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I asked Matt about carbon Blade masts last week. He said an A cat mast (longer than F16) weighs about 20lbs. while the alum. Blade mast weighs about 38lbs. So certainly, we would all love to drop that extra 18 lbs. on the stick. BUT...the F16 class has a "tip weight" rule that would off set the lighter carbon mast benefits. ALSO, Matt said that at today's carbon prices, a new carbon Blade mast, fully rigged and ready to step, would cost pretty near $5,000!

Now, I'm all in favor of a lighter mast, and I've had two cats with carbon masts, never had a problem, never even seen one break, but for $5,000, I'm not sure that's the direction I want to go right now. New sails would be much less and I could spend the rest of the money for hotels at regattas! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />



My mast is slightly lighter than the A class wing masts foot for foot simply because there is less cloth in it as it is oval instead of a proper wing as per the A's.. It does require a little corrector weight, but not much.

As for the mast price of about 5000USD (2.5K GBP) is about right for the A class section, you pay your money, you take your choice, A carbon mast is sooooo much better (as I said before) and it allows a lighter person to sail the boat (single handed) as theu can right the boat (Class rules require this).



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How about importing stealth masts? I do believe the stealths are offered at a very good competitive price and include carbon mast. That would be an option.

I wonder how much it will cost to ship a mast from the UK to central FL?


Talk to John P; I'me sure he would do an order of (say 10) as a job lot to send to the USA.

F16 - GBR 553 - SOLD

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