Surfing & Windsurfing/Mast diameters

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Question
Hi
Having some experience from kite-buggying my son and I are planning building landsailors based on windsurfer sails.  
The question is:  What is the internal and outside diameter of a windsurfing SDM mast? Is the SDM measure of 48 mm measured internally or outside?  If it is the internal diameter (to fit in mast-base and mast-extentions), is there then any standard for the outside diameter (to fit the boom bracket)?
We hope you can enlighten the subject. Thank you in advance.
Lars


Answer
It depends on where you are measuring.  At the base of the mast the internal diameter is consistent across most mast makers since the mast extensions must fit inside.  The outside diameter at the boom mount position is also consistent due to the need for different booms to be able to mount to the mast.  The rest of the mast is pretty much proprietary to each mast manufacturer.   I would not build anything based on written specs.  You should obtain a mast that you want to use and build to it.  The 48mm measurment sounds the diameter at the tip of the mast but tip diameter is not consistent across all mast manufacturers.

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Patrick Dean

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Windsurfing expert. 25+ years windsurfing experience. I can give advice about learning to windsurf, the best places to learn and the best equipment to learn on. I can also offer advice on what equipment to purchase based on your skill level, weight and sailing location. Ask me before you buy. The boards made in the last 5 or 6 years are so much easier to sail and learn on. An advance word of advice: stay away from buying old boards unless you know exactly what you are buying and know that all parts are there. I get so many questions about how to set up old boards that usually end up being broken or missing parts and it is impossible to buy parts for these old boards. Remember, it is impossible to find parts for old boards. Try not to buy a board that is more than 5 or 6 years old. As boards age they begin to absorb water. Once that occurs the board is toast and it happens with a lot of boards over 10 years old. When you ask questions, please let me know what part of the world you are from so I can tailor the advice to your location. DO NOT ASK ME WHERE TO GET PARTS DO NOT ASK ME WHERE TO GET PARTS

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I have been windsurfing for over 25 years.

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School of hard waves :-)

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