Author Topic: Shortest practical mast length for shallow water.  (Read 2837 times)

Badger

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Shortest practical mast length for shallow water.
« on: June 17, 2021, 08:42:32 AM »
Say you wanted to wing foil some shallow tidal places that weren't too choppy. What would be the shortest practical mast length that would still give you reasonable performance? Does anyone use shorter masts specifically for shallow water foiling?
Kalama E3 6'1 x 23" 105L
Axis HPS 980 / PNG 1300
Sunova Flow  8'10 X 31"  119L
Me - 6'0" - 165lbs - 66yo

Hdip

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Re: Shortest practical mast length for shallow water.
« Reply #1 on: June 17, 2021, 08:50:28 AM »
2 guys in LA are using 45cm masts to great effect. They're foiling places other people can't foil.

EDIT: Oh sorry. Those guys are prone foiling. Not wing foiling.
« Last Edit: June 17, 2021, 09:12:27 AM by Hdip »

AGK

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Re: Shortest practical mast length for shallow water.
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2021, 08:53:19 AM »
My experience:  45 cm is really hard to use if there is any chop at all.  60 cm works, but (for me) 68 cm is significantly better than 60 and is what I use most of the time for our OBX  sound launches.  WHen winds are high and the water is deep enough, longer masts are better -- but for me ~68 cm is the sweet spot.

Badger

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Re: Shortest practical mast length for shallow water.
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2021, 10:11:55 AM »
My experience:  45 cm is really hard to use if there is any chop at all.  60 cm works, but (for me) 68 cm is significantly better than 60 and is what I use most of the time for our OBX  sound launches.  When winds are high and the water is deep enough, longer masts are better -- but for me, ~68 cm is the sweet spot.

68cm was what I was thinking. A good length to learn on but hopefully still usable at shallow places later on.

Is it easy adjusting from a long mast to a short mast or vice versa?

.
« Last Edit: June 17, 2021, 10:17:50 AM by Badger »
Kalama E3 6'1 x 23" 105L
Axis HPS 980 / PNG 1300
Sunova Flow  8'10 X 31"  119L
Me - 6'0" - 165lbs - 66yo

PonoBill

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Re: Shortest practical mast length for shallow water.
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2021, 10:15:15 AM »
I have a 60 CM aluminum mast that I like for anyplace where depth is an issue. I wish I had it for Kanaha last winter--or for Ka'a when the tide is low. I've hit the outer reef in both places going flat out. It's a good thing my new Flying Dutchman wing board is so strong. I fully expected to see the guts hanging out of it.

I don't mind a short mast with bit of chop and swell if the board can handle touchdowns without doing silly shit. This little thing bounces off chop and swells like they weren't there. I should have brought it to Hood River, but I decided it's my Maui wingboard. Dumb.
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

AGK

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Re: Shortest practical mast length for shallow water.
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2021, 10:17:23 AM »
My experience:  45 cm is really hard to use if there is any chop at all.  60 cm works, but (for me) 68 cm is significantly better than 60 and is what I use most of the time for our OBX  sound launches.  When winds are high and the water is deep enough, longer masts are better -- but for me, ~68 cm is the sweet spot.

68cm was what I was thinking. A good length to learn on but still usable at shallow places later on.

Is it easy adjusting from a long mast to a short mast or vice versa?

Going from 68 to 76 is easy.  I've only used a 91 cm a couple of times and didn't have issues, but both times were easy (steady mid-teen) conditions.  Hope to get more data points before too long.

Badger

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Re: Shortest practical mast length for shallow water.
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2021, 10:23:06 AM »
I have a 60 CM aluminum mast that I like for anyplace where depth is an issue. I wish I had it for Kanaha last winter--or for Ka'a when the tide is low. I've hit the outer reef in both places going flat out. It's a good thing my new Flying Dutchman wing board is so strong. I fully expected to see the guts hanging out of it.

I don't mind a short mast with bit of chop and swell if the board can handle touchdowns without doing silly shit. This little thing bounces off chop and swells like they weren't there. I should have brought it to Hood River, but I decided it's my Maui wingboard. Dumb.


Thanks Bill, great info.  What length of mast do you use most often?


Kalama E3 6'1 x 23" 105L
Axis HPS 980 / PNG 1300
Sunova Flow  8'10 X 31"  119L
Me - 6'0" - 165lbs - 66yo

PonoBill

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Re: Shortest practical mast length for shallow water.
« Reply #7 on: June 17, 2021, 07:22:49 PM »
I have a 60 CM aluminum mast that I like for anyplace where depth is an issue. I wish I had it for Kanaha last winter--or for Ka'a when the tide is low. I've hit the outer reef in both places going flat out. It's a good thing my new Flying Dutchman wing board is so strong. I fully expected to see the guts hanging out of it.

I don't mind a short mast with bit of chop and swell if the board can handle touchdowns without doing silly shit. This little thing bounces off chop and swells like they weren't there. I should have brought it to Hood River, but I decided it's my Maui wingboard. Dumb.

96CM Carbon



Thanks Bill, great info.  What length of mast do you use most often?
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

 


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