From what I see regularly at beaches here in OZ I am making the assumption that the majority of people will own at least one 5.4 and one 4.7. As a matter of fact it seems most people have 5.4ish / 4.7ish and 4.2ish as their standard quiver.
Now tell me why manufacturers insist to design each of those sizes to require a different mast length. I have had a look through several 2012 web sites of different sail makers and with very few exceptions they all use a different mast length for each of those sail sizes.
Assuming you will want to have a some spares in case you break a mast you might end up spending more money on masts than the sails themselves.
I hear people complaining about there not being enough newbies coming to the sport. Well a good start would be to reduce the amount of required gear.
Anyone can shed some light.
Is this a serious question?
There is always going to be some point at which a different length mast is required. It just happens that at the moment with the way sail design is heading and the aspect ratios which are being used, the jump from a 400 to 370 mast occurs around the 5m sail size.
There are sail ranges out there which are designed around a specific mast size, but from what I can tell there is generally a performance compromise (north and np both do one if I recall correctly). A lot of the big manufacturers also choose to use an adjustable head for sails requiring a mast shorter then 400. Thou personally I hate adjustable heads and would rather just have the right mast.
I think it's a good size for the jump to occur, as I have 2 sails >5m and 2 sails smaller. And I think most wave/freestyle sailors are in a similar position where their quivers are 5.9 - 5.2 - 4.7 - 4.2. You can't expect a single mast to cover all those sizes, so a change in mast size around 5m seems reasonable to me? But then I don't spend most of my time whining about how manufacturers don't seem to build their gear specifically to suit my personal needs.
If this is really an issue for you, cut 15cm off your 400 mast.
Yep, my 6.2 / 5.7 / 5.2 / 4.7 quiver recommends 430/400/370 RDMs but it also says I can use a 400 for the 4.7.
The one thing I don't understand is why some sails have a luff of say 428cms with a recommended mast of 400 and extension of 28cms. Why not just design around a luff 2cms longer and a slightly stiffer mast?!
I have the Severne blades , 4.0m , 4.5m , 5.0m , 5.5m all on 400 mast
the 5.7m can fit on a 400 as well.
There are brands out there.
I don't think this is really true anymore... you will notice a lot of the newer wave sails are rigging on shorter masts/luff length and are designed around smaller masts (check out latest boardseeker review)http://www.boardseekermag.com/windsurfing-equipment-tests/2011/4.7-wave-sails-test-overview.html
so now is it very easy as people say to have 4.2 to 5.7 with one mast and good performance because they are designed around it. For example the S-1 can be rigged like this and works very well.
wish i had this problem!
If i had wnd that strong id get the right mast for each sail and be happy about it.
If I couldnt afford it id sell my kidney or something.
Smallest sales are 5.5 & 5.7m on a 430 which rarely gets used, then a 6.5, 7.0 and 7.8 on a 460 . So 2 masts across 5 sails not to bad i reckon.
i used to run a 400 mast to cover most bases - with a 430 tip for the longer masts (the 6.0)
i have been informed by the sail designer that this is
VERY NAUGHTY
as the mast curves become compromised
You can always use sails with adjustable heads.
Run a 520 mast with all sizes.
This works well except for forward & back loops, the mast gets stuck in the sand
try a extendo 30cm on the bottom. use one on my 400 to rig my 6m naish stealth. works well. a very undermentioned piece of equiptment i think.
sorry thats my son loggged in--- i am gerared4knots
samo
i run a 400 on my 2012 north Hero 4.5 and 5.0 and the same mast on my 5.4 Duke
It can be done
)
