How Carbon Fibre Sailboat Masts are made - Distant Shores

We sail to Portsmouth UK and check out the Selden Mast factory. They build sailboat masts, including the latest in high-tech carbon fibre.
#seldenmasts

[@superwag634]

This “expert” guy hasn’t heard of the roll moment of inertia. Lighter masts do not improve comfort as he claims, instead they allow larger accelerations of hull and therefore more discomfort. Basic physics

[@WillOHaver]

The comport he is talking about is reduced heel.

[@sailingspark9748]

If designed into the boat, a CF rig would be very comfortable. It would require less ballast to bring the roll moment into comfortable levels. On a boat like my seasprite 23 with over half it's displacement in lead, a lightweight rig would make the boat very "snappy" as it returned to level after rolling over a wave. A boat like my GP14 Dinghy, being an unballasted open boat, it would make her less likely to capsize.

[@reallyhappenings5597]

Imagine a carbon mast on a trailer-sailer like the Catalina 22 or 25... could make raising/lowering the mast that much easier, as well as increase performance for the reasons stated.

[@jasonbutton3342]

That was interesting, thanks for sharing this,

[@bobbytowesr3387]

Just out of curiosity, how much would a mast and boom for an,average 28ft sloop cost I wonder?

[@mazdarx7887]

I like the idea of carbon fiber but if the is damage, the mast is toast. At least wth aluminium, it can uaually be easily repaired

[@SailBeforeSunset]

Great update! I've just been looking into carbon fiber masts for our boat.

[@frouchitude1916]

3:52 so it is huge and heavy... thanks 👌👌🤣🤣

[@DownInTheIslands]

Those things look super expensive to make.

[@patrick35400]

I heard about 35 000 Euros for a 55' Boat.

[@PUDDS05]

how great to see gosport , my home town and portsmouth harbour featured on yr travels

[@chokedup53]

real interesting. enjoyed this segment. thanks for the view.

[@LesCollier]

Hi is it necessary to fully stay a carbon fibre mast?? Or can it be the case that it is only 'braced' in position by the foot of the mast and where it goes through the deck ?

[@DistantShoresTV]

Carbon masts can be designed as needed, either as a stayed mast with shrouds or unstayed.

[@AaronBrand]

I wonder what is the ratio of resin to fiber in the cured mast.

[@mckenziekeith7434]

Probably around 60 percent fiber and 40 percent resin by weight. That is the figure I have seen on other channels such as Easy Composites Ltd channel. Hand layup with excellent technique is maybe around 50/50.

[@lijojoy77]

That's nice cheers up

[@toddmichael81]

man you guys are so cool

[@jwrappuhn71]

Excellent.

[@jfelix7650]

paul, thanks for the educational video. one question, are all the carbon spars cylindrical? I see your new pole would be but what about masts and booms? non cylindrical mandrels? thanks and smooth sailing to you.

[@DistantShoresTV]

I have seen some lovely carbon masts, built I believe with mandrels in the mast shape... but I am not sure about the method. Perhaps I can get Selden to chime in and answer your question.

[@rolandbloemers9909]

+jfelix I wondered that. I suppose a cylindrical mast is fine for a racing yacht but sailing yachts need all kinds of equipment bolted to them and a cylinder isnt ideal. There clearly must be a way to do it, after all many carbon fibre constructions are obviously not cylindrical

[@DistantShoresTV]

+jfelix Yes Selden can also make regular mast extrusion shaped ones as well. They are still wound on like in our video, but the mandrel is mast shaped... then they bond on spreader bases etc...

[@jfelix7650]

+Distant Shores TV Paul, yes that does make sense as fiberglass and carbon fiber can be molded to almost any shape. Why not a mandrel of an oblong shape? Thanks for the follow up. Now get back to sailing and making excellent videos!

[@matthewwright57]

I have trouble imagining that the weight difference, about 40%, would make any difference at all. I could see it for extreme racing purposes, but for cruising, you're going to want aluminum.

[@neil2385]

It makes a tremendous difference. RIghting moment, weight aloft reduced. this and a few other huge factors which equal much better boat performance. Not just in speed but in handling and thus the helmsperson and crew tasks of sailing the boat are facilitated

[@vynleinnmusic6217]

huge in head and pocket. inertia reduce roll freq seasickness and capsize chanse but snobs love to belive vice