Hi All,
Yesterday as i was stepping down my 30', 3 ton Mystere 5.5 mast, and my friend was stepping his 31' mast (Mystere 5.5 ) he said, “I am to old for this *#*&!, I need a carbon fiber mast”....

Not that i can afford one (I am sure) but i am curious where one would get a custom carbon fiber mast made, and does anyone have any idea what one would cost (ball park)?

Thanks, Andrew

Forte or Hall spars are a start, probably between $5k and $6k.

Second on the Forte, or Hall.

I have a repaired carbon i20 mast, you want to buy it? PM me.

Rumor has it that the I20 is going to an alum mast same as the F17's.

Probably worthy of another thread - but we're at a cross roads as a class. If the boat prices stay as high as they are (over $20k due largely to the carbon stick), new boats simply won't sell and the class prognosis is eventually terminal. If the price can be made lower with an Aluminum mast AND it could be made as competitive as the carbon stick then new boats will sell and although the class could be damaged by the addition of a carbon mast, it won't necessarily have a terminal outlook.

I just remember stepping the 68 lbs Nacra 6.0 mast.

Dreadful.

what really got me was when my spin halyard got caught on my trailer and i twisted my back... it is a killer!

Or your trap ring gets stuck in a daggerboard trunk.

I'm sure John Pierce from Stealthmarine will quote. Could be cheaper than you think.

I dont quite understand why the i20 mast is so expensive. Last I knew it was over $5k.

I got a quote on a 33' tube from Forte that they are making off the aluminum T section, so its pear shape, for $1400 - thats last years price, but still no where near $5k.

And my Acat mast (29') was $2200, and the Hall stuff is very, very well made, all hand laid, clear coated, wing shape, way better part than the i20 mast, just a little shorter.

I dont get it.

Performance needs to find a new supplier.



Bill

Who is Perf. using for the I20 carbon stick? If they are using someone out of the US, the weak dollar plus shipping could be part of what is driving up the price.

How much does the "new" aluminum wing mast weigh on the Capricorn? What would the same section weigh at say, 2 feet longer, if that's the difference between the I-20 and F18.

That thing sucked..... and after that everything seems like a piece of cake. I just always hoped that when the time came, the person I was with hopped on the tramp first.... then I would say... "let me help you and I'll lift the end up and grab the forestay" <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The 20 masts are made by Omohundro, a division of Southern Spars, i'm pretty sure the new ones are labeled as Southern Spars. Last price I heard was $5,600
From what i've heard the masts are produced in South Africa then shipped to CA for finishing. Explains the high cost when the money spent in fuel is considered.
Personally, I think the 20's mast is way overweight... the gelcoat covering certainly doesn't help! The 18HT and Tornado masts are similar lengths and much lighter! Neither have the gelcoat... does the gelcoat make that much of a difference in durability? If so why don't other carbon masts have more protection? Is clearcoat lighter?
The Capricorn mast is extremely light, I was shocked when I chartered one last year and went to raise the mast. I might even go as far as to say its not any heavier than the 20's mast (I realize it is a couple feet shorter). I've heard the infusion mast is light as well, if the class went to that extrusion, I don't think the weight difference would be that dramatic. I feel that the change to a wing mast would be more of a difference.
If your looking for a lighter mast, i'd talk to Robbie and Jill, they are in your back yard and could supply you with a Capricorn extrusion for a lot cheaper than you getting a custom carbon spar made.

You guys ever consider a winch on the trailer upright? Makes it a much easier job.

And a ginpole makes it even easier.
Here's an old thread to explain.
http://www.catsailor.com/forums/showflat...&PHPSESSID=

Boy, with those figures on the table, that sure doesn't make sense does it?

The N20 mast is pretty heavy for a carbon stick and it's not terribly stiff - BUT one could argue that it is pretty darn durable. I've only seen a few break and most of those reasons were pretty obviously not the mast's fault (flipping in the surf).

Southern Spars make the masts. They are located in New Zealand.

And I'm sure the US Dollar exchange rate isn't helping things at all.

http://www.csi-composites.com/
i worked on an open 60 rig in this shop. great bunch of guys. best products. ive got their stuff on my boat.

Your best bet is definitely going with a domestic source. Call up Ben Hall and see if you can get set up. Shipping a single carbon mast anywhere right now is a killer, and going to get worse here pretty quick with $4 Diesel.

Another option is to call Fiberfoam (sit down before they give you the price, they deal in Euros) and see if anyone is going to have a load of rigs shipped here anytime soon. Usually, several sailmakers, sparbuilders, boatbuilders, and retailers will get together and buddy up on a shipment. We all keep in communication about potential import options. I don't know of any right now for those of us on the West coast, but that doesn't mean there's nothing going on in the east. You may want to call your local performance boat builders, riggers etc and see if they know of anything.

If you go with an offshore source, plan on missing this sailing season just to be safe. With the Department of Homeland Security checking everything, I have had shipments from AUS delayed several months.

Everyone's pricing looks accurate, between 5 and 7 G's all said and done.

Also, check out the US Acat site, you never know what might pop-up.

Hope that helps!