Stiffer Mast Upgrade

Hey Ya
Here's another cheapie fix for the sail mast you might try ($1.89?) .
I took the wide end ( 3/8 ") of two 5' Bamboo garden stakes and cut off the thin ends and then stuffed the two thicker 3/8" Bamboo pieces into the upper end of my mast to make it stiffer. Bamboo is light, flexible and strong and won't absorb as much water as solid wood dowels can.... did I also mention its lighter.. . So far so good out on the water etc.
Happy Fourth
....Kepnutz...
Here's the picture..

any thought to the new stress added to the hull with a stiffer mast?

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Brad Stephens
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Hi Ya Jammy
You make a very very good point there and I'll certainly keep an eye out for any stress marks , leaks or cracks. If I notice anything amiss I will post it here right away and let everyone know ASAP .
I think that if the hull was that frigging flimsy then it should have never carried a sail and mast to begin with..!!
So no Im not really sweating it all that much. Its not absolutely stiff anyway..it still bends plenty ..just not as easily..and its just in the top section of the mast which is really quite flexy.

You could express more concern though for all those folks out there that have been sailing their Sunjammy Hobie Kayaks and other Hobie Kayaks worldwide in 20 to 30 plus miles per hour winds and waves which is also supposedly way outside the stated design parameters of the sail and kayak as well.
Have you ever mentioned your concern about those potential stresses of the hull before ,on this board, in any of your post's to anyone ever..??
....No.. ?..... I didnt think so..
Have Fun...Happy Fourth
Kepnutz

last week end while sailing in 15 to 18 knot winds I managed to bend a mast at the point were it exists the top of the hull. While sailing upwind I was out of the seat and sitting/laying on the rail using the side kicks to prevent me from capsizing to windward in any sudden lulls. The boat realy sailed well with this much weight on the rail. A stiffer top section may agravate this problem.

The bendy mast is sort of a safety device. When it bends, the sail spills air depowering it and lessening the tipping moment on the hull. Stiffer mast, more tipping moment requiring more righting moment. If its all in balance you go faster!

Yup Ya'll

.......... "Caution use Judgment"


Like I always say.."You can break anything if you do it right"


Im just ...........L.M.A.O.
..................... Kepnutz

Ah, but the Coasties build em right. Takes more than a FG speedster to even chip one. Well most of the time.