What does everyone use??

Do you go for the high end max carbon content.

or do you go for the lower carbon content and sacrifice weight for strength??

had an interesting run (to say the least) with masts over the last weekend, just curious as to what people are using.

cheers

RDMs only for Wavesailing. Max carbon content. Cheap Chinese masts don't seem to last as well as branded ones so invest some cash into the 'backbone' of your rig. I use powerEx masts but its a compromise as I want to get a Severne enigma. Lots of guys have kept their powerex RDMs as they were so hard to break. Others use Neil Pryde X9s which looks a great piece of kit - really light. If on a budget perhaps a Severne Gorilla. I've also heard that Powerex may be imported again. Not used North so I can't comment
Hope that helps
Cheers
Tim

I picked up a 370 NP X9 Combat last September. It was an older model but brand new hence got a pretty sweet deal on it.

I have had NP X5, X6 and X7 masts in the past. The X7 was the biggest piece of crap ever made... I broke 3 within a week. The X6 both in SDM and RDM are solid masts. They always felt like a good compromise between not paying a fortune and getting a decent mast.

Unfortunately now that have I have the X9 the X6 looks far inferior.

All that said from what I hear it's a good idea to stick with combining masts from a specific manufacturer with that manufacturers sail brand.

As for brands specialising in accessories, I have heard many people talk highly about Powerex masts.

Is the new powerex same as the old powerex, or has the name just been recycled, anyone know? I've still got my 400 rdm, doesn't make sense to sell it even thou I haven't used it for 18months.

If you are sailing gnarly conditions pretty regularly, a lower % carbon rdm with a good warranty would be the sensible way to go. <5m sails and 370 masts, I don't think super high carbon content is important, thou never sailed a fully pimped out small rig so I may be wrong.

The reason i ask, i broke 2 "brand name" RDM masts over the weekend.
Both high carbon content. (name and brand is irrelevant)

I have previously used lesser carbon content RDM masts and still have one in SA.

1 did 2 WA trips, had numerous reef pole vaults and has pretty much not been looked after. Its still going strong.

was just curious, thanks for the feedback.

Ive got a 91% Ezzy RDM that must be 10-12 years old and has fared well.That said im looking at buying a second RDM in a 400 and am looking at the Severne Gorilla. They look like great value for the $$ and come with a really good warranty.

I bought the Severne Gorilla for the warranty but also seemed to work well with my Loft Lips. Good price and of course works really well with my newly aquired Severne SWAT. Just need a 370 version now.

Hay JBfletch
It's better to have a good mast to go with your sail. I also have been through a bunch of mast recently(3 in the last 2 months) unfortunatly sometimes you just get bad luck. I would suggest making shore you get a good warranty with your mast. Some brands will give you 2 years. I personally believe that getting the brand of mast as your sail is best. I know some other brand masts will rig your sail just fine but all my sails have always rigged the best on the intended mast. Almost like they designed there sails around there mast.

As far as carbon content. I believe that going at least 75% or greater is ideal. Less and the every day punter (this includes myself) will start to notice the difference in swing weight and lightness in your hands.

I think any anecdotal evidence in regards to broken masts is random. Eg. I had 3 broken X7 masts yet it doesn't mean the X7 is a bad mast. Could be very well that all three masts were produced on the same day and had the same inherent manufacturing fault.

Once you add the randomness of breaking gear in the ocean any scientific relevance goes out the window. I have seen people shred sails, booms, board et all but the mast coming out intact and vs versa.

One of the European mags used to do mast tests. They would randomly pick 3 masts from production then do structural break test in a lab. This would give you some sort of scientific method as to which masts performed better.

But again, I think once you introduce the randomness of waves, reef or no reef, how the mast was handled throughout it's live, exposure to heat etc. even the best test results can become meaningless.

Well until Sunday I'd never broken an RDM, then I broke 2 within the space of an hour. Mine were Gun carbon 75 and were 6 years old. Luckily I broke a top and bottom so still have one complete mast left.

Yesterday I ordered a Severne Gorilla from Simon at Boardcrazy in BNE. $500 for carbon 75 and a 2yr warranty.

