In the end, it is the small deta

2021/05/21

In the end, it is the small details that make a big difference and are crucial for the demanding windfoiler to opt for a carbon mast; A recreational wind foiler and also the novice race foiler can get out of the way with the aluminium mast. What are the differences? Our tooling is based on the well known Hood Stowaway mast sections, with flexibility to adjust for a range of sections sizes. With a Carbon rig, your back will hurt less. On a 40-foot boat, a carbon fiber mast could be more than a $40,000 upgrade. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". This is because the mast has less resistance, which makes your push easier speed. This is especially helpful with regards to the severity of the sun and salt, making carbon an obvious choice for the marine environment. Is a carbon mast worth the extra cost? Building a custom mast allows you an unlimited range in choices: what hardware you want, where you prefer gear to be mounted, and how to build this into your mast in the most harmonious way. Carbon fiber masts can be engineered, through different fabric weaves, orientations and thicknesses, to behave differently at different sections of the mast. At this point, you may be wondering why every yacht doesnt have a carbon fiber mast. Carbon fiber does not corrode or weather. However, the difference in losing around 25% of the weight of the mast doesnt make much odds on a medium to heavy displacement boat like our ocean cruising yachts. How strong is carbon? The mast we built for the 68 Ketch featured below was so much lighter than the aluminum mast it replaced, the boat actually floated noticeably higher, and the stainless bow sprit support that always sat just below waterline was now above. The information on this web site is based on what has worked for the authors in the past, but that does not mean it will work for you, or that it is the best, or even a good way for you to do things. This bending gives you an unstable and nervous feeling, which does not promote controlled wind foiling. So why have we recently had three owners request a carbon fibre mast for their Rustler 42? If a carbon mast is damaged, it can often be quite easily repaired. It may not display this or other websites correctly. While bobbing away you feel a very light vibration in the foil. Whether you own a heavy displacement megayacht, traditional or modern cruiser, a classic yacht requiring a replacement spar in refit, or a round-the-world race boat, GMT has the experience and successful record you can rely on. You absolutely need to compare the weight of the mast and rigging with any material- on my 42.5 rotating mast where the aluminum extrusion is perfectly sized and the carbon extrusion is generally undersized with extra carbon and rigging, the weight difference is minimal. Theyre designed to carry that weight, and over many years and ocean crossings theyve earned an enviable reputation for having a remarkably steady, comfortable motion in rough seas. Shes been around for a while and she performs really well, as she was designed to. Carbon saves a lot of weight aloft, so it reduces heeling and pitching, making boats faster, more close-winded, and noticeably more comfortable. The weight is saved along its length, but as the rig gets taller the weight saved has a greater effect on the boats stability. While GMT offers the finest and most up-to-date standing and running rigging, hardware and sail management systems, we also understand that not everyone has a grand prix racers budget. Paint flaking from carbon fiber is extremely rare, making a painted carbon fiber mast sleek and shiny for a long time to come. Heeling moment differences also depend on how the boat sails: if sailed more upright, heeling moment of the rig really isn't that much. Carbon masts dont suffer from fatigue or corrosion (galvanic, pitting or otherwise) and the yield point of the material is greater than aluminium. You probably have more questions; please give us a call for answers. Not only does a carbon fiber mast weigh around half the weight of a traditional aluminum mast, but the location of this weight savings has amplified impact. GMT was a pioneer in the development of the faux bois finish. Sign up to receive our bi-annual Carbonics Newsletter. aluminum / wire rig and a Carbon mast / Rod rigging setup. Is a carbon mast hard to maintain?

