Up graded my masts recently, both my x6 430 and x6 460 have identical cracks on bottom half about 40 mm from ferel and around the edge of ferel, even though I purchaced these masts in the last couple months they are marked as 2005 masts, can anyone have a look at there x6 masts and see if they have the same problems. The retailer reconds its normal I'm less than happy. I don't like the idea of sailing till they break. Sometimes it feels like the more money u spend on windsurfing gear the less durable it is.

Are the masts ground smooth??
I have kilwell matrix 5s, these are unground and have marks in them that look like cracks, but are in fact caused by the production process, and aren't a problem, (I've used them in the waves for the last 10 years.)

If they have been ground smooth and you have cracks, then in my book you also have a problem!!!!
Can you flex them or put load on the area to see if the cracks change size???? If they do that would prove a big defect.

I would say x6 masts are ground quite smooth so that could be a bad sign that I can see the cracks, I only noticed them because a salt line had formed on each crack which tells me the cracks are probably deep enough to hold water another bad sign

Ahhhh.... now I can give you some input here. Saw a 460 x6 mast for sale (2nd hand) at a Bris shop for... wait for it....90 dollars because it had been replaced under warrenty for the original owner. Went and checked a few mates with x6 masts and ALL had 1, 2 or a few hairline cracks in the 6-8 cm below the join and NONE had broken, so I bought the mast and have given it a hammering and..... NO PROBS! I did put a bit of electrical tape over the crack as I believe if I can't see it , it won't bother me!

Blow me down
You're right !!
Checked my X6 430 and YES there were cracks/splits near the ferrule.
They were only noticeable 'cause salt had dried in them.

There were none in the 400.

I will employ the services of the local brains trust to get a reasonable explanation.

The reason X6 masts have cracks near the ferrel and dont break is that the mast tapers down to the ferrel -ie there is no ferrel insert in the mast, it is one piece.The mast is then wraped in glass to make the hard edge that the mast top sits on.These cracks are only in the glass wrap, not the mast,therefore they are only cosmetic.Hope this helps.

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Originally posted by winddude

The reason X6 masts have cracks near the ferrel and dont break is that the mast tapers down to the ferrel -ie there is no ferrel insert in the mast, it is one piece.The mast is then wraped in glass to make the hard edge that the mast top sits on.These cracks are only in the glass wrap, not the mast,therefore they are only cosmetic.Hope this helps.

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hmmmm... I'd be a little nervous about any crack... Is the mast carbon core wrapped in glass for strength Last thing I want is a few hour swim and a sail with a luff torn to shreds by a breaking mast

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Originally posted by whippingboy

If as described there is a layering of carbon warapped to form the ferrule these cracks are just splits in the wrapped layers and the underlying mast should be fine. (Diagram or pictures of construction process would help but it's probably top secret )
It's still not a good look though.

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Cracks make me nervous... Can't imagine any layer be it carbon or glass is there simply for the fun of it... If there is a crack in either, it suggests to me that layer of construction (whatever it's purpose - strength stiffness) is compromised. Perhaps the mast is still strong but has compromised stiffness Perhaps the mast is still stiff but has compromised strength

What timing!

Out today, perfect 15-18 knot conditions, had a good session then headed in for a chat with a kitesurfer I know.

Going back out through the shorebreak for another blast, I had the mast tip in my hand as you're supposed to, a small wave goes over me and I feel the mast go twang... now I'm down a mast and my lovely new North sail has a massive hole in the luff

Mine was a Pryde X3, bought second hand, never noticed any cracks up there but didn't look too closely. It wasn't big shorebreak, so the mast must have had some pretty bad cracks in it before today.

And the shop doesn't have any North masts in there either, so if I want to go sailing on the weekend I have to buy a !@#$%^&*()@#$%^#@$%^#$%^#$%^& Pryde again!!!!!!

