Looks like Axis came out with a new carbon mast. Any insights/feedback from anyone on the power carbon and power carbon High modulus mast? Comparisons with axis aluminum?
bending and torsion numbers are on their website, but no mention of weight
axisfoils.com/collections/power-carbon-mast-collection/products/power-carbon-high-modulus-foil-mast-base-plate-90
i read on fbook the weights are about same as Alu but much stiffer...i hadn't noticed Alu not being stiff but i guess you have to try it to feel the difference. Shame they are not lighter though
The new Axis power masts look awesome. At least one kiwi brand knows the importance of a stiff mast! I'd personally rather see more strength at the base plate to board connection via washers and round holes not slotted and countersunk. Slightly more time to setup but much stronger when putting composite material under shear stress. Hitting the bottom is a reality for most non sponsored riders. Make it as strong as possible IMO.
$1,456.00 USD then you need an Aluula wing and the lightest board. Not much change from $10k AU to get a full set up. This sport is getting even pricier.
They look cool though
Anyone know the thickness? 19mm or have they gone thinner?
This. The 19mm alu mast has been talked up for its stiffness for years now. I'm not looking for stiffer and equally draggy, I'm looking for equal (or greater, at 1400 bucks) stiffness and significantly less drag.
Can't see anything about thickness in their rather long winded schpiel, bit hard to fathom trying to sell such an expensive high performance mast without addressing that point.
15mm down the lower portion apparently - people I know who have used it say you can notice the difference from the 19mm Ali mast. Re price - high modulus carbon masts have always been pricey, just ask the kitefoil racers. You don't have to spend the $$$ if you don't want to, but if you want a really stiff carbon mast there is now an option for you. Properly stiff carbon masts will generally be heavier, not featherweight - i think the benefit here is the reduction in thickness / drag without a reduction in stiffness.
$1,456.00 USD then you need an Aluula wing and the lightest board. Not much change from $10k AU to get a full set up. This sport is getting even pricier.
They look cool though
My sentiments exactly! Very happy with Gong's latest carbon V2 mast for $500 and an SLS Slick instead of a D-Lab. Of course the wife and I are spending a small ransom to visit our daughter (who just became a permanent Australian resident) in Melbourne this Dec-Jan.......priorities
FWIW, if low drag is your goal just buy a Mikes Lab rig. Nothing else will come close. About $3,500 usd before shipping..
New mast looks like a much needed upgrade! It's also worth taking a look at these - UHM carbon, optimised layup for torsion + bending stiffness, fits Axis fuse.www.maguireboats.com/maguire-wing-foil-mast-417-p.asp
The new Axis power masts look awesome. At least one kiwi brand knows the importance of a stiff mast! I'd personally rather see more strength at the base plate to board connection via washers and round holes not slotted and countersunk. Slightly more time to setup but much stronger when putting composite material under shear stress. Hitting the bottom is a reality for most non sponsored riders. Make it as strong as possible IMO.
I bet those slotted holes are stronger than the half assed track installations on most boards.
Anybody want to comment on the NoLimitz mast which is high modulus and lighter?
It's light, stiff and thin. Similar price. 1250 grams with hardware. Difference in drag over the 19mm is noticeable. No ventilation issues. Would like to see a showdown comparison between the two. Definitely worth consideration.
The new carbon mast is 15mm thick for 300mm near fuselage. Ali mast 19mm thick.
How thick is the current carbon mast? 14mm sticks in my mind from some past thread.
Potting mine with epoxy to the fuselage made a pretty big difference in performance. It's amazing how much bigger the base is now, probably 20% more material there. The stock fit was super sloppy. Plenty stiff enough for my purposes and I like the 86mm size apparently no longer available.
$1,456.00 USD then you need an Aluula wing and the lightest board. Not much change from $10k AU to get a full set up. This sport is getting even pricier.
They look cool though
$1855 AUD for the 820mm high modulus carbon mast. That is pretty pricey but when you add all the components together a full rig comes out about the same as most other full carbon setups but with I guess a much better mast.
But it is not full carbon. You will still have to deal with tefgel
Potting mine with epoxy to the fuselage made a pretty big difference in performance. It's amazing how much bigger the base is now, probably 20% more material there. The stock fit was super sloppy. Plenty stiff enough for my purposes and I like the 86mm size apparently no longer available.