A carbon mast more efficiently transfers the force of the wind directly into boat speed. Bristol, RI 02809 | info@gmtcomposites.com. Also, your board will ricochet earlier in case of a nose drop than at the alu mast. Required fields are marked *. A mast has to bear different types and amounts of static and dynamic loads that vary significantly along its length, depending (among other things) on how the mast is supported with stays. columbia 32 carbon sailing sailboat yachts downwind Aluminum foils are generally speaking not as fast as carbon foils, but they are often easier to learn on and offer great stability thanks to their weight. JavaScript is disabled. one con I have heard of is that the UV coating needs to be redone every couple of years. Bending the mast is limited and the carbon mast does not show noticeable. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. If you sail on the border of the wind foil (so that is with a lot of wind, > 18 knots) then the mast seems to twist a bit. What boats carry GMT masts? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Its especially something to think about if you are a new foiler or plan to let others test out your foil. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. All the other rigging (which is a substantial percentage of the weight) will be the same (unless it is not - replaced by something high tech which could be done for either aluminum or carbon rig and so an independent consideration).

Starboards carbon foils are approximately 900 more expensive than the variant with an aluminium mast (the fuselage and wings are 100% identical). In particular, painted carbon fiber requires minimal maintenance. It is always nice when you get to see benefits of a project you were not even expecting.

GMT has engineered, detailed and built masts for an unlimited range of vessels and types of sailing. I was worried that it might make her fidget on the water, like a boat without a mast. Then hes asked if he would buy one and he says No. This lower center of gravity results in a smoother ride, especially through rough seas or choppy waves, and allows the yacht to carry more sail area. Below you can read our advice. prefabricated So the stiffer the mast, the better the performance of the wind foil and perhaps even more importantly all the more stable (and therefore more fun and easier) it is to (learn) wind foil. The wind foils in the price range up to about 900,- often have a construction that is not rigid. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.

Actually, just like a big fin on a slalom board. This mast gives less feedback and you also do not have the feeling that the foil sets itself. Acarbon fiber mast enhances safety on several fronts. But linear polyurethane paint also comes in an almost limitless range of colors, so we can match your hull, your deck or even a color swatch you provide us. Stiffness of the mast and fuselage is very important for both performance and stability. Then we put one on the first Rustler 57, which has a lifting keel, partly as a way to optimise her stability with the keel fully raised. We can match the color and grain of any species of tree and have been sent sections of actual wooden spars whose color, grain structure and even natural imperfections we were able to duplicate in polyurethane.

