Found a small but deep crack in my mast near the boom clamp area after yesterday's session so I'm looking for a new mast.
Anyone have any experience of Sunshine masts? Bend characteristics? What brand sails they might work on? Construction quality?
The current damaged mast is a North Sting Drop Shape 430 30% carbon bought in 2002 being occasionally used on a 5.4m North Triple XXX (circa 2001 and pretty trashed by now) but mainly used on a 6.7m Severne PowerDrive (circa 2005?). It doesn't really give the Severne the right shape (mast seems too stiff in the bottom section - the bottom batten wraps around the mast no matter how much downhaul is applied) but works well enough.
Thinking about Powerex masts but there doesn't seem to be a retailer in Melbourne stocking these...?
I have a Sunshine 430. Got it with the setup from RPS. Had no issues with it so far. Pretty rugged as it has taken a fair beating so far. Sets my 5.8 KA Kult and 6.5 Severne NCX fine. I dont think they are the lightest masts though.
On my Severne, the bottom batten doesnt sit off the mast either but I think this is how its supposed to be. Once under load it give the sail the correct shape and seems to rotate around the mast effortlessly.
I have to say I may have had bad luck with these but I have snapped two of them after very little work.
I had a nine month old 490 (30%) which snapped rigged on the beach just after rigging. This was replaced under warranty.
The next was a 430 (30%) that had only been used four times but unfortunately snapped after 14 months, so no warranty.
As I said, maybe was bad luck but I have moved on to other brands.
Hi Cambodge,
RPS generally keep quite a few Powerex masts in stock, if they dont have what you are after the will be able to order it in for you.
