What's with this skinny mast craze?

[Too Fat]

I guess I'm always sailing big sails versus everyone else. I've tried them and am not impressed. Should they only work for big boys in hurricanes or what? Why do they feel like they bend in the middle? At the boom.

Yeah I guess they don't break as easily, but they are so mushy on 6.0 and up. What' s the big deal?

[Koen B-12]

Skinny mast is mainly for higher strenght.
One nice side effect is the easyness to grab the mast due to small diameter. This helps for wave and freestyle. Also rotation is softer.
Concerning skinny in larger sails, I use it up to 5.8 and it works great (use the same mast for the smaller 5.0)

[Robert Goyen]

Hi,

Well koen has said it perfect in the first line...Strength.
The skinny masts are so strong, I have many friends who where breaking up to 10 masts per year sailing here in Western Australia, they are now breaking none. Just note if you are using a skinny mast with the Charge or Phantom. When rigging they need a bit more out haul and down haul then suggested.

If you are sailing in any sort of waves they are definately worth a look.

Regards,


Robert Goyen
Aerotech

[MiOax]

is a 6.25 - 7.0 out of the skinny mast range...
do they become too soft?

[Too Fat]

Maybe someday they won't comprimise performance in the 6.2 to 7.0 area, but up to now none have felt worth the downgrade. They feel mushy. If you're sailing small waves and light winds this is not good.

Again, big waves and lots of wind makes them worthwhile. Other wise, save your money for more important things. I used a 450 on a 5.8 Air and had a great time. Hmm, the Air had spec'd a 430, do you think a size larger is stiffer at the boom? If one has to have skinnies, maybe get a 490rdm and saw off the tip? (Joking)

[Unregistered]

Hey TooFat
I don't know how big your really are, but my two buds who weigh 220 and 205 both use RDM's exclusively in their wave sails.
Also, another bud who weighs right around 195 does.
Some flat water buds who weigh in around 230lbs. also uses RDM's exclusively.
And these guys are the fastest sailors around, who make 98% of their jibes, ride boards that are total sinkers, and sail 100 days a year.
You just gotta go where it's windier, that's all.
All the guy's biggest sail is around 5.9, and smallest in the 2.7 range. Northern California.

[MiOax]

oh man ...
if 5.9's was the biggest sail i owned. i would be in heaven
reality is, i live in florida
and i cant even remeber the last time i was on my 5.3

[Too Fat]

My retirement fund is very demanding. I don't let it ruin my life, but it will allow an early out. Then, if I live that long, I can pop around from one great venue to another and throw away my 12.5 and 11.0. The gig I'm working now is way too good to change. Sail 200+ days on big and littler stuff per year, and make good coin. Florida ain't all that bad.

I think it's a good reality check to compare skinnies vs Reg masts. If you live in one of those places where you've got power to spare (waste) good for you. I bring up the issue for the majority of the WS world that doesn't have that luxury. Some day, maybe I'll choose to look at WS'g with the "just say no to 6.0" perspective.

[Unregistered]

Hey TooFat
I missed out on your choice of life style and sailing spot.
Here in the SF Bay Area, when the winds hit 16-24mph, all the good sailors who weigh 200-230 are using 5.4 wave or freestyle sails with 85-105 liter boards.
The bad or inefficient sailors, of any weight, are using 6.5 to 7 meter sails and 105 + liter boards.
I find bigger boards just weigh more, and need more wind to get planing. I'm a little guy though, at 155lbs., so easily use my 62 liter board in the above winds with a 5-5.4 sail.
It really depends what you are used to, and what kind of winds you find normally.