Edit: just realized that this was discussed quite a bit above but I think it can still be expanded a bit.!!
That’s what I’ll do but then I’m wondering. Does the flexibility of foil comes from the modular connections (mast plate to mast and mast to fuselage) or does it actually come from the mast flexibility (mast alone)? I know this point was mentioned above but I’d like to expand on it. Does an aluminum mast have some flexibility or does it just bend under some force and doesn’t go back to normal? @Jezza any thoughts? If the alu mast doesn’t have much flexibility, that means it may not be optimal to reinforce it on full length to improve its stiffness and my efforts should be shifted to stiffening up those modular connections. Has anyone tried to weld the mast plate to the mast? I feel that’s where most of my flexibility comes from in my setup (already have slots adaptor for different wings).
There will be some flex in an alu mast, but it’s not going to be that much and most people would never ever notice it. It would be more likely that you’d bend the mast.
The flex at the bolt joins is the most likely candidate if the mast and fuselage don’t taper and slot in properly. It’s a slower flex than if your wing is loose which feels more like a flutter/twitch.
My very first adaptor I made was a simple piece that never went into the mast and just relied on the bolts. You would even feel slight worming on the foil as the connection twisted ever so slightly. Now I only use adaptors that run back up the mast and slot in properly.
Aluminium has a yield point just as steel does, especially the 6061-t6 that i think the masts are made of so it has flex. But probably jezza is right that a large part can come from gaps in fuselage and mast connection.
I’ll try before and after glueing these solid (during winter building). That’ll show if there’s a worthwile improvement for my gong mast
The AXIS tech team, claims that the AXIS 19mm Aluminium mast is 224% stiffer than the oem LF mast.
On the other hand, the AXIS 16mm Aluminium mast is 135% stiffer than the oem LF mast according to the same study.
The AXIS 19mm Aluminium 75cm mast is only $108 US and very well suited for eFoils.
I am working on a new built with the 105cm 19mm AXIS mast which is a beast.
At this low price, why bother with anything less that won’t be as stiff anyway?
About the masts, the 16mm is obviously thinner - so a bit less drag, a bit faster / more slippery.
About the 105cm, with the motor, you loose a bit of a mast height. And the higher you ride on the foil the more efficient / less drag. Also better carving / edging with the longer mast.
If you have the water depth it’s the way to go imo.
Agree for carving, also helps with swell but for drag it’s not the absolut length of the mast but how much of it is left in the water, so a short mast can have the same drag with the same part in the water as a long one. A longer mast also tends more to flex as there are higher forces due to the longer lever. A longer mast needs to be more robust, which adds weight. Might also be more difficult to ride, so it depends where you use it and is also a matter of personal preference.
Well said - all of the above. I love riding higher on my foil, so for sure a personal preference.
The 19mm 105cm mast is a beast. I have been riding it for winging, kite foiling and friends ride it windsurfing foiling (which puts the most torque on the masts). No issues. It’s the stiffest mast on the market. Can’t wait to eFoil it when ready
You’ll probably have the longest efoil mast in the world haha! That has a nice ring to it! Please report back once you ride it a couple times! We need a 90cm - 105cm comparison!
Drag is directly proportional to frontal area so at 19/13mm it’s 46% higher drag for the bigger mast. I guess this is still small effect compared to many wings though.
Must be someone (like jezza) who has run both types with same wing?
That’s what 90%+ of the people on the forum have been using with success (and some failures but mostly success). I wouldn’t say it is not suitable for efoiling because it obviously works! Is it ideal or the best? Probably not! That’s why I’m curious to hear more about how a 19mm mast rides through the water compared to much thinner mast that cut through the water!
The forces applied by large front wings make any 13.5mm aluminium mast unsuitable.
Smaller kite wings, as these masts were originally designed for. Ok I guess.
But they are way too flexible / wobbly. We all adjust and try to make the most out of what we have.
But when you ride a stiff mast, nothing else really compares and the difference is dramatic.
Stiffness of mast and connection points is critical imo so I’d go with 19mm any day. Weight difference is less than 8% between the 2 masts, so I am not that worried.
Stiffness difference between the 16mm and the 19mm is more noticeable on larger wings, and when carving and turning hard. For straight lining, either would be manageable I’d think.
The extra space though of the 19mm mast is nice to work with though.
There are a number of things that play a role with perceived stiffness:
mast base connection
mast fuselage connection
fuselage twist
fuselage wing connections
lastly the actual mast
Once you are 100% sure the first 4 have zero impact you can start looking at the mast itself. I have ridden wings up to 1600 with the going mast and felt no flex.
For a speed record, go for the thinner mast. It’s going to have less drag.
You can also try the thinner mast on bigger wings and see if you notice any flex.
I have an axis setup I bought for wakefoiling. The only reason I went with it was my brother is 6’7" and 115kg so I figured if anyone needs a strong mast it’s gonna be him. The axis construction and finishing is stunning and worth every cent. I honestly can’t remember if it was the 16mm or 19mm one though.
I have a new motor coming soon, so I need to decide on a mast and may very well get the 16mm axis just for something different. Just wish they made it in black.
I tested my mast yesterday, very easy to spot a contributor to flex when looking for it. The upper mast mount allows play in side-side direction. I’ll glue it solid.
Best way to check mast flex is to use it like a bridge and slowly weight it until you see some flex. That way you know how much force it can handle before the flex starts.