The difference in price is about 900, is quite substantial. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. However, manual furling options are available as well. One of the disadvantages of extrusion, the manufacturing process used to make aluminium masts, is that it produces a mast with the same cross sectional size and wall thickness along its entire length. There are 2 reasons why it is important to have a mast that is as stiff as possible. (You can read this post to learn more about the 4 main windfoiling styles). We only email about once a month - no spam! If a carbon mast is offered as an upsell, it is at a premium expense. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. GMT spars have graced yachts built by Alden, Baltic, Brooklin, Concordia, Cherubini, C&C, Deerfoot, Freedom, Hinckley, Herreshoff, Hylas, Lyman-Morse, Morris, Nautor Swan, Northshore, PJ, Sabre, Tartan, Open 40s, 50s and 60s, and hundreds of custom yachts worldwide. More stability effectively means more power on some points of sail; less pitching and rolling means less resistance to forward motion and also important for cruising less risk of seasickness and a more comfortable ride. GMT has worked with world renowned builders and designers such as Nautors, Hinckley, Morelli and Melvin, Lyman-Morse, Hylas, and Brooklin Boatyard, to name a few, and we welcome all projects big and small. All other elements being equal, a boat carrying an aluminum rig will be in some disadvantages when compared with a sistership using a carbon rig. Few years back I was sailing in a fleet that had about 3 or 4 J/120s in it. And our masts can be delivered with all the attendant standing rigging, whether you specify wire, rod, PBO or carbon. Anyone who has been on a yacht without a mast will know it has a different, somewhat weird, wobbly and jerky motion. There are more options than ever when it comes to picking out a foil and a great place to start narrowing it down is the choice between aluminum and carbon. Lets be clear: having an aluminium mast does not make our boats unstable or uncomfortable. We design a mast for each application and its optimised by our design team, Norbury says. High performance racing aluminum mast vs. a high performance Carbon racing mast on the same boat. Put simply, the more stable a yacht is, the less she will heel, pitch and roll. In most cases it boils down to cost. The first element that will be noticeable is the heeling moment as the aluminum rig is much heavier than the carbon which also creates heavier pitch fore and aft on choppy water . In addition to the above mentioned differences in speed, feel and aerodynamics, the carbon mast gives more lift. These are the wind foils that are offered on marketplace for next ot nothing with the description that it is a fun foil to learn it. Our masts have sailed in every ocean, including many successful passages around the globe. Third, the added stiffness of carbon fiber masts ensures the mast does not bend, twist or vibrate as much. Many of these forces are localised: for example a shear force at the foot and sometimes at the deck; torsion, bending and shock loads around the gooseneck, lateral forces in the spreader patches, tension and compression at the hounds (which act as a pivot point on a fractional rig), bending near the top, and so on. A good aluminum foil will work perfectly. First, there is the weight savings. In addition to being able to enjoy the benefits of a carbon fiber mast, Tartan owners are able to hold their yachts resale value due to their increased longevity and added value built into the carbon mast. Why? Adrian explains: The weight saving calculation we did, in pictorial terms, was that it saves the weight of a 35hp outboard on the top set of spreaders. Building out of carbon, which is stiffer than aluminum, is an effective way to stretch the life of the mast, offering increased longevity. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Because I couldnt possibly afford one. He continues: While I cant afford one, our customers can. 2002-2022 Attainable Adventure Cruising Ltd and the authors, all rights are reserved. Carbon fiber masts are stiffer than aluminum masts. By signing up you agree to ourPrivacy Policy, Rustler Yachts LimitedMaritime BuildingsFalmouth RoadFalmouthCornwall TR10 8AD. Mastheads are custom built to your specifications including the number of halyards, arrays of wind instruments and electronics, as well as custom cranes for large roached mainsails and code zero headsails. Further, the mast itself is engineered to exceed physical requirements. Weight on a yacht isnt necessarily a bad thing when its in the right place it acts as ballast when its located amidships and below the yachts vertical centre of gravity. As mentioned above, our experience is that it is more difficult and less fun to learn the wind foiling!

GMTs first two carbon spars made in 1990 are still sailing today. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This changes from boat to boat and probably is not the same level of difference across the board. Furling masts are by nature heavier than conventional masts, but a carbon furling mast from GMT can save thousands of pounds depending on the spar. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. You can bend a carbon tube further without it failing and windsurfer masts are a great example of this. Whatever that load is, the whole aluminium mast has to be exactly the same. Dangers such as, but not limited to, extreme weather, cold, ice, lack of help or assistance, gear failure, grounding, and falling overboard could injure or kill you and wreck your boat. Aluminium is cheaper than carbon, thats a fact. Even close-up, faux bois appears to be wood. In the case of the Rustler 42, it turns her from an eight-knot boat into a nine-knot boat. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'windfoilzone_com-box-4','ezslot_2',112,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_cmd != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_cmd.push('div-gpt-ad-windfoilzone_com-box-4-0');}else{ __ez_fad_cmd = ['div-gpt-ad-windfoilzone_com-box-4-0'];};In the video below, youll get some good tips from Tony Logosz of Slingshot to maintain your aluminium foil: Another aspect is the durability of the foil. Fat Cat - 80 Morreli Design Custom Catamaran - GMT Carbon Rig and Cross Beam, Lions Whelp - 65 Alden Schooner - GMT Carbon rig with Faux Bois finish, Actea - Hicnkley Bermuda 40 - GMT Carbon Rig, SUMMERWIND - GMT Carbon Masts and Pocket Booms with Faux Bois finish, Rosetta - Southerly 57 - GMT Carbon Mast and PowerFurl Boom, Odalisque - Catana 431 - GMT Carbon Mast & Cross Beam, Windwalker - 60 Ted Hood Design- GMT Carbon Mast, Pocket Boom, and Spin Pole, Kiva - Hinckley SW 51 - GMT Carbon Mast, Boom, Bow Sprit, and Swim Ladder, Pilgrim - Able 58 - GMT Carbon Mast and PowerFurl Boom, Royal Blue - Hylas 70 - GMT Carbon Mast and PowerFurl Boom, Merlin - 70 Custom Bill Lee Design - GMT Carbon Rig, TotallyMoney.Com - Open 50(formerly Cray Valley) - GMT Carbon Rig and more, Goshawk - 76 Brooklin Boatyard Sloop - GMT Carbon Rig. We typically install electric or hydraulic furling motors, allowing you to furl your sail with the touch of a button from the cockpit. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. By contrast, carbon mast construction methods (like the filament winding process used by Seldn who make the masts for most Rustlers and many other sailing yachts) allow the thickness and stiffness of a mast section to be varied and tailored for different loads along its length. The further the weight is from the yachts vertical centre of gravity, the greater effect it will have on her stability. The new mast, excluding some new rigging, cost about US$55,000, as against an aluminum replacement mast, which would have cost about $30,000; a lot of money to us, particularly since it was capital we were spending that came from the sale of our house. Think of the power available from the wind as a finite amount. Other than the humor of my post there is a serious side. What modulus carbon does GMT use? To sum up, here are some of the main advantages and drawbacks of each type of foil:if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'windfoilzone_com-banner-1','ezslot_6',126,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_cmd != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_cmd.push('div-gpt-ad-windfoilzone_com-banner-1-0');}else{ __ez_fad_cmd = ['div-gpt-ad-windfoilzone_com-banner-1-0'];}; For the reasons mentioned above, I suggest most foilers start with aluminum unless youre really committed to racing or have a significant budget where money isnt a factor.