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robbo1111 said...
6 years old

Imagine the amount of abuse those masts had over the years. It's quite surprising the latest that long. Just look some other consumer products. My kids toys seem to last all of about 5 minutes. Even Lego are not what they used to be.

the warranty was the part.

after a quick email-returned phone call- i was sailing again with in 24hrs.

I'm giving the mast in question the benefit of the doubt, and last night it seemed ok.

cheers again for the insight.

A warranty doesn't help much when the broken mast rips your sail and ends your sailing session early on a great day for the day.
Broken mast = drive around to get a replacement mast + drive around and wait for your sail to get repaired = time OFF water
I think new powerex are made in china now
I reckon it's better to go for a well known strong mast that might not be perfect for your brand of sail than risk the damage a broken mast causes.

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FINMEISTER said...
A warranty doesn't help much when the broken mast rips your sail and ends your sailing session early on a great day for the day.
Broken mast = drive around to get a replacement mast + drive around and wait for your sail to get repaired = time OFF water
I think new powerex are made in china now
I reckon it's better to go for a well known strong mast that might not be perfect for your brand of sail than risk the damage a broken mast causes.

had to drive a little, did miss prob the best day of the season at my local.
4.7 is in the loft getting fixed.

so yeah its a pain but better then being $1000 out of pocket

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stehsegler said...
I think any anecdotal evidence in regards to broken masts is random. Eg. I had 3 broken X7 masts yet it doesn't mean the X7 is a bad mast. Could be very well that all three masts were produced on the same day and had the same inherent manufacturing fault.

Once you add the randomness of breaking gear in the ocean any scientific relevance goes out the window. I have seen people shred sails, booms, board et all but the mast coming out intact and vs versa.

Volume plays a big part to with anecdotal evidence too, if every second mast was an X7 there would naturally be more broken X7's.. Then you get some guy pop up saying, "X7's are crap, 3 of my mates have broken X7's but I've never broken my ButtScratcher 2000"

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barn said...
Volume plays a big part to with anecdotal evidence too, if every second mast was an X7 there would naturally be more broken X7's..

I think the other issue is that Australia often gets the first batch of new product due to the fact that our season is 6 months ahead of Europe.

The number of times I have bought a board or sail with single or double digit serial numbers can't be a coincidence.

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stehsegler said...

barn said...
Volume plays a big part to with anecdotal evidence too, if every second mast was an X7 there would naturally be more broken X7's..

I think the other issue is that Australia often gets the first batch of new product due to the fact that our season is 6 months ahead of Europe.

The number of times I have bought a board or sail with single or double digit serial numbers can't be a coincidence.

thus is true.
it can be great, as it helps local shops combat from things like online competition.

however it can be bad as we essentially are like the last line of testing for brands.
I know in kiting and SUP if things aren't working they have changed them in time for the northern hemi realise.

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Tim Williams said...
Lots of guys have kept their powerex RDMs as they were so hard to break. I've also heard that Powerex may be imported again.

That is indeed correct, we will be distributing Powerex masts and booms very shortly.

Powerex was bought about 2-3 years ago (trademark, industrial property, sales network etc) and restarted with the exact same layup/material to keep the durability trademark of past Powerex records.

They are now introducing some new products:
- RDM to Flex Top bend curve (fits NeilPryde sails)
- RDM bamboo/carbon - 2 year warranty
- SDM Speed 100% carbon masts (CC and Flex Top)
- 100% Carbon booms using their mast technology (1.8 kg for a 140-190)

Last but not least it should be quite competitive pricewise.

Stay tuned...

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The Windsurfing Shed said...

Tim Williams said...
Lots of guys have kept their powerex RDMs as they were so hard to break. I've also heard that Powerex may be imported again.

That is indeed correct, we will be distributing Powerex masts and booms very shortly.

Powerex was bought about 2-3 years ago (trademark, industrial property, sales network etc) and restarted with the exact same layup/material to keep the durability trademark of past Powerex records.

They are now introducing some new products:
- RDM to Flex Top bend curve (fits NeilPryde sails)
- RDM bamboo/carbon - 2 year warranty
- SDM Speed 100% carbon masts (CC and Flex Top)
- 100% Carbon booms using their mast technology (1.8 kg for a 140-190)

Last but not least it should be quite competitive pricewise.

Stay tuned...

