I am looking at getting a Naish S26 foil setup. What is the difference between the 3 mast types? Is it just the weight or do they suit different riding styles? The 30% carbon one is not much more expensive than the aluminium but is it any "better" in the 85cm length as I haven't heard of a carbon/glass composite foil mast before? I know "better" is very subjective but does it actually feel different when winging or is it any lighter? The 100% carbon is not going to be worth the extra $$$ for my skill level. Whilst I am banging away on the keys. If anyone can recommend a two foil quiver from Naish that would be awesome. I am 75-80kg and early-intermediate (no back flips yet ) after being a weekend-winger for about a year and love to ride short period chop in the bay (or maybe that's all I get so I may as well love it).

I'm 79kg and using the 1240HA and 280 stab for bay swell winging. It's great, really early take off and low drag, no point using anything bigger. Might get the 1040HA for higher winds but the 3.3 mtr wings works fine with the 1240HA in 20 knots so maybe no need.

The HA's are quick, had the 1240 up to 19 knots, being quick means a higher cruising speed and you can get away using a smaller wing, rarely use my 5 mtr now. The 280 stab pumps nicely, better than the Moses 483 I was on before. The 1240HA is 20 mm thick, and the 280 stab is 8mm, contributes to the higher cruise speeds.

No idea about masts, I'm still on a 2019 90cm alloy. I know the S26 alloys are stiffer this year, extra ribs have been added. Alloy is generally stiffer than carbon, well the ones I have tested in the past have been. I'm looking upgrading too when the S26 arrive in Oz later this year, July maybe.

Not owning or having ridden any Naish foils I'm willing to bet the lower carbon mast is just there to reduce maintenance in salt water.

Older masts were thinner and narrower chord....less low end but more top speed.
Newer..wider and thicker...should be stiffer, but the one I twisted felt the same. Newer has stainless insert for screws.

I've been riding Naish for a few years and the new AL mast is so light I'd just go w that. As for wings, gliding and getting up in the bare minimum the 2000 is so on point. I've preordered the 2140 HA so we'll see if it unseats the 2000 in my quiver. I also ride a 1800 HA and it glides farther than the 2000 And is definitely faster but when I look out at 10-12 the 2000 has that pop without the extra pumping. For your solid or high end the 1240 or 1400 HA rock. If jumping I'd lean towards the 1240.

Naish have come along way with their foils over the years and their first foils were pretty much cheap entry level foils to get people into foiling.. They are now one of the best performance foils out there..

The latest three masts from Naish in the new S26 range is.. The Aluminium.. The Carbon 35.. and the 100% Carbon.. The alloy one is the cheapest and a very good mast.. It's light but like all alloy masts they can flex and even bend if crashed hard enough.. The new composite masts are the way to go for sure.. They are stiffer.. have a better feel.. and are pretty much bulletproof..

The composite versions come in a full carbon and a much cheaper 35% carbon version that I have been using.. It's awesome.. That's the one the I'd recommend most people get.. It's a little heavier than the 100% carbon but I've heard it has a very similar performance..

I think a light person using small foils might prefer the alloy version but bigger guys (like me) using bigger foils might be more suited to the composite masts.. The aluminium mast is very light and although my C35 mast is noticeably heavier it feels stiffer.. I haven't used the full carbon mast yet but I'm sure JB has and maybe he can comment more about it..

Thanks DJ, I was tossing up between the alloy or 35 for winging, sounds like the 35 is the way to go. Regarding mast length, I'm using the old 90cm so have to choose between the 85 or 95. No flat water use, just bay slop swell riding on the 1240HA, go longer or go shorter?

This is great feedback. Thanks everyone. The composite mast sounds great as well as the 1240HA front wing. Is everyone moving onto the new HA foils or are these more suited for speed and the Jet is a better all round option for free ride and small waves?

Turning favors Jet.
Speed and light feel favor HA.
I like both. 600 and 1220.

I run the 1240HA in everything, it flies in bugger all and snaps around on a wave quicker than my current abilities, For winging I don't know why you wouldn't use anything but a HA wing, I'm sure there might be some but I only see advantages.

Hmmm....
Have we heard that before.....

We are going through some growing pains but Naish, Armstrong, Axis and others understand that there's different strokes for different folks. So they are offering HA, which aren't really HA ;) but also user friendly templates that lift sooner and turn better. I've been addicted to my HA 1800 for downwinders but recently I popped the 1250 Jet in on some small waves and forgot what it was like to carve and turn like that. So it really comes down to where you're sailing and where you are in the learning curve. Even Balz uses a +2000 sq cm in super light wind. ;)
PS Thanks for the info on the mast, they haven't released here yet.

