recommendation for 400 cm wave mast

sailandbail · Joined: 20 Oct 2007 Posts: 46

I just busted 400 cm mast number two at Dillon on Saturday: both were standard (freeride/wave) with not a lot of carbon and both were snapped while I was floundering around in the impact zone. I guess its time to upgrade to a bonafide "wave mast". Any recommendations on brands? The sail I use the most with that mast is my 5.0 KA. Thanks.

BTW the waves and sailing were awesome for a couple hours prior to the "mishap".

hemmy007 · Joined: 10 May 2002 Posts: 101

My experience with
WAVE RATED masts:

In 1999/2000 season,
broke 5 FiberSNAP,
Tidal Wave Masts
two jumping and three
in the surf (CA and HI).

All were under warranty,
so five free new masts,
and two luff sleeves ripped.

But I sold the last
one in the wrapper
and switched to
the PowerEX RDM
Gold Wrap in 2000.

Have replaced them every three years,
and have not broken one mast since.
Same surf spots (CA and HI)
with more days a year for the last nine years,
knock on wood,
not one broken mast.

One of my close friends at the coast had a PowerEX RDM
gold from 2002 that he just replace a couple months ago,
after putting about +800 wave days on it.
He broke the bottom off about two years ago,
but he just sawed the broken part off
and made it a 415cm. Wink

Said it was better as a 415cm,
softer, sailed better in the surf.

Unfortunately, in the last year or two,
since I bought my last set of masts,
PowerEX has gone offshore,
rather than being made in Utah.

So I just picked up two
Ezzy Wave RDM masts from Windance.com.
They gave me a great deal,
same price as PowerEX, but made in USA
at the same factory as NoLimitz in the gorge, USA.
So I would say that either Ezzy
or Nolimitz RDM is the way to go,
if you want to have the round trip ride. Wink

Just make sure you seat the top/bottom tightly
and try not to stick the tip into a hole.

Oh, and no loitering in the shorepound,
get in and out quickly, move with purpose.
I have seen more masts and
booms broken in the shorepound.

At least a mast high wave has a
few feet of water over the reef.

elenna · Joined: 30 Apr 1998 Posts: 97

If you're going in the waves, go with a skinny. I've been on a Powerex skinny for about 5 years now and sailing heavy surf. Many times, after bailing, I was wondering if I'd have to get a new mast. But every time the rig came up whole. Spend the $s, it's well worth it.

Also, with masts, buy new. Used is a recipe for disaster.

Eric

kevinkan · Joined: 07 Jun 2001 Posts: 1661 Location: San Francisco

definitely go w/ an RDM in this size if you're sailing in the waves. they are far stronger in general than SDMs and most wave sails are designed with RDM's in mind these days.

For you KA sail, the Ezzy RDM seems to be a good match. I have a friend who uses a 5.0 KA Kult with an Ezzy 400 with good results.

The Ezzy masts are a pretty standard bend. If you want something stiffer in the bottom, look at the NP X-Combat RDM. If you want something softer in the bottom, look at the Maui Sails RDM.

If you're a bigger guy, you might prefer the stiffer NP mast. If you like are smaller or like a really soft feeling sail, you may prefer a softer mast like the Maui Sails RDM.

Let me know if you need a mast. I'm local, I can deliver you a mast today, and I will match prices.

If you're switching to RDM from standard masts, you may also be interested in this thread:

http://forums.iwindsurf.com/viewtopic.php?t=17309

EddyBreffitt · Joined: 31 Oct 1992 Posts: 40

Get a No Limitz skinny. Absolutely the best!!

Jaipal · Joined: 06 Apr 2002 Posts: 77 Location: Maui

I see many broken masts in the surf every year. Very very few are Powerex RDM.

Not the best mast if you're not in the surf but if you are serious about waves you can't go wrong.

coolmtnbiker048 · Joined: 01 Jul 2005 Posts: 372 Location: California

If you use a KA 5.0 as your main sail, I'd definitely go with the KA specific mast also. It's made in Italy along with a bunch of other high end mast companies.

I get thrashed around in the surf quite a bit and have never broken my KA mast in the past 3 years using it. I even got washed under Huntington Pier in a strong side current last year and the mast survived despite being pinned against the pilings for half a minute!!!

hemmy007 · Joined: 10 May 2002 Posts: 101

Jaipal · Joined: 06 Apr 2002 Posts: 77 Location: Maui

gregorvass · Joined: 21 Nov 1996 Posts: 1113 Location: Behind You

X9 NEILPRYDE

There is simply NO COMPETITION!

X-9 WAVE - A sail when rigged with the X9 mast will be the lightest and most responsive due to the very high reflex speed of this carbon. The X9 mast reacts very quickly to every change in water, wind strength, and direction allowing you to get the most out of your sail.

Big Sail / Big Guy Stay away from RDM!

Small Guy/ Small Sail ====> RDM.