Ok in this day & age everything is made of carbon fiber. but not all carbon fiber is the same (neither is the resin or construction method) I don't wanna get to technical (because there are many more who know MUCH more about carbon fiber than I do.) but also because we are talking about windsurfing not the space shuttle technologies.

Anyway, the question may cross your mind Why can I buy a carbon fishing rod at Walmart for $20 ish, and the new carbon mast or boom  I want is is listed over a thousand dollars.

 

There is pure economic factors. How many carbon fishing rods are produced for every carbon mast or boom? economies of scale. Very boring so that is enough of Econ 101.

Windsurfing components use "High Modulus" carbon filiment. More like the filiment that makes up the cloth in the Airbus jets (oops didn't one of them go in the drink recently?) and even the space shuttle (let's not revist space shuttle disasters) I think you get my point even the best carbon fiber in the most tested applications  fail.

 

 So why use this it is not exactly a "GREEN" Alternative. Well, unfortunately carbon just plain works better than anything we can find right now. This expensive, fallable, non green substance has 2 redeeming qualities.

 

1) Most important by far. Fast reliable reflex response...but you thought the main advantage of carbon was weight savings? weight is saved but reflex response is why sail designers LONG AGO went to designing sails on carbon (as opposed to aluminum or some fiberglass hybrid construction). So what is  Fast, reflex response. Technically speaking it is the time it takes (in hundreths of seconds) for a load to be equalized to a static position. In windsurfing terms when the sail is rigged (and carbon components are under load) a gust can be stabilized faster with carbon components than any other type. Sails feel more balanced & controlable. I.e. Feel better more lively.

 

2) The old favorite Carbon is lighter by linear foot. I can't tell you how many time folks come by the shop to talk about a carbon mast or boom, and do the old "lift test" to select the lightest one. Easy, fast and relatively correct method but totally missing the major point (refer to #1 above). But it feels good so we do it...Except you can have to much carbon in the mast. WHAT YOU SAY? To much of a good thing? Yeah in the past few years companies like Fiberspar, sailworks, Maui sails, Gaastra came out with ULTRA high modulus carbon masts. They don't work on every sail. Some they are a dream, sometimes these mast are IMPERATIVE, and sometimes they just screw up a perfectly good sail that only needs a 55% to 75% carbon mast.

 

Let's jump over to carbon booms a relatively newer developement in windsurfing. Windsurfing masts deflect to leeward causing drag. Booms deflect vertically underload allowing the center (CE) of effort to move erratically higher making the rig less balanced and again aluminum reflexes slower (returning to a rigged condition) than carbon. Alowing the rig to feel "out of balance longer. Yes tenths of seconds can mean the difference between planning & just pulling or catapulting or planning off.

 

 

1) When possible use the mast the sail is designed on. Race sails MUST HAVE THE MAST it was designed on (big pain) Freeride 7 Wave sails will work on any mast with the right characteristics. (Big guy trick here if a sail has an option Say a freeride 7.5 is designed to be rigged on a 460 with an alternative of 490 GO WITH THE STIFFER MAST) Freestyle sails use the softest mast possible (forget the above big guy rule)

 

2) The best return (fun) is to put more carbon into your  rig you sail the most (unfortunately this tends to be your biggest rig

 

3) Sails 6.5 and bigger GREATLY benifit from carbon boom. Do not over extend your carbon boom it negates the carbon advantages

 

4) Do not over extend your mast it will slow its reflex response. If you sail calls for a long extension use a carbon long extension for best results

 

5) Last but not least...MAKE SURE your mast ferrule is completely inserted into the top section as this WILL cause mast failure. The best way to do that is to assemble the mast completely outside of the luff sleeve. Wrap it 1X with electrical tape then insert & rig...This will also keep sand out making dis assembly easier too. (My Friend Augustine's trick)

 

So you don't need carbon everywhere (although I must admit once you do you never go back to aluminum) Use these perameters and I'm sure that when you add carbon components you will get the best "Bang for the buck"