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airsail said..
Thanks DJ, I was tossing up between the alloy or 35 for winging, sounds like the 35 is the way to go. Regarding mast length, I'm using the old 90cm so have to choose between the 85 or 95. No flat water use, just bay slop swell riding on the 1240HA, go longer or go shorter?

I think 85 is the goldilocks length..

You will notice a huge difference between the old alloy mast and the new C35 mast..

I also have a new alloy 95 S26 mast that I mostly use for windsurf foiling..

I have '18 70 cm, '20 65cm, and '19 90 cm...all narrow chord higher aspect.
Does seem fast, and low drag, compared to most other foils, maybe due to mast chord and thinness.
79 fuze is the biggest +, but for windfoil and 2 foiling wing runs.

Is there any improvements (except for extra hole at the fuse section) with the S26 fuselage vs S25?

Also, with S25 1800 HA and 1400 HA seems to have pretty much the same top end speed, 16 knots for 1800 HA and ~17 knots for 1400 HA, is S26 any faster?

Helicoil inserts?

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ArtemN said..
Is there any improvements (except for extra hole at the fuse section) with the S26 fuselage vs S25?

Also, with S25 1800 HA and 1400 HA seems to have pretty much the same top end speed, 16 knots for 1800 HA and ~17 knots for 1400 HA, is S26 any faster?

Yes.. The only change from S25 and S26 fuselage is the extra hole for the rear stabilizer giving you a short fuselage option without even buying one.. They both have the new helicoil inserts.. Pretty sure the HA1400 is the same shape so I can't see it being any faster..

S26 Naish Masts.

Ok, I will do my best to make this clear, but in reality, they're all awesome!

S26 Alloy. These masts are super light. They have a longer profile which results in a little more high speed drag. For the money this mast is incredibly stiff and responsive.

C35 Composite. I love this mast and have been riding this mostly (yes, even after riding the C100). Whilst it is a little heavier than the Alloy and the C100, it has a really nice feel to it. I love it for carving and have also clocked Winging speeds over 40kmh on it. There is more than enough stiffness in this mast IMHO for anyone. It has far exceeded my expectations from the design brief and for the money, you can't really beat it. I ride this mast in a 75cm and an 85cm. Absolute weapons.

C100 Full Carbon. This mast is all the goodness of the C35 but about 200+ grams lighter. The difference in stiffness it tricky to describe, but it is there. For nearly twice the coin as the C35 it is hard to justify, but this is the case with all full Carbon masts when there is an excellent cheaper option. This all said the tightness and speed to response on the C100 is exceptional. I have always said that Carbon generally is not as stiff as our Alloy options, but the new S26 C100 is definitely the closest yet if not equal! Plus it does have a slightly better torsional stiffness.

So from my experience and preference, here's what I strongly think. Majority of people should just go straight for the C35, from learner to shredder. The Alloy is an awesome mast, but for the $50 in package or the $100 individually, it is money well spent for an exceptionally performing mast. If you are always riding at super fast speeds and pushing the boundaries, or if you have the coin and wish to get your kit lighter, then the C100 is the option. I have gone back and forth from the C35 and the C100 and still have been riding the C35 as my goto mast (there's just something really comfortable about it - maybe the $700 saved ). But really which ever mast you go for in S26, you are going to be stoked for sure.

In support of all of this, we (Windgenuity) have backed the C35 mast as the STD for all our complete foils. It really is an awesome mast. More stock is on its way as we speak. Speak with your local Naish Dealer for more info now and get orders in. Shipment are still playing havok with getting stock at the moment and whilst supply is on the way, it is limited.

Ride safe,

JB

Windgenuity, if I'm reading the algebra in your review:

The C100 is the most expensive and least stiff of the masts, but lightest.

Alloy is least expensive and stiffest and heaviest.

C35 is Goldilocks if you care about weight at all.

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surfcowboy said..
Windgenuity, if I'm reading the algebra in your review:

The C100 is the most expensive and least stiff of the masts, but lightest.

Alloy is least expensive and stiffest and heaviest.

C35 is Goldilocks if you care about weight at all.

Ok, Maybe I have lost a few of you with this.

The C100 is comparable to our stiffest Alloy mast for straight out stiffness ("but the new S26 C100 is definitely the closest yet if not equal!").
But it has benefits in other ways to that an alloy can not compete in ("This all said the tightness and speed to response on the C100 is exceptional").

The C35 is much stiffer than I expected ("There is more than enough stiffness in this mast IMHO for anyone"). For the money, this mast offers up tonnes of performance. This mast is still significantly lighter than our previous 2020 and earlier Alloy mast system.

