start selling replacement sections rather than the entire mast.
I, (and I'm sure others) will be most gratefull if you did!

At least one company already does this

i use a smaller sail with less downhaul over a larger sail with lots of downhaul.

i do this to stop my masts from breaking.

the pressure on masts using lots of downhaul,especially the join is huge.

Select to expand quote

JayWright said...

Dear Mast Manufactures,
Considering I've just broken 3 carbon masts, (all bottom sections), in the past 2 months, I'm suggesting you start selling replacement sections rather than the entire mast.
I, (and I'm sure others) will be most gratefull if you did!

What sort of sails are we talking here? and what were you doing? I've just broken my first mast in about 6 years and it actually shocked me because man have they taken some punishemnt (ezzy RDM). I guess though when you launch something tip first into the sand at about 20kph something has to give (I was an idiot and trying to boost a big shorey...to massive fail). Not to bad though because with Ezzy's as Nebbs said you can buy half a mast :D

Depending on what sails etc (obviously no can do with big race sails) go RDM without a shadow of a doubt, they are so much stronger it's not even worth discussing.

petermac33, experiments have been done, wherby a mast has been bent round 180 degrees and has not broken. the reason masts break is often the result of a tiny dent or chip which causes it to snap. however there have been manufacturing errors in the past which have resulted in a whole batch of masts spontaneously snapping for no apparent reason. if you want a really good quality mast go for a tushingham mast
they have a crazy warranty where if the mast breaks it is replaced for free!!!

Select to expand quote

jasonc said...

petermac33, experiments have been done, wherby a mast has been bent round 180 degrees and has not broken. the reason masts break is often the result of a tiny dent or chip which causes it to snap. however there have been manufacturing errors in the past which have resulted in a whole batch of masts spontaneously snapping for no apparent reason. if you want a really good quality mast go for a tushingham mast
they have a crazy warranty where if the mast breaks it is replaced for free!!!

180 degrees, are you sure? RDM I'm assuming? The stress's in a mast of say 40mm dia bent around 180 degrees would be off the richter!

Edit: fixed terminology fail

simon bornhoft told me that stuff

I had this trouble, and got a ezzy skinny mast and haven't broken it in the last 2 years.