Thread: Carbon fibre windsurfer mast of use?

This sounds like a useful mizzen set up to me. The trouble is the transport hassles to Adelaide, but I am sure someone closer will be able to find a use.

My experience with windsurfer sticks is they're about useless on any but a windsurfer. Way to bendy and weak to be fixed in a boat. I've seen some plans with long inserts inside them so they can be used on a conventional boat, but this likely means it's also now heavier then a well made, application specific mast.

OK thanks PAR good to know. I'll pitch it out at the roadside collection.

Noooooooo! What a pity Burra is sooo far away. I'm looking for an old sail and mast to cut down for the littlies to learn with.

Had some pm's so looks like it will be re-homed.

Originally Posted by burraboy

Noooooooo! What a pity Burra is sooo far away. I'm looking for an old sail and mast to cut down for the littlies to learn with.

That will not work very well, if at all.

As soon as you cut down the mast it loses its bend characteristics - cutting from the bottom preserves the bend most. If you cut off the top you will have a very stiff mast - too stiff!

Cutting down sails is not easy. I have done a few. In the end I bought a children's rig for my son (this was several years ago). I think that Starboard made them

Regards from Perth

Derek

Hi Derek, my main idea was to reduce the area of the sail rather than the length of the mast. I've seen it done before and it is much easier for small kids to pick up the sail and to handle so they can get started. Kids rigs are good, but if you can find a used rig to modify it is a lot cheaper.

Done

We've taught a whole lot of kids to windsurf, with some of them now on the national team, and find that a full-size mast can be fine for a reasonable-sized young teen to use. For younger kids the lack of response can be a significant issue.