The S26 Alloy is the lightest of the lot and has amazing linear stiffness that is on par with the C100 ("These masts are super light" & "For the money this mast is incredibly stiff and responsive"). Where the Ally loses to the composites is in the torsional stiffness and reflex speed (particularly the higher the carbon) not necessarily just straight linear stiffness which it excels in. Also on the unlikely event of a major stack where the mast is loaded up outside of its linear strengths, it is possible to bend and alloy mast past its yield where as a composite mast will generally withstand a larger non linear force without permanent warping.

In short. We strongly believe that the S26 C35 mast is the perfect blend of strength, durability, stiffness and price. They are approx. $100 more than the S26 Alloy, and a little over half the price of the S26 C100 and feel awesome to use.

For the money, you can't really beat the S26 C35!

As mentioned we are backing the C35 as the Standard option on all complete foils for the S26 Season.

I hope this helps a bit.

Ride safe,

JB

I'm 100kgs and mostly use big foils.. The new Naish C35 mast feels solid as a rock and seems to cut through the water like a hot knife through butter..

Having a mountain biking background and having used many light weight alloy handle bars over the years once carbon fibre bars came around there was no going back..

With carbon after a big crash your bars were either broken (which never really happened) or they were perfect.. and there was none of the old slightly bent bars that was very common.. People often didn't even realize their bar were slightly bent till someone else hopped on their bike and to them it was very obvious..

The old alloy bars were a bit lighter but I'd sacrifice a little weight any day for a carbon/composite material..

On the Naish USA site I see the S26 Alloy Foil Mast and the S26 Carbon mast but I don't see the C35 mast? do you know if the Naish C35 masts will be sold in the US?

My current masts are the 2020 (S24) - I have 65/75/85 and Abracadabra mount and use then all depending on the tide with the 1800 HA/310 stabilizer/55cm S25 fuselage. Sometimes in low winds I will use my 2000 Jet/450stablizer/and64cm fuselage. My current board is the Naish S25 Hover 5'10" 110L board. (6 foot / 84 KG)

At my skill level, I am really just swapping out the Mast length. Debating if upgrading to lighter mast will bring noticeable improvement.

I started to learn to foil on a Naish 7'6" Hover 135L board and 2019 1575 foil, but then via the use market in the same weekend, I bought a S25 1650 complete kit and a 2000 Jet foil wing. The 2000 Jet was what I needed to teach myself to foil. Never had time behind a boat but the 7'6" board and 2000 foil were awesome combo for learning.

I sold the 2019 1575 front wing, and I been super happy with my Naish Foil setup.

I am planning to start making use of the 1650 front foil and then possibly acquire a 1400HA.

The new C35 Naish mast will be available in the US eventually.. Maybe a few months away but check with your local dealers.. They are not even available here in Oz right now except a few pre released ones.. I think more stock is only a few weeks away here so I'd recommend putting an order in early so you don't miss out or have to wait longer for the next shipment..

I mostly use the HA1800 in all conditions but yesterday we had a strong 15-25 knot day that was gusting to 35 at times so I used my HA1400.. It was awesome.

David, what stabiliser are you using with the 1800??

What are the key differences between 1800/1400 from a ride and feel perspective?

I have recently gone from the 2000 to an 1800.

Hover 110/6mtr S25.

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Browy said..
David, what stabiliser are you using with the 1800??

What are the key differences between 1800/1400 from a ride and feel perspective?

I have recently gone from the 2000 to an 1800.

Hover 110/6mtr S25.

I'm using the 310 on my 1800 and 280 on my 1400.

The 2000 is a great wing but I'm sure you found that the HA1800 has a much higher top speed and feels less dragie and more slippery through the water.

I have found that the HA1400 lifts almost as early as the HA1800 but drops slightly earlier when slowing down.. This is most likely due to me being 100kgs and I think a lighter person might not notice much difference.

I'm still learning and not turning much but the smaller 1400 foil does feel like it turns better..

Cheers David,

Yes the 1800 is clearly faster and i think easier to get up and going on in lighter conditions. Certainly is a lot more agile than the 2000. The 2000 was great to learn the basics on.

I might try the 1400.

The first time I tried the HA1400 I used it with the bigger 310 stabilizer and it worked well but it just looked odd.. It looked like the stabilizer was almost as big as the front wing..

I get some strange looks from my 310 and 600 kitewing setup on a 79 fuze, but 65 mast.

Just wondering for windsurf foiling if 95cm is to be considered which one is better 35% carbon or aluminum? 85 kg rider

I'd recommend the 95cm mast in the C35 version.

Personally, Abracadabra for short masts only.
90-95, and heavy guys, use 4 bolt.