CB Mast reponse

Posted By: Ernie Brown Sea Pearl, past Fox owner
Date: 3/15/09 11:31a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: CB mast???? (Carlos)

I have sold my 1995 Seaward Fox, cat rigged, to Bob Metzger from MO, who is picking it up this week, Lord willing. I think I have read everything available concerning CB masts, both on the forums, past and present, and with discussions with Hake, the manufacturer, and with mast manufacturers. My CB mast broke about six foot above the base on a normal sail in around 12 mph wind, a few months ago. The mast was actually made of part fiber glass and part carbon fiber, contributing to the failure. My new mast is totally carbon fiber, vastly superior to the old one, and a little lighter, much stiffer, and very much stronger. The mast was made by ForteRTS in Conn., but cost around 5800 delivered, not cheap. The folks at Forte chose 5 inch material instead of 4 inch material to make the mast, assuring that none of the known problems would exist. Even though this is heavier than the 4 inch, the trade off is well worth it and is not likely to have any problems near the bottom or separation of the track at the top that we have read about. The CB mast makers varied between 1995 and 1998. If the mast on the boat is partial Fiber Glass, I would beware. If the track at the top is loose, loose revits, I would beware. I would make sure my boat was insured if I bought it. Now the good side. These boats are great fun to sail, easy to launch, and simple in their sail plan, no stays or shrouds to mess with,and have the possibility of installing a jib in front to aid in windward performance. On a beam reach or broad reach, they can be faster than their neighbor sloop rigs. You have all kinds of options to improve performance by changing the goose neck, making the sail loose footed, installing a boom vang,tapering the battons,etc. No one makes a boat better that the Seawards, quality form one end to the other, and no boats are any more attractive on the water as well (personal opinion here I know). So good luck to your Seaward search, I hope there is another in my future some day. For now, I sail a Sea Pearl, until my ship comes in.