Followed by potential corrosion for those based in the ocean. Contact us if you have any questions, were happy to help you out of the foil jungle and give you some advice before choosing the right foil for you! Wind foils of course have a lot of strength to endure. Click Here to view or download our Carbon Fiber Mast Maintenance Guide, Click Here to view or download our Carbon Fiber Mast/Rig Tuning Guide. My boom is 17 feet 6 inches and weighs 50 pounds. Carbon is not affected by a saltwater environment the way aluminum is, and the polyurethane finish is more durable than paint on aluminum, and can easily be touched up if scratched or worn by abrasion. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Carbon fiber masts are estimated to last, and retain their strength, twice as long as an aluminum mast.

The benefits of carbon masts arent just for racing yachts. The highest loads are usually from the deck to the gooseneck, explains Steve Norbury, managing director of Seldn UK. Our masts are built with laminates engineered to reduce weight while increasing the factor of safety and ability to handle loading above anticipated conditions. One downside of the carbon masts is that you need to follow-up with the relevant sail material. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Less pitching and rolling means shes not losing as much energy and speed with her motion, and her crew will have a more comfortable ride. Ill get you to the right answer for you by the end of the article! The simplified differences between the two hydrofoils are aluminium foils are cheaper but slower, heavier and demand more maintenance than carbon foils. This is why all Tartan carbon fiber mastsare painted. Their beautiful finish, compared to aluminum, is easier to care for, doesnt corrode, and is exceptionally long-lasting. Starboard is the only brand that has both a carbon and an aluminum variant in different lengths. While you may not immediately associate this with increased longevity, the result is that carbon masts do not repeatedly bend and twist as an aluminum mast would. Less heel means you can keep more sail area up for longer, so more power and less reefing. He rang me halfway through the trip and said Im sold on it!. A lightweight carbon fiber mast also has the added advantages of being easier to step and/or remove for storage, shipping, or inspections. As a result, the fuselage is about 1 cm further back compared to the aluminum variant, but the main difference is that the angle of the fuselage (at the front of the mast) is larger than with the aluminum mast. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I am looking at this myself, if weight and CG ht is similar then cost and robustness are most relevant factors, bend can be accounted for in luff curve,, fraction rig tip dump dampening is also relevant, if using a cap runner then maybe not. The mast seems to set. Where are you going to foil? Check out Facebook groups, local shops, or other second-hand market places and you may find a good second-hand carbon foil near you at the price of a new aluminum foil. These are qualities that particularly consider match foilers important. This post gets to the real meat: How much did carbon fibre cost? The finish is also nicer and easier to maintain when compared to an aluminum mast, and as aluminum has become harder to source over time, the cost difference is not what it once used to be. The mast bends during wind foiling, because you put pressure on 1 side or simply by moving your feet / weight on your board. It isnt every day that you find something that increases performance while lowering maintenance, but thats just what a carbon fiber mast does for your Tartan yacht. will you feel the difference or will you need the instruments to see the .001 % difference. This saves about 1 to 1.5 degrees. However, times have changed and there are several other factors to think about now, which may influence your choice.

