Sport Today

On the couple occasions when I've talked to merchants about solving
this problem, it seems like they either offer me a useless fix or
give me a look like I'm from another planet or something.

I know the problem is real, I am from Earth, and I suspect someone
has a solution and is willing to share it.  Netters??

I have a one piece Ampro fiberglass mast, that has served well for 5
years.  When new, it had a little red plastic cap on the tip, and some
foam plugs inside it, to keep the water out.  Those things are long
since gone, and all that's left is a tapered tube.

When my rig goes under, the tube fills up and gets heavy.  Once I manage to
get it out of the water, it doesn't drain very well because of the limited
openings at the base/foot.  In short, it's a pain in the butt, reduces
my fun and safety.

I want my mast to stay full of air, and give my rig a little flotation
to speed those water starts and reduce my thrash time.  Press-fit foam
plugs simply do not work, and after they're dislodged, they can make
the problem worse by impeding drainage further.

Tom-

Hardware or home stores sell a product I've used on my old Ampro.  I
don't remember what it is called but it is basically *foam in a can*.
Its a spray can with a length of tube to direct the foam.  The foam
comes out somewhat liquid but rapidly expands to fill whatever cavity
there is.  The only drawback that I found is the foam and can are not
environmentally friendly.  Dispose of properly at a recycling center
that takes that kind of stuff. :-)  My mast doesn't fill up anymore.

adam
--
 ~~o
 ~~i\    "If you're not planing,                          Adam Zais

 ~~i--\       - Fred Haywood                       ...!sequent!adam
 ~~i---\
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I have used the same foam. It is supposed to be used to insulate your
house by filling up small cracks or holes. It worked quite nicely in both
my Kilwell and AMPRO masts. Only one slight problem, it expands more then
you think so take this into account if you want to use a tip extension or
mast base, :).

David Purdy (sold the Ampro and Kilwell)

        Get the press fit foam plugs, put them in, and then squirt
        some silicone caulking cement in to seal it up. Make sure the plugs
        are far enough in so your mast base will still fit.

        Jim Munro

I've had this problem and there are two solutions that I've found:

Look in your phone book for an hydraulic engineering firm. They use lots
of different sized and shaped bungs to keep dust and grime out of valves
and pipes. There should be a big box of them in the corner somewhere
that they will let you sort through until you find one the right size.

Or get hold of a suitably sized *** bung - any school or college with
a chemistry or physics department should have a good selection. You
could get on to a lab apparatus supply firm, but they would probably
want to sell you at least a hundred. Maybe a shop that sells home
brewing stuff might have a good selection of bungs too.

Hope one solution works.

Jim
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PORT ERIN MARINE LAB., PORT ERIN, ISLE OF MAN, BRITISH ISLES.

Hi, Tom

Check out a blurb on the "North Mast Tip" in the May 1991
issue of Windsurfing, pg. 105.  It costs $5.49 and is
supposed to make it easier to slide the mast into the
sail.  You can call them at 206-781-9605.  Also from this
article:  "We used to roll up balls of duck tape and wedge
them in our masts, then cap them with another strip.  It
worked perfectly, and didn't cost anything..."

Good luck,

Mike Katz  
MSE '90

P.S.  I didn't know you were into windsurfing.  Where do
people windsurf in Idaho?

In Washington and Oregon!    [8^)

In _between_ Washington and Oregon!  (And a few spots back home as well.
Yes, friends there are some lakes in Idaho.)