Do you know what diameter those Powerex booms are?

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The Windsurfing Shed said...

Tim Williams said...
Lots of guys have kept their powerex RDMs as they were so hard to break. I've also heard that Powerex may be imported again.

That is indeed correct, we will be distributing Powerex masts and booms very shortly.

Powerex was bought about 2-3 years ago (trademark, industrial property, sales network etc) and restarted with the exact same layup/material to keep the durability trademark of past Powerex records.

They are now introducing some new products:
- RDM to Flex Top bend curve (fits NeilPryde sails)
- RDM bamboo/carbon - 2 year warranty
- SDM Speed 100% carbon masts (CC and Flex Top)
- 100% Carbon booms using their mast technology (1.8 kg for a 140-190)

Last but not least it should be quite competitive pricewise.

Stay tuned...

Will they be made in China?

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174 said...
Do you know what diameter those Powerex booms are?

The booms are 27.5mm OD with a slight drop shape for stiffness and comfort.

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FINMEISTER said...
Will they be made in China?

Production is split between Europe and China. 100% carbon masts are made in Europe and the exclusive bamboo/carbon in China.

original powerex were made in usa, unfortunately i truly believe even under strict instruction to china you will have a very hard time reproducing the same great quality that the old powerex were know for.

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DunkO said...
original powerex were made in usa, unfortunately i truly believe even under strict instruction to china you will have a very hard time reproducing the same great quality that the old powerex were know for.

+1

the simple truth is china have not, do not, will not make product of equal quality as was once made in the likes of utah USA and killwell NZ for masts.

i know a lot will start saying "thats not true they make all products to spec blah blah blah..." but they simply do not have the same skills implemented in the carbon processes that were used elsewhere.

as consumers we are to blame as we are all so very price driven thus driving the manufactures to produce in low cost locations.

Ezzy masts still made in USA thankfully.

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DunkO said...
the simple truth is china have not, do not, will not make product of equal quality as was once made in the likes of utah USA and killwell NZ for masts.

i know a lot will start saying "thats not true they make all products to spec blah blah blah..." but they simply do not have the same skills implemented in the carbon processes that were used elsewhere.

as consumers we are to blame as we are all so very price driven thus driving the manufactures to produce in low cost locations.

There is also not the same deep-seated tradition of engineering and manufacturing excellence as in the west.

I'm curious about the bamboo masts?

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dan berry said...
I'm curious about the bamboo masts?

Yeah that's exactly what I want to know too. Is the bamboo layered in thin vertical strips sandwiched between the carbon spiraled wrap?

Edit - just did a search on carbon bamboo and discovered they make clothing with excellent moisture absorption quality out of a carbon and bamboo fabric. Still don't know if the mast cloth would be a composite carbon bamboo weave or some other process.

An interesting link here although still none the wiser in respect to masts
www.bmedesign.eu/bamboo-composite-frame

Easy does it for me .I mean EZZY, only breaks from brain malfunction, rock sollid .

Hey I reread my post and it looks like I am having a dig at the new powerex, not the case as I have no idea on how they perform and they do have a heritage of quality build.

The reality is 98% of gear is made there, so I myself would consider giving the new powerex a run.

I was more having a stab at the trends of a lot of manufacturing. Once upon a time sidchrome was a great brand... Etc etc.

You do see lots of claims about bomb proof and hookipa tested but the best test is personal experience and noting what you've seen break. Although the old powerex occasionally break, it is rare.

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sausage said...

dan berry said...
I'm curious about the bamboo masts?

Yeah that's exactly what I want to know too. Is the bamboo layered in thin vertical strips sandwiched between the carbon spiraled wrap?

Edit - just did a search on carbon bamboo and discovered they make clothing with excellent moisture absorption quality out of a carbon and bamboo fabric. Still don't know if the mast cloth would be a composite carbon bamboo weave or some other process.

An interesting link here although still none the wiser in respect to masts
www.bmedesign.eu/bamboo-composite-frame

i currently work in an industry that use a lot of bamboo in many of its products.
Theres slot of pluses if its used correctly.
Strong and light in certain directions, doesn't absorb water in garments and grows in abundance in places where most of our gear is made.

Its strong when used in snow skis and snowboards, keen to see how it goes in masts.