A picture of the piece of cr@p: www.seabreeze.com.au/gallery/gallery.asp?imageid=3020

Nebbian, can u tell if the ferrule is an insert or is the bottom all one piece, by your photo it looks like an insert which maybe goes in about 50 mm , so thier is a weak point where it ends.

Comrade Nebian
I feel very sorry for you and braking of the mast but I think aligning it to potential cracks as a result of other post about x6 is a little over the top.
By the look of your mast, he is very well used for certain yar ?

I have broken many masts (lots of different brands) in very small surf and have also had masts sustain massive wipeouts (mast high plus outer reef surf in Mauritius breaking top to bottom) and still work perfectly for many more sessions.

With many big strain being placed on mast over long period eventually they weaken and be of breaking... this is before you factor in heat/sun damage and the occiasonal knock it gets being carted around for certain.

Last year I break 4 masts in 3 week period (I break 2 in 40 minutes.
This very bad luck for certain but I also cop big pounding in surf so something had to give for sure yar
You should not be blaming equipment/brand in this instance,,, this is old mast and sadly they do break. If he was new mast then for sure you should be of very angry mind yar

Just for record i have both North Viper wave mst (carbon 100) and pryde x6
Both have been used exstensive in big wind and big waves, both are well over 18 months old and both are still going strong (touching of the wood) Both have been doing mkany of the big trips on planes.
North Viper has cracks under resin but he still work very well...

Kremlin

quote:

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Originally posted by nebbian


Next question: Are skinnies worth the extra $$?

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I think so... I don't think there would be too many that have gone to skinnies that would disagree either. If you have the coin, you'll never look back...

Second handies are in the buy and sell every now and then... But I guess you are in a bit of need now...

Sorry to hear about your dearly departed

Hi all,

Whippingboy, I believe most masts are made on a filament winding machine.

Filament winding works like this:

A long, cylindrical tool called a mandrel is suspended horizontally between end supports, while the "head" - the fiber application instrument - moves back and forth along the length of a rotating mandrel, placing fiber onto the tool in a predetermined configuration. Computer-controlled filament winding machines are available, equipped with from 2 to 12 axes of motion.

In most applications, the filament winding apparatus passes the fiber material through a resin "bath," just before the material touches the mandrel. This is called "wet winding."

Tow preg - continuous fiber pre-impregnated with resin also can be wound, eliminating the need for an on-site resin bath. In a slightly different process, fiber is wound without resin ("dry winding"). The dry shape is then removed and used as a preform in another molding process, such as resin transfer molding (RTM).

RTM process requires an aluminium female mould. The dry fibres pre-formed into the correct shape are placed into the mould and the mould is closed. Thermoset resin is injected into the mould. This gives a nice molded finish on all surfaces of the product.

I am guessing that most modern masts must be produced using filament wound pre-preg or dry winding and RTM because the inside and outside surfaces have a 'moulded' finish.

(You may remember some of the older masts had a slightly bumpy glossy finish which was not moulded)

Now you know how they're made....still doesn't explain why they have cracks.

Very interesting Sinker,

Do you know how many fibres run lengthways? Seems a bit backwards to me, running the fibres round and round... look at trees, all their fibres run lengthways, and you can guarantee that nature knows the best way to do things.

Running the fibres round and round would be like trying to give bend stiffness to a slinky. But then again what do I know about manufacturing, all I do is break the ^&*$%^ things

Don't know anything about X6 masts, but looking at the photos, the explanation of glass wound round the outside of the carbon to form the ridge the top piece sits on makes sense.
Those fibres appear to just go round the mast, so they don't change the stiffness set up by the carbon, this means that when mast flexes resin holding glass fibres in place cracks.
It's only a theory, but if it's right, the cracks don't mean a big problem.
But don't blame me if it breaks out the back, and you have to swim.

hi nebbian,

if you haven't already got a mast, you could stop in at caloundra on the way up to find another mast. i may have even been able to get a mast delivered up there for you. maybe too late now though.

sorry to hear about your loss.