Anyway, if you treat the laser maststs properly they won't get permanent bends for ages (radial lower masts will probably after a wile, standards takes ages)
. That is if you don't think that the upper mast gets permanent bends that you cant bend back, which it dosn't.
Anyway, people need to relize that carbon masts are quite fragile too, just a small misstake in handling and it breaks.
Carbon tubing can be very very fragile.
OK, so I wonder if the Laser composite is a tube or a rod?
Yes, they are tubes.
The North American testing program is getting underway. Part of this should also include having some of these spars available for inspection, and **perhaps** (which is a very highly qualified "maybe") a test sail, at upcoming major events. So, for the curious, even if you don't sail a major it might be worth stopping by to have a look.
Can you clarify if they are for Radial only and are they just top/bottom sections or both ?
Many thanks
Ian
The issue with the bendy top section is a "new" issue and hopefully a temporary one. With that I mean that the top sections used to be much better, but in the last couple of years people have been bending a lot top sections. I assume here that the quality of the tubing used for the masts has declined. My assumption is based upon the fact that many sailors prefer the aussie masts. Also, note that a lot of people refer to their masts that have lasted forever, while others buy a couple of top sections per season. The latter are all new sections, and perhaps of poor quality.
The problem might also be related to the new vangs. I am not thinking of upwind, but downwind sailing here. Before the new vangs were introduced, you has to ease the vang before rounding the mark, otherwise you could forget about easing. Now, that is not an issue, so I see a lot of people round the mark and start the downwind leg with their vangs still super tight. I have even seen guys with their vangs very tight for the whole downwind leg. No deathrolls for them, indeed, but back on shore an unpleasant discovery: a very nice curve in their upper.
It is true that masts become stiffer (which is on the one hand good, but at some point they will simply break) but is it true that recently masts have declined in quality?
G
Is it possible that top sections are bending/breaking more easily than before because people are able to haul on more vang with the new control systems?? Just a thought..I know that I now sail with more vang than before...because I can.
Is it possible that top sections are bending/breaking more easily than before because people are able to haul on more vang with the new control systems?? Just a thought..I know that I now sail with more vang than before...because I can.