Without getting into the woods with detailed hydrodynamics on the subject, is there some good rule of thumb logic why the mast nose should be thicker then the tail on an efoil?
I’m researching the mast (keel) and have spent a fair amount of time reading about the various options. After looking at the various masts from different manufacturers (both efoil and no motor) and it appears the profile (shape, aeroprofile, hydroprofile) is typically symmetrical on both sides (equal nose and tail thicknesses).
I assume this is mostly because it decreases production costs / complexities making, but there must be some good rule of thumb logic for making the nose side of the mast thicker than the tail.
My understanding is that the thickness primarily drives the strength and stiffness, so it should be as thin as possible without losing structural integrity (10mm is likely minimum, 20mm max and 15mm average, all based on materials). Thinner is better as it creates less drag. The mast itself is not providing any lift necessarily, so does having a wider nose than tail have any advantage at all? If so, what’s the “back of the napkin” logic for deciding that thickness…
Thanks
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