Sport Today

Regarding PowerX masts.  I've been using them since the middle of
last year (I have two) and so far they have worked quite well.
I sail quite a bit, over seventy days so far this year :-) ,
and to date have had no problems.  I tend to be a little ***
my equipment, with several broken aluminum masts, booms and various
other things damaged.  The PowerX masts have held up so far, and
this has ranged from 3.0 to 5.7 days, serious bump&jump on the
SF Bay, San Luis Res. 4.0 speed days, to currently trying cheese
rolls.

Things to note though.  If you use cambered sails put some mylar tape
where they hit the mast.  The cambers tend to scratch the mast.
Also, general scratches don't hurt much but be aware for
impact.  This can start a stress concentration that could be
serious.

The light weight is incredible.

Walter Menge                         /|
                                    / |

Hewlett Packard                   /   |
395 Page Mill Rd.                / TC4|
Palo Alto, Calif. 94306         /_____|
(415)857-8982                  _______|___
                                /

Walt, have you taken the Powerx out into the surf?  I have one also
and almost tried it at Manzanita last weekend.  I was a little
paranoid about it so I rigged the Ampro grey instead.

Good comment about taping the mast where the cambers rotate on it.
I have these two rotation marks on my Powerx..............

Ken I don't take the PowerX into the surf.  I also have an Ampro
Gray and Ampro carbon surf slalom.  The PowerX is just to much $$.

When the winds are stronger the weight of the gray is not that
noticable.  Lighter winds the surf carbon is nice.

A friend of mine broke a Red two-piece Powerex after a couple days of
sailing at Coyote.  The Powerex rep replaced it for free and said something
about making sure the two halves are seated together completely, or it
could break again.  Since then he's been careful when he rigs and hasn't
had any problems since.

Unless they are lined with webbing like Waddell camber inducers.

This scares me a little, because I'm a clumsy oaf and am always dropping my
equipment on rocks, etc.  I thought of maybe getting a 2 pc North mast
with a aluminum bottom and a carbon top.  Would this make a noticeable
difference, or am I just being overly cautious?

Also, the coating on my North aluminum mast has gotten worn off right in
the area where I attach my booms.  This is probably due to getting a
little sand in between the mast and boom, and a really tight fit between
my short (4' body) booms and the mast.  Should this mast be replaced, or
is it tough enough in the boom area to take this kind of wear?