As mentioned above, on average a carbon fibre mast will weigh 25% less than an aluminium mast. Working with GMT Composites means working with a specialist who will custom design a solution specific to your needs and requirements. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Carbon foils are more expensive, lighter, stiffer, and more fragile.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'windfoilzone_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',110,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_cmd != 'undefined'){__ez_fad_cmd.push('div-gpt-ad-windfoilzone_com-medrectangle-3-0');}else{ __ez_fad_cmd = ['div-gpt-ad-windfoilzone_com-medrectangle-3-0'];}; One year ago, I would have answered the question by simply saying that it depends on your budget as generally speaking carbon foils are more expensive than aluminium foils. Use code WINDFOIL-NATION at checkout for 5% off. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". See our full report here. One important aspect is their carbon fiber mast. The added stiffness of a carbon mast, exactly where it is needed, results in a substantially lower fatigue rate. See our testimonials page for more.

I know his boom weighed 50% more than mine and I assume his mast was similarly stout so I was wondering if he was correct that the spruce was lighter than the aluminum. We design our carbon fiber masts to have this additional stiffness, but still retain enough bend to allow for easy rig tuning. GMT has customers whose masts have survived boatyard accidents, unintended gybes in storm-force winds, and a full 360 degree roll - all situations those customers felt would have destroyed a metal mast. The final speed of an aluminium mast is therefore lower than that of the carbon mast.

We have built masts from 30 to 140 feet (10 to over 40 meters) in length. Most of the earliest carbon spars were finished in clear-coat linear polyurethane. While in-boom furling has become popular in recent years due to those systems accommodating traditional battens in the sail, many customers still look to in-mast furling for safe and easy mainsail handling, particularly when a boat is already setup for it. This allows you see the distinctive color and weave pattern of the carbon twill: its a high-tech look that remains distinctive and popular. Bene first 30, elan 320 / elan S3, pogo 30 etc. Ma-Vr 12:00 - 18:00 | Za-Zo 10:00 - 18:00, Carbon wind foil mast vs Aluminium wind foil mast, Webcam & Wind forecast Hookipabeach Lelystad. Rustler yacht design explained an interview with Stephen Jones, How to choose a boat yacht measurements explained. Pitching inertial depends on where the boat is sailed. For traditional yachts, restorations of old and historic vessels, as well as for those who just love the look of wood, our faux bois (false wood in French) finish is ideal.

But in fact it has added a knot of speed the difference has been that remarkable. For many, yes. So, how does this all add up to increased performance and speed? You may prefer carbon versus aluminium if you mainly foil in the sea. Its not good, however, to have a lot of weight waving around high above the deck. At far lighter weight, carbon is actually stronger than aluminum. A fully engineered, optimized, carbon fiber mast can truly outperform the competitionand that is why Tartan does. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Just like a fibreglass hull, a skilled shipwright can grind or cut out the damage, laminate new carbon in, fill it, fair it, paint over and youd never know there had been a problem. One of the biggest drawbacks of aluminium foils is that they corrode easily, especially in a salty water environment. The aluminium masts are wider and also thicker than the carbon masts. GMT first built carbon in-mast furling rigs for a couple of Hinckley 59s back in 1990, and has since built in-mast furling rigs for a huge range of boats from 40 - 80. All of that bending and twisting of an aluminum mast adds up to a lot of fatigue over the years. They do need occasional maintenance, however. Each of these advantages alone would result in an obvious difference in speed and feel, but we take it one step further.