I was about to add a new 460 rdm mast to my present 430, but I see that Ezzy now sells tops and bottoms separately. It would be cheaper go this way. If I buy a top, it would go on the bottom of a cc a mast of another brand., though. By the way, would it be better a new top on the existing bottom, or the other way around? I guess I shouldn't worry, because I am not a demanding expert, just a run-of-the-mill intermediate sailor, but I'd like somebody to comment on this.

Thanks ,

You generally can't mix brands, frequently you can't mix models within brands.
If you are on a budget buy a used mast.

But the Ezzy ferrule is opposite to most

probably to avoid people trying what you're suggesting as it's not a great idea. They came up with mix n match but know other brands won't work.

Yeah you can do the same with Severne RDM wave masts too. I have done that previously when I didn't have a spare after noticing a crack in the bottom part. It works as a temporary option, but it's never ideal as the sails are designed to work on the specified mast.

As per above, you're probably better off buying the 460. Knowing that the half's are interchangeable, you have options when you break something down the track.

If combining Ezzy's tops or bottoms with other brands of masts were to yield a less-than-optimal performance, I wouldn't worry. ( At my level, I wouldn't probably even notice it!), Same thing , what would be the difference between using an Ezzy 460 cm with a non-Ezzy top or viceversa? What I'd be more concerned about is the risk of breakage, if it exists. Is there such a risk ?

Thanks

Franchetto

As I said, the ezzy ferrule is backwards compared to every other brand. Maybe there is another one that's the same way around but I can't think of one

just looked at NoLimitz masts as they made the Ezzy RDM originally and even that is backwards

so you physically cannot use any other top even if you wanted to

Brent in Qld said..

Mark _australia said..
As I said, the ezzy ferrule is backwards compared to every other brand. Maybe there is another one that's the same way around but I can't think of one

just looked at NoLimitz masts as they made the Ezzy RDM originally and even that is backwards

so you physically cannot use any other top even if you wanted to

I can't understand what you mean by Ezzy ferrule being backward. Anyway, if I decided to combine mast tops and bottoms of different brands I 'd certainly make sure that they have the same stiffness specs ( ICMS, CC, etc), but perhaps you could explain why you say that in some cases the top and bottom cannot even be physically joined, due to the ferrule design. How so? thought different brands would have the same internal diameter at the juncture, whether SDM or RDM.

As to the alleged drawbacks of using sails and masts of different brands or assorted mast tops and bottoms of different brands, it is certainly a legitimate concern to advanced sailors looking for speed, performance and adrenaline. For my part, I'll just say that I have been windsurfing, in and out, for more than 40 years (!), at the time, I should add, when the technology was so rudimentary ( 40 lbs boards, no carbon, fiberglass and aluminum masts, sails looking more like bed sheets, .etc) that sailing with less than optimal performance gear would be a small drawback, after all, still quite enjoyable, like a walk in the park, compared to those days.

Franchetto

I sail a NP V8 6.2 with a slightly shortened Ezzy 460 rdm bottom half with an old powerex 400 tip. It is one of my favorite combinations. Maybe the soft top is close to the NP soft top masts.

I agree with jn1, even within the same brand mast diameters change slightly between for example 80% and 99% (one well known brand) so that the top from one won't fit on the bottom from the other. And on another brand I broke the bottom so ordered another bottom as the tops and bottoms can be purchased separately. The old top didn't fit on the new bottom. When I queried the brand, it turns out that they moved to a new factory.
So if you got down this route only buy after you have tested that the new top fits on your existing bottom.

I believe Ezzy are CC/flex. They seemed this way 10 years ago. I've only owned one Ezzy sail, a 5.5 Cheetah.

With some factories, the bottoms are all the same, and it's only the top that is different. But don't count on that cross factories and years.

To answer your question, I'll stick to want I know: wave and freeride sails with RDM masts.

With a CC sail & CC mast (or any same combo), the leach and belly will (or should) form at the same time. This is good. Maximum stability and wind range, as per intended design.

However, when you have a CC sail, and you put a flex mast in it, and begin to downhaul, the belly remains flat, and the leach forms early. Sail does not look good. The battens are poking out the other side of mast. So, you give it more d/haul. The belly forms, but then the leach is so floppy, and it looks distorted. Often it has that "bent in half" look. Rig feels horrible on the water.

You wrote of compromised performance in your above post. I wouldn't do that. For me, if I am using a poorly tuned rig, I become exhausted by the end of the run due to constantly trying to trim it. I normally can't gybe properly, and don't even have the speed to enter a exit planing gybe. Or I have to stop and rest my arms. If rig is tuned, it should feel like sitting back in an arm chair with all the forces going through the lines and your harness. You should be fully relaxed at the end of the run to be able to gybe properly.

2ndly, another indicator of a sht tuned rig: riders sailing past you, and can go up wind better, who are same weight, with similar gear to you.

Try to ask locals. Ask if you can put their masts in your sails. Sail tuning is often best with a few experienced riggers sharing knowledge and experience in person.

I mixed a 430 ezzy hookipa base with 490 hookipa top to make a 460, and it was fine. You can also mix in the ezzy legacy masts which are significantly cheaper, and very good imo.