My Axis 90cm mast is 2 years old with at least 400 sessions on it - a mix of prone foiling & winging (mostly wing). Does aluminum wear out or get flexier with prolonged use?
no way am I going to fork out $1,400 for the new high modulus carbon. I can't justify the expense vs the reviews I've heard from friends who did switch. I do wonder if a new aluminum mast would perform better, though.
Select to expand quotePBfoiler said..
My Axis 90cm mast is 2 years old with at least 400 sessions on it - a mix of prone foiling & winging (mostly wing). Does aluminum wear out or get flexier with prolonged use?
no way am I going to fork out $1,400 for the new high modulus carbon. I can't justify the expense vs the reviews I've heard from friends who did switch. I do wonder if a new aluminum mast would perform better, though.
Doubtful you'd feel any increased stiffness in a new one but for $120usd it's cheap insurance against breakage. Aluminum does have a max number of flex cycles you can put it through before it starts to crack, bet it's at least twice the use you've described though.
As mentioned above . Aluminium does fatigue but it doesn't get softer it just cracks . So no cracks it's all good .and the carbon mast yes it's stiffer than the Ali plus the Ali mast flexes from the mounting plate on your board the carbon flex's lower and has a better torsional twist. You really only notice this on the really big wings like the 1150 & 1300 that's where the high modular carbon is worth owning.
Im with you PB your not alone,long time Axis rider and still have not made the switch from my 19mm masts to the new CF HM masts as be hard pressed to see if performance is that much 10X LOl,better than my good ol 19mm Alumi for couple 100 bucks a pop and Im a HW rider at over 100kgs just can't justify more than 10X more $ for a CF mast was not impressed with last CF version mast at all, but realize the HM is much better but for now until I get a chance to try one or see a used option at a better/fair price staying loyal to the 19mm alumi
BTW been riding HPS 1050 for over a year winging with the 19mm rides just fine, surprisingly just bent one so far but easy and fair price to replace no complaints
Thanks for the input. The 899 is my go-to for just about everything. My biggest wing is the 999, and I rarely use that. I have noticed a bit of flex in the system while really pushing the 999, but it's manageable.
btw - I'm 72kg, so also not as much stress on the gear as some of the bigger guys.
If I remember correctly Aluminum should get stiffer over time from repeated bending. I think it's called Work hardening. But it also becomes more brittle...
Don't forget all axis foils are carbon skinned, I used to notice the front wing flex on the 999, whereas the HPS 700 was more solid. Some riders have mistakingly claimed they're feeling mast flex, when it's the higher aspect tip flex. 799 and 999 used to feel loose for all the wrong reasons. To really enjoy HA foils, they need to be more solid like Fone Eagles and Lift HA foils.
