Recently there a more and more reports of broken top sections of the Laser mast and many anticipate a move towards a carbon fibre top section.
Reminder: the carbon top section (if approved) will only go with the radial rigs.
IMHO, The class should fix #2 right now, that doesn't need a change to a composite spar, I believe there was a proposal for a change that would eliminate having to drill the section. Any progress on that ?
The boom sleeve isn't a snug fit in the tube- there's about a 16th to an 8th of an inch of clearance. I just added a sleeve this summer, and was a little concerned about the space. The sleeve doesn't even start to help until you're vanged hard. I don't see a sleeve as helping that much, unless it was four or five feet long.
And 4.7s.
But... it is certainly worth debating whether or not these composite spars (they are only 5% carbon so don't deserve the label "carbon spar" in my book) might be the answer to the aluminum top mast problems.
Just throwing that out there to see what people think.
The only difference is the catastrophic, sudden unexpected failure of a top section can cause people to lose what otherwise would have been a fine showing in a regatta. So I can see folks to whom that has happened voting for a more durable section to keep it from happening again.
so much more that I doubt you would ever see another broken top section. If you could get it to break, it would snap just as suddenly, but without the enjoyable pptang! sound. I look forward to seeing 12 year old 4.7 owners scrapping the end of their booms on the aft deck with the help of a 15:1 vang very soon.I have some questions for the "cf" top section advocates:
- how much stronger/resilient is a "cf" section than an aluminium one?
(bearing in mind the exhorbitant mark up on "class legal" sails etc) how much might a "cf" section cost?
So, Chainsaw, given the "cost hurdle" what about a socket attached to the top of the bottom section idea?
what do you mean by end to end it?Yes, even better if you end for end it. The bottom section too. To be legal you have to waterproof the old rivet holes. I just use packing tape for this.