Professionally built carbon masts are not cheap. Best bet is to build them yourself. Material costs are about $30 per kg and the 40'ter masts will be about 60 kgs each. We are playing with some low cost techniques to make the moulds and reliably infuse thick carbon laminates.
If the masts don't have to rotate, be perfectly round or have sail track or bearings, the options open out and the costs come down. If the rig attached to the lee side of the mast works, then mast diameter becomes less critical, which will lower the weight and the cost as well.
On Mon, Apr 11, 2016 at 4:30 PM, robriley@rocketmail.com [harryproa] <harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au> wrote:
yes Im coming to see its failings too
all the force is carried in the sail material, shortens its life and might not be kind to mistakes
theres a reason the demonstrator is an off the beach open boat.
I think all along what Im trying to avoid is the cost of those masts which are massive by any standard
massive masts in the most expensive material on the boat is a target to examine alternatives.
To make it feel like its not just about the money lexicon Im also trying to achieve some improvements in rig aerodynamics which would be nice, but if I where honest its all about the money, as it should be.
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Posted by: Rob Denney <harryproa@gmail.com>
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