Hey,
I'm about to purchase a second hand 400 x-combat.
the sail that will be rigging on it is a 2005 gaastra poison, and from there i suppose i will buy other sails that rig well on this mast.
any comments?
is this a mistake?

Cheers

No no no don't do it.

Neil Pryde masts don't work very well in other sails but particularly they don't work in Gaastras. Dunno about Gasstra less than two years old though.

Basically NP masts are very soft in the top and Gaastra very stiff in the top.

So you'll find a NP mast may work OK (just) in another sail that is constant curve but it will be absolutely atrocious in a Gaastra. They are at (extreme) opposite ends of the spectrum and pretty much always have been.

The best for a Poison will be Gaastra's Ignition RDM, followed by their sdm, followed by a Maui Sails mast. There are some others that will work but they are rare-ish brands in Oz.

You'd probably notice straight away that it is too easy to downhaul and the leech too loose. It would not look right.... but maybe not to you ... no insult but you said "new to this".

For $400 you should be able to find a very good (1 season old) mast that is the right fit.

Thanks Mark,
Yeah coming from a sailing background it is funny sailing round on theses things with floppy leeches.
will hang out for a ezzy or similar. any comments re. ezzy and gaastra?
Cheers adam

Hi Ausi14
1) what size is it? Ot makes a hell of a difference if it's big say 5.8 not so much on a 4.0

2)
Here is a list of the Mast compatability in order of their Bend curve compatabilities.
1) Gaastra RDm 100 or 75
2) Ezzy, tushingham or Maui sails as we are aware they all out of same factory but maybe slightly different due to the different re-inforcing used around base and boom and different weights - ie strentgh
3) Fiberspar and powerex. - We as the importer have used both we regularly use fiberspar and have used powerex on Maui (thats all you can hire on Maui) in these sails with some difference in set but still good.
4) Pryde etc etc. The main problem will be too full in the bottom and therefore want to pull you over the handle bars, while the sail will not feel very powerfull

You can give me a call or PM and I can set you up with a cheap mast 2nd hand that I know are going on the market.

i'm happy rigging and sailing any piece of windsurfing equipment.

you guys have lost touch with windsurfing, the pastime, the fun!

take a good hard look at yourselves.

quote:

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Originally posted by greenleader



take a good hard look at yourselves.

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OK I've done that, and I see a guy that loves windsurfing, the fun of it, the exhilaration of it, the sheer joy when everything's in sync.

Having a sail that's not rigged correctly (so doesn't handle very well) just detracts from that.

thanx decrep, a boom in the hand is worth......

Thanks fellas,
will hang out for another ezzy.
Gybesports, its the 4.5 i bought oof you the other week. will call you re the mast soon

Cheers adam