Exactly
there's a lot of talk about a single connection to the base plate as that's weak area but then there's still the 15mm x 10mm connection at the bottom to the fuse where it's most important. be interesting to see one in the flesh to see if it's tighter now as seen some really sloppy fits on current axis set ups
But it is not full carbon. You will still have to deal with tefgel
I really don't understand what the problem is with tefgel. Yeah its sticky grease but not a big deal in anyway. I am sure you have put wax on a board, why not a little grease on some foil bolts
Anybody want to comment on the NoLimitz mast which is high modulus and lighter?
Too flexible with larger wings.
I sold mine and went w a Cedrus.
Potting mine with epoxy to the fuselage made a pretty big difference in performance. It's amazing how much bigger the base is now, probably 20% more material there. The stock fit was super sloppy. Plenty stiff enough for my purposes and I like the 86mm size apparently no longer available.
Exactly
there's a lot of talk about a single connection to the base plate as that's weak area but then there's still the 15mm x 10mm connection at the bottom to the fuse where it's most important. be interesting to see one in the flesh to see if it's tighter now as seen some really sloppy fits on current axis set ups
Exactly where was the sloppiness? The only thing sloppy I've seen is the Alum Baseplate and Mast. Most everybody knows to fit it w alum tape or coke can alum.
Yeh and that is only sometimes necessary depending on the wear of the aluminium extruder, mine must have been an early one because it doesn't flex nor require the tape/coke can. There is no reason why the carbon won't be a tight fit. That being said, with the stiffness of the mast it is likely to put more pressure on other parts of the wings and joins.
Exactly where was the sloppiness? The only thing sloppy I've seen is the Alum Baseplate and Mast. Most everybody knows to fit it w alum tape or coke can alum.
On the carbon masts connection to the fuse. looks like they have changed the flange of n the power carbon masts as you now have to put them on and off certain way so should of sorted it ?
Had Axis at the start. Water in mast, corrosion of fuse and mast, stuck bolts, bolts coming lose at mast to base plate connection and dropping tefgel covered bolts in sand put me off. Happy with GoFoil.
This does look a good mast. Add a carbon fuse with titanium inserts and it would be even better.
I will probably upgrade to the new mast at some point.
I've been on ALU 75 and now 90 for the last 2 years. I use Tefgel. Inspect every 6 months and never an issue with corrosion, stuck bolts. Some water is always under the do-dad - maybe a 1/4 cup.
Had Axis at the start. Water in mast, corrosion of fuse and mast, stuck bolts, bolts coming lose at mast to base plate connection and dropping tefgel covered bolts in sand put me off. Happy with GoFoil.
This does look a good mast. Add a carbon fuse with titanium inserts and it would be even better.
Yeah I wasn't campaigning you to go back to an ali set-up I was just saying that the issues you have described are pretty minor and don't effect my decision as to what gear to ride.
As far as a carbon fuse from what I understand there is very little performance or weight saving advantages from a carbon fuse vs aluminium. I like the fact the axis fuses less expensive as it makes it easier to have a couple different fuses in the quiver
Potting mine with epoxy to the fuselage made a pretty big difference in performance. It's amazing how much bigger the base is now, probably 20% more material there. The stock fit was super sloppy. Plenty stiff enough for my purposes and I like the 86mm size apparently no longer available.
Exactly
there's a lot of talk about a single connection to the base plate as that's weak area but then there's still the 15mm x 10mm connection at the bottom to the fuse where it's most important. be interesting to see one in the flesh to see if it's tighter now as seen some really sloppy fits on current axis set ups
Exactly where was the sloppiness? The only thing sloppy I've seen is the Alum Baseplate and Mast. Most everybody knows to fit it w alum tape or coke can alum.
The sloppiness is (now was) at the mast to fuse connection. Not saying they could do it any tighter on a production basis but there's some airspace in there that required you to re-tighten the bolts every session ( I started using blue loktite as it's stainless on stainless). After filling in all that airspace with epoxy it's solid as a Go Foil mast.
A LOT of money to spend on a mast that weighs the same as the Aluminum. I am pretty interested in it still, I'll just put this into the 'wait until I've had a few drinks before I buy' category...
DC
A LOT of money to spend on a mast that weighs the same as the Aluminum. I am pretty interested in it still, I'll just put this into the 'wait until I've had a few drinks before I buy' category...
DC
Agreed, As I'm not feeling like I'm missing anything it would take more than just a few drinks.
"Add a carbon fuse with titanium inserts and it would be even better." That's called an Armstrong fuse