I used a neil pryde 460 sdm the other week which I must have bought 22 years ago. Would you say that's quite old?
ps. The mast, not me!

If you are worried about mast breakage why don't you look at going to RDM which are generally more robust. I changed several years ago and havnt looked back.

MikeyS said..
I always think the safest thing in an offshore wind is to always sail upwind of most others and never sail out further than anyone else. Bust stuff and you will probably drift down to someone who can help.

or just dont sail in an offshore wind

Most mast breakages in non Surf situations are caused by not having the two halves joined together properly. It is mostly the bottom piece that breaks at the male insert part. I now duct tape the join after recently suffering a broken SDM NP mast that was 15 years old.

I've broken more than my fair share of SDM's too far off shore, long swims so gave them away many moons ago and as said above went RDM, no breakages now for about 10 years, happy as Having said that, one of my original 30% SDM lasted many years before it called it quits, but then it was only 30%

Not what you were asking but as MikeyS said booms are also a worry, I could never get 12 months out of an alloy boom so I went carbon, yes expensive but cheap (+safer) in long run me thinks.

As for uni joints, change em start of every season, no ifs or buts

"Mast wear an tear"
That reminds me of a joke.

When standing naked for the first time in from of his new girlfriend, the girl says, "I see you've been circumcised".
"No, I haven't, that just a little wear and tear".

Sputnik11 said..

firiebob said..
I've broken more than my fair share of SDM's too far off shore, long swims so gave them away many moons ago and as said above went RDM, no breakages now for about 10 years, happy as Having said that, one of my original 30% SDM lasted many years before it called it quits, but then it was only 30%

Not what you were asking but as MikeyS said booms are also a worry, I could never get 12 months out of an alloy boom so I went carbon, yes expensive but cheap (+safer) in long run me thinks.

As for uni joints, change em start of every season, no ifs or buts

Yeah - uni joint was going to be the next question. Very useful answers. Never would have thoughr RDMs would be tougher. Guess I just thought thinner = weaker. Myabe I need to move to RDMs. Will need a new uni then anyway.

SDM vs RDM...

From an engineering point of view, it is harder to bend a pipe with larger diameter than a skinny one. I wonder if it is because of advancement in the way it is built for the latter ? By the way, I have seen folks swam back to shore with snapped RDM mast only the last few years. If you got caught within a washing machine like set of waves, I doubt any mast is able to come out alive.

Personally, I believe it is better to minimize the potential of being rescued, or self-rescued. Check your equipment for visible damages. I do that before I set off on the beach. With masts, it is hard as it is impossible to read any internal or structural damage. Sail within your limits, and don't expect anyone will come flying in to rescue you.

ikw777 said..
RDMs traditionally have had double the wall thickness. Much tougher as a result. After cracking an Italian made mast on the beach, I have been very happy with my switch to Ezzy rdms. Esp when offshore sailing...

That is what I had been pondering... The fact that the tube is narrower, the material is spread over a smaller area than it would have been for a SDM mast.