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Mast Length

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Northwest Kiteboarding -> Gorge / Portland / Oregon Coast
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flipper

Since 17 Oct 2011
320 Posts

Obsessed



PostThu Jul 25, 19 8:19 pm    Mast Length Reply with quote

Why do masts tend to max out around 30 inches? I'm 6'1" and I feel like I would like them to be closer to 38 inches... or even 40 inches. What am I missing?

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knotwindy

Since 25 Sep 2011
598 Posts

Addicted



PostThu Jul 25, 19 9:30 pm     Reply with quote

A full body slam with greater speed from a greater height?

Maybe something to do with leverage and stiffness?

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wylieflyote

Since 30 Jun 2006
1634 Posts
Puget Sound & Wa. Coast
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PostFri Jul 26, 19 1:16 pm     Reply with quote

I was a skeptic. I went from 101cm (40 inch) to 91cm (36 inch) and I can tell you that the aggressive control in the carve feels much more fun.
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Kip Wylie

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Singlemalt

Since 21 Jun 2015
460 Posts
White Salmon
Obsessed



PostFri Jul 26, 19 2:56 pm     Reply with quote

Kip, could you clarify which length works better for you? And why? Thanks!
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ldhr

Since 21 Jul 2009
1470 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster



PostFri Jul 26, 19 4:21 pm     Reply with quote

Flipper - what type of foils are you looking at? Typically the race foils have 40 inch masts. My SS 633 surf foil is 91 (37 inch).
Slingy hoverglide is 36 - the 30 and smaller are for learning.
Not sure where you are seeing all the 30 inch masts.
Finally - your height has no relation to the length of mast you want or need for your style of riding. It's skill and condition dependent.

Maybe your math is bad? 2.54 cm to the inch.

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oliver19

Since 25 Jun 2019
77 Posts

 



PostSat Jul 27, 19 12:39 am     Reply with quote

A lot of the larger wings we kiters use were developed for the SUP/or prone paddle foiling market and they prefer shorter masts. A discussion of the pros and cons of different mast lengths can be extensive but in general it seems kiters have settled on somewhere around 35-36 inches (90 cm) as a good starting point.

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wylieflyote

Since 30 Jun 2006
1634 Posts
Puget Sound & Wa. Coast
XTreme Poster



PostSat Jul 27, 19 9:42 am     Reply with quote

Singlemalt wrote:
Kip, could you clarify which length works better for you? And why? Thanks!


First off, I don't live on the coast so I'm not kiting around much waves & sand bars. I like my Moses 91 over the 101cm because it's just the right compromise for a feeling of snappy-er tight carving turns, with still the freedom to lean out and charge up wind with the mast into the water at an angle. A 101 or 111 a la Tak would work better if that's your discipline. Also the longer masts are better for jumping? But I'm no authority on that.
If you foil the coast, or visit Hatteras you might be looking at a 71cm mast.

I've not experienced any downside regarding breaching and faceplants with a slightly shorter mast.

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Kip Wylie

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