Home made extension.

A week ago
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jontyh
jontyh
115 posts
115 posts
28 Aug 2026 4:38pm
I have just got a Hotsails 5.8 fire (2010?) and don't have a suitable mast, and don't really want to buy a flex top mast just for 1 old sail, (even though it's only been used a couple of times) although i have a 4.0 Kauli, for a couple of KS3s, it needs a 4.3, and a fairly long extension. It rigs awfully on my hookipa 4.3.
I have an ezzy hookipa that is damaged inside the top end of the bottom piece, and the tip of the top split (now repaired) but the ferrule is good, and fits well inside the base of the Kauli.
I'm thinking of cutting the ezzy to 30 cm plus ferrule to use as a base extension for the Kauli, to get a flex top.
Good or bad idea? and is my chinook extension likely to fit inside the new base? Thanks for any input, and has anyone tried similar?
AI.Dave
AI.Dave
TAS
190 posts
TAS, 190 posts
28 Aug 2026 7:57pm
So it'll look like this?

I've used these longer extensions with no dramas.. Sounds like you're on the right track, ending up with an overall less stiff mast that is more flexible at the top. Only issue i can think of is if your hookipa mast tapers and is too narrow to fit your base extension inside, but i wouldnt think so. Maybe measure first
jn1
jn1
SA
2837 posts
jn1 jn1
SA, 2837 posts
28 Aug 2026 7:45pm
jontyh: Yes, good idea chopping a bottom end. This is how I tune my Naish Force 5's, which I appear to be slightly flex top. But, you would think that the Ezzy 430 mast would be in the ball park of the HSM sail ?

PS/ I dialed in an Ezzy 5.5 Cheetah this way too.
jontyh
jontyh
115 posts
115 posts
28 Aug 2026 6:35pm
jn1 said..
jontyh: Yes, good idea chopping a bottom end. This is how I tune my Naish Force 5's, which I appear to be slightly flex top. But, you would think that the Ezzy 430 mast would be in the ball park of the HSM sail ?

PS/ I dialed in an Ezzy 5.5 Cheetah this way too.


I think the Ezzy will be similar stiffness to the base of the Kauli, so using it at the bottom will hopefully be ok. obviously if i was using it as a tip extension, i'd be way off. If i'm wrong, at least i've only lost a damaged mast.
jn1
jn1
SA
2837 posts
jn1 jn1
SA, 2837 posts
28 Aug 2026 8:50pm
Well, you know. Belly and twist off... belly and twist off 👍
powersloshin
powersloshin
NSW
1864 posts
NSW, 1864 posts
29 Aug 2026 7:21am
keep in mind that when you make a 30 cm extender you can only use a short mast extension, or a long one at almost full extension
jn1
jn1
SA
2837 posts
jn1 jn1
SA, 2837 posts
29 Aug 2026 8:37am
As PS said, you have to chop them too. Below is for my 4-8cm ext sails. Below that is the 30cm RDM extender.


jontyh
jontyh
115 posts
115 posts
29 Aug 2026 4:03pm
powersloshin said..
keep in mind that when you make a 30 cm extender you can only use a short mast extension, or a long one at almost full extension


Realised that late last night, but have a short chinook too, so hopefully all good! Thanks

Manuel7
Manuel7
1362 posts
1362 posts
29 Aug 2026 10:39pm
In cases where you don't need much a mast tip extension is great too. Can't find my photo but it's somewhere surely.
zoe510046
zoe510046
QLD
2 posts
QLD, 2 posts
5 Sep 2026 12:29am
Done this a few times with snapped masts definitely beats shelling out for factory extenders.


Just make sure you’ve got a good amount of overlap inside so you don't get a nasty stress point right above the join when it's fully loaded on downhaul. A layer of heat shrink or good quality tape over the collar also helps keep grit from jamming the extension inside after a session.

Hope it rigs up nicely1
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