Any suggestions for an alternate easy and cheaper way to reinforce an older mast? I've used the reinforcement supplied by LaserPerformance in the past, but I believe it's $43 plus $9 shipping. Also, I'm not crazy about putting dissimilar metals (like a 2" cast iron pipe) epoxied in the mast due to potential galvanic corrosion and weight.
Unless you (a) sail regularly in very heavy wind (b) weigh well over 200 lbs and stress the rig with agressive hiking or (c) have an old mast with heavy wear and oxidation/pin holes, I don't think the mast reinforcement is necessary. That said, you are correct that using dissimilar metals is an invitation to disaster especially if you sail in salt water. You can often get a used mast for about $50 - $60 (I have several for sale) so shop around for a spare mast, sail the old one until it dies or looks about to die and then replace the first mast with the back-up.
Another thought. Can you find a thick walled PVC pipe that will fit snugly inside the Sunfish mast? If so, insert about two feet of same inside the bottom of the Sunfish mast and see if that will work for you. If the outside diameter is a little too large for the inside diameter of the mast, see if you can find somebody with a lathe where you can pare the PVC tube down to the proper size. It won't be as good as the factory retrofit, but it should help without adding much weight or the aforementioned galvanic corrosion problems.
Happy New Year - think May.
Alan Glos
Cazenovia, NY
How does a Laser sail require reinforcement of a Sunfish mast???you knew a way of strengthing a mast to withstand Laser sail abuse
-thanks if you see this
Well your first issue is your will need to install a Laser gooseneck on the Sunfish mast. How hard will that be? I am not familiar with how Laser goosenecks are installed in the first place.i mean reinforcing the mast so it won't snap when sailing with a laser sail
While using a Sunfish sail, a "storm cell" broke my "average" mast at 16 inches. FWIW.i mean reinforcing the mast so it won't snap when sailing with a laser sail
it that where your gooseneck hung. just curiousWhile using a Sunfish sail, a "storm cell" broke my "average" mast at 16 inches. FWIW.
View attachment 26755
Newer Sunfish masts are reinforced with a sleeve.