Sport Today

Any of you using the North constant-curve carbon mast? I got mine for a
good price ($199) and am wondering why it was so cheap. Opinions?

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Applied Mechanics and Engineering Sciences  UUCP: ...!ucsd!rolf
University of California at San Diego       Voice: (619)534-5414

The catalog lists an epoxy constant-curve top and an HTF constant-curve top.
These are to be to used with the North wave bottoms.  These combinations
yield a constant-curve wave mast which is much too soft for Pryde racing
sails.

Bob Poortinga  (6'0", 180 lbs)      It's a hard wind that's gonna blow...

[O'Brien 8'8", Bic Hard Rock 9'3", O'Brien GS Race 12', North & Waddell quiver]

A good rule of thumb I heard is "North sails only work with North Masts
and vice versa".  Of course I broke the rule and use an Ampro turquise
Al mast (constant flex) with my North 7.5 TCC.

North, from what I've been able to gather, is comitted to two piece
masts.  Their lower piece is a "no curve" bend i.e. VERY stiff with all of
the flex in the top piece which they have many to choose (at least for
their '91 sails).

-Kirk out

PS I like North sails when rigged on the recomended mast in general.

When I bought this mast, the local shop was advertising it as a constant curve
mast. The warning bells were ringing then and I should've listened, as I'm
well aware of North=flex-top rule. However, the sticker on the mast has me
a bit confused. It is a NIMS (North Intelligent Mast System) 90 1-piece
superlight carbon mast. The bottom claims a DIN of 7.8 and an MCS of 3-4.
Under the DIN number, there is a graphical display of a flex-top mast with
a label saying "Flex Top", and under the MCS number there is a graphical
display of a constant-curve mast labeled "Constant Curve".

Help me out here, guys. Obviously, my understanding of MCS and DIN numbers is
wrong, so...
1. Is this mast constant-curve or flex-top (my guess is flex-top)
2. What exactly does the DIN number refer to?
3. What does the MCS number refer to?
4. Is there a relationship between DIN and MCS numbers?
5. Should I march down to the shop where I bought the mast and demand that they
   sell me a constant-curve Fiberspar carbon mast for the same price ($199)
   I paid for the North carbon mast? :-)

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Applied Mechanics and Engineering Sciences  UUCP: ...!ucsd!rolf
University of California at San Diego       Voice: (619)534-5414