Hi all you speed guys I need some help, will a neil pryde matrix x3 mast I have work ok in a neil pryde rs4 race sail. ( i'm looking at buying the sail) the specs say a x9, Will the cambers still all fit and rotate ok and the sail still set ok, the mast is the same brand, lenght and imcs (normal dia.), I have always had wave and freeride gear without cams, I just want to go fast on the lake in flat water. will mostly sail with an older epoxy slalom board so just aiming to at least crack over 30 knots for a start. (when I get my gps)
Thanks Jimbob.
Yes it should fit. I'd be very careful when rigging it for the first time though. Remove all of the red spacers between the cam and the batten. The diameter of the X3 is a bit bigger than the X9 and the difference is enough to put enormous amounts of cam pressure on the mast... This does lead to mast breakages.
Once rigged check the cam pressure again. if you cannot move the second or third cam by hand by placing hand under cam and trying to push upwards then you might need to grind the cams to ease off the pressure.
Thanks Katapult, Thats the info I wanted to hear. I was hopeing it would be ok. I might buy it if they bring the freight down a bit, have had full booms sent from WA to SA a couple of times for 20 bucks but they want 60 to send the sail.
A couple of years ago, I traded a NP 430 X3 mast in on a 430 X6 mast and was surprised at how much difference there was in the bend curves! X3 appeared to be a lot more flex-top than X6 when used in 5.4 NP Excess, though unsure what effect this would have in race sail apart from leech twisting off more compared to less flex-top mast.
It is quite likely that the RS4 will not want to rotate as the x3 is a larger diameter,if the sail is 6.7 or smaller(I don't know about bigger ones).
I use a x3 460 on a 7.5 RS4 sail, no real probs and goes well but when a nerd looks at it they pick out what could be better by using a x6 or x9. Then i pass them on the water with my set up!!!
hope this helps somehow
cheers
GC MOZ
Katapult has got it right Jimbo, Check the pressure on the cams. I have had to replace 2 battons in 3 years and it might leave some wear marks on the mast but which cammed sail doesn't!
All the best with it!
Cheers
GC MOZ
What size sail Jimbob? I used a RS4 5.0 on an X3 400 (thanks Elmo) on Saturday and it worked. Cam rotation not great...... will have to look at an X6 sometime.
evets it's a RS4 5.8 i'm looking at getting, I already have an X3 430 mast. also have a 430 powerex freeride/race mast but think the bend will be no good to use compared to the X3 neil pryde mast.
I was wondering when the muppet man was going to show up.
Hi Elmo, Evets, Gmoz and all you speed guys, It's arrived the rs4 5:8 turned up yesterday, looks like a great sail, rigged it up on the 430 X3 mast and looks like the bottom 2 cams aren't going to rotate as they are tight as hell. the rollers aren't even flush on the mast. measured my powerex mast and the bottom section is a couple mm smaller outside dia. so rigged with the powerex bottom and the X3 top. both fitted together perfectly. same size lenght halves and same size ferals.( are they from the same factory) it rigged really good with the cams seeming to rotate heaps better and the top seems to be twisting off properl as well. Is this OK to mix mast halves. will try on the water this weekend hopefully.
Thanks Jimbob.
Hi mupprt man and speed crew, after only using 3.5 and 4.2 wave sails for weeks down here finally got to sail tthe 5.8 RS4 yesterday, went really well with fantastic speed and solid as a rock, there was times when the cam above the boom didn't pop around until I was moving at speed after my gybe, will loosening the batten tension help this or is it just a trait of these cam sails, I had the mast combo from last post, or will this be expected without the correct x9 mast, the wind was 20 to 25 kots with some bigger gusts, just need to now get a gps and join the mighty speed demons.
I,de be careful. RS4 has mega luff curve and you have to bend the mast along way to get the correct twist. A 30% carbon mast may not be up to it? Dunno but would be a bit weary.
1 maybe,
1 AGAINST. 
