Using tape to protect mast?

[ulfp]

I'm using a skinny mast with a chinook extension where the mast goes inside the extension. The top of the extension is creating considerable wear/tear on the mast (see picture below), so I decided to protect the mast with some aluminium tape.

I just read on the google forum (this topic) about someone who protected his mast with electrical black tape, and later (at the end of the season) found that the mast delaminated under the tape.

Is there anyone in this region who have put tape on the mast and made any observations (positive or negative) or perhaps someone who can propose an alternative solution to the wear&tear on the mast.

 

[sukhdev]

Ulf real solution is a true skinny extension. They used to be kind of hard to come by but now are pretty common. We've got both streamlined and chinook ones.

[ulfp]

I wonder if you get this kind of wear&tear on the inside of 'thick' masts when using normal extensions (the contact area/material is about the same), but since you can't see the inside of the 'thick' mast, no one will notice any wear&tear. Is it common that 'thick' masts break at the top of the extension?

Anyhow, before I buy a new extension, I will try a DIY alternative that I constructed after my earlier post. I cut some plastic from a pepsi bottle and made it fit around the mast. Then I put the tape on top of the plastic (and not direct on the mast). This way I get better protection (not just a tape layer), no contact between the tape and the mast, and I can push the plastic up and down for wear&tear inspection (also adjustable to the amount of extension used).

[sukhdev]

Ulf, extension breaks are rare but not unknown. Most modern masts break either in the area between boom and the ferrule, or at the ferrule. Top section breaks in my experience are less common than bottom section breaks. Let us know how your DIY method works out.

[ulfp]

I only use this mast with my 5.7 sail, so must wait for NE to arrive...

[sukhdev]

Ulf, the mast has an outer carbon tape wrapping it. From the picture it looks like that tape is abraded. I'd like to take a look at it sometime.

[<jack>]

all mass will broken,new or old just if
  lucky. i witness  3 new mast broken at
   pfssc i think it call ingnition mass.poor
   guy....  

[<SC>]

This kind of dumb posts really get on my nerves. Every brand breaks mast,you know why I buy whatever Sukhie sells? Cos break, instantly replaced. No bullshit, no waiting. I even known him to take his own mast or rig to lend ppl so that they can sail again quickly.

Now, you want to know how long to wait for a mast from the "other" brands in SG? MONTHS! Even then get grandmother stories. Same for board. So far I only know of one starboard on warranty claim, instant replacement. Its not the brand, its the knowledge n service.

[sukhdev]

before this goes way off track into mud slinging here's my take on masts:

any brand of 100% carbon mast is fragile. I've broken every brand i've ever used (NP, F'spar, YES, Powerex, Ignition). The longer the mast the more fragile it is, I dont care WHAT brand of 550 or longer you use, they are ALL fragile. The breakage rate varies with brands but they all can break. Its worse in SG cos we leave our sails rigged up all the time. Have you ever measured how much from the vertical a mast bends even with the downhaul loosened?

As far as possible use 75 carbon masts. You don't lose that much in performance and some sails set better on 75% (eg GTX looks better on powerex 75 than powerex 100). I've even been using a 75% YES mast on my 7.6 nitro IV.

if you intend to wavesail or do bump'n'jump get a skinny (90 or 100%).They are WAY stronger than anything else out there.

Race masts are really pushing the envelope in weight so no wonder they are fragile.

Franky 95% of sailors will be better off on freerace sails like GTX & a 75% mast than on pure race sails. Race sails work best at their edge, but the performance gain is only realizable by really good sailors. Why spend 30% more to get 50% less durability? Can you really use that performance edge?

Looking through our warranty replacement records, we have hardly ever replaced a 75% mast (only one in the last 3 years, even then I thought it was more due to a faulty camber than the mast itself).

[<Hontoni?>]

3 broken ignition masts in a day? that is certainly a white sensational tale.

Who is this rich guy who owns 3 ignition masts ?
He buys good stuffs, I would say. Don't forget ignition mast is very new and it comes from the same manufacturing factory as Neil Pryde.
I do see the other brand of masts break too while rigging or even just beach-starting at PFSSC. Best of all, no immediate warranty due to no stocks.

As mentioned, all masts will break.

*Use your brain, use your brain*  

[sukhdev]

3 in a day? wow. who? i missed that entirely, given i know every single ignition i've sold. Mark broke a 550 ignition on 1st hour of use, after that he's snapped a 550 powerex. he's a big guy (makes me look small sized) so we are considering appointing him official mast tester  

but back to original point, even in his case if the replacement powerex snaps, we will move him to 75% igntion or powerex.

[<Observer>]

There are many cases of high performace masts breaking when new. Fiberspar with a batch of 520's, Neil Pryde with their long formula masts, Gaastra with their 550 ignition masts and others.
It appears that most mast breakages tend to be with the new longer masts.
If you want high tech, light weight 100% carbon masts expect a few breakages especially when sails in S'pore are often left tensioned in the sun.
At the end of the day its having the confidence that the shop/supplier you buy from will replace justified warrenty claims without delay.

[<sitka>]

Say it loud, say it clear sukdev.

Looking forward to variable content masts
75% carbon-kevlar / 25% glass on the bottom,
100% carbon-kevlar for the top.

After a few months with a dream quiver, it all fell to pieces (literaly) as masts started snapping.
Very frustrating, lots of missed days, costly and dangerous. It will be a long while before I believe any mast is durable for 112kg guy.

[sukhdev]

amen john, you've got my sympathies. even as a hard core racer/speed-freak i'm beginning to think we need to tilt towards durability and am making my feelings felt to my suppliers.

your idea is excellent. i like the way the powerex RDM 90 skinny has a kevlar wrap in the boom area. why not every one else.

[<jack>]

SC ,I totally agreed with u ,the service is
      superd.instant replacement unlike others