Carbon Fiber Mast

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tartansailor
Posts: 1535
Joined: Aug 30th, '05, 13:55
Location: CD25, Renaissance, Milton, DE

Carbon Fiber Mast

Post by tartansailor »

Has anyone replaced their aluminum mast for a carbon fiber one to reduce weight aloft?
If so, would you care to share your experience and would you do it again?
Dick
Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam
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Steve Laume
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Location: Raven1984 Cape Dory 30C Hull #309Noank, CT
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Re: Carbon Fiber Mast

Post by Steve Laume »

Life is a compromise, and I doubt the weight aloft savings on a Cape Dory would be worth dealing with all the negative qualities and the expense of carbon fiber.
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Steve Laume
Posts: 4131
Joined: Feb 13th, '05, 20:40
Location: Raven1984 Cape Dory 30C Hull #309Noank, CT
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Re: Carbon Fiber Mast

Post by Steve Laume »

I did meet someone who was a very serious racer with a large offshore cat boat. He cracked two aluminum masts and then decided to replace it with carbon fiber. He first consulted with his children to see if they would be keeping the boat after he died as he didn't think it would be worth spending that much money if they weren't going to keep the boat. At first, he told me he could have purchased a nice Mercedies for the same money. He eventually gave a number of $50K and that was at least ten years ago.
You could buy a very nice boat for what a new carbon mast would cost, and it wouldn't add much value to your boat.
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tartansailor
Posts: 1535
Joined: Aug 30th, '05, 13:55
Location: CD25, Renaissance, Milton, DE

Re: Carbon Fiber Mast

Post by tartansailor »

$50K!
Ouch
Dick
Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam
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