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This may seem like a strange request, but I keep breaking carbon masts. Does anyone know of a company / machine shop / etc. that makes custom made aluminum foil masts?

I need a full mast, not just an adapter.

Thanks in advance,
-SMJ

SMJ wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 24, 2021 12:02 am

This may seem like a strange request, but I keep breaking carbon masts. Does anyone know of a company / machine shop / etc. that makes custom made aluminum foil masts?

Thanks in advance,
-SMJ

Are you considering full length mast or just an adapter? Which foil do you have on the bottom?

I’ve seen aluminum masts bent too...

Hi grigorib,
I need the full mast. The wing on the bottom will be Lift.

I think making one-piece CNC or mound aluminum mast would cost a lot and it would be way heavier than an assembly.
My best advice would be get a thick aluminum mast with mast plate - like Hoverglide and get an adapter made.
The lift fuselage slot is simple enough you can file/drill/tap using vice and drill press an adapter out of aluminum block if somebody can machine it to precise slot width

I’ve checked with Jim Stringfellow about the adapter from Hoverglide mast and he can make one if it’s not very urgent.
I can get you a 30” mast with the mast plate or you can get it anywhere else too.
PM me if you have questions

Starboard go have a really long chord mast. Not sure of the thickness but it might be a better option for you.

Have you tried or looked at a Project Cedrus carbon mast ? I've only read about them, but they sound strong.

https://projectcedrus.com/

Yet another option would be to take a carbon mast and make it stronger by adding a few extra layers of carbon.

All the aluminium masts around are extrusions profiles, so a one off, custom made will be prohibitively expensive. Unless you can somehow reuse the tooling of some company to produce your mast, but then it'll be no different and still bend. I've heard that the Axis surf series masts are thicker and stiffer than most, hence less likely to bend, so my advice would be to get your hands on one of those, reasonably priced, and get a machine shop to CNC an adapter to your fuselage.

axis has a 19mm thick aluminum profile. new gong carbon has about 18mm thick.