Postby Foil » Mon Jan 17, 2022 8:22 am
I have had the 82 and 92 masts, alongside the 81- 91 and 101 masts ,apart from the rake angle making a small but noticeable difference to mast mounting positions there is a very important difference to guys who want to push the limits of what its possible to do with the masts ending with number 2, the thicker profile masts, they do have limits, and if you are boosting, driving hard, feet fully strapped down and maybe fully powered for speed and hard turns, even on small waves for fast turns, or going hard and high upwind on toe side then there is a limit to this behaviour if using the thicker masts, the mast will simply break away when put under hard sideways push, in fact even on just toe side on flat water then if you are just pushing a little too much it will break away, easy to catch but it makes you behave and go more gently, where the thinner profile masts (ending in 1) will never do this, but where it is most noticeable and very annoying is when loading up for a big boost, sudden and mostly unrecoverable side slip and breakaway resulting in a silly feeling crash out, as for hum and top speed then yes its a factor as well, the drag is easily felt if your used to riding a 91 and 101, which are able to run faster and without any sounds or that draggy, humming sensation the thicker masts give you.
So as long as you are aware of this fact and decide your style is not fully strapped, your not boosting, and not pushing for speed in total silence then the cheaper masts will be just great, I had 2 of the 82cm masts as I thought my first one was faulty but it was the same on the second new mast, no matter what I tried to make it hum free failed and my sailing buddy who loves to boost and push hard found exactly the same limitations, when he used one for the day.
best left for when strength and lightness is needed like when using a wing board, or when learning, when saving a bit of cash is important as the downsides will not be noticeable at all.