Hey there, I am getting a new sail: the Naish vibe 5.5 but I need a 430 mast for it. Any advice in between the chinook rdm60 and the Naish rdm60. The chinook is like $100 cheaper. I am a beginner, I can afford the Naish but if there no big reason or because I am a beginner it's not worth it to pay the extra 100 then why to spend more?
What would I be getting for the 100 extra? Thanks 
A really famous name down the side of the mast.
Those stickers aren't cheap you know.
Thanks for reply mastbender that's what I thought. But I am really inexperienced so i think is better to ask right by the way the Naish comes with a bag I forgot to write that down.
Thanks
I have 2 Chinook RDM90 and they're great CC masts. Haven't had an issue with mine in 18 months. Can't speak for the Naish, but yeah, guess you pay for a name.
Naish sails work best with a Hard Top mast - Naish, Gaastra, Maui Sails.
Chinook masts are Constant Curve and work with a majority of most sails except Naish.
But as a beginner the benefits may not be huge
Hey Neto.
This picture is of the mast bend curves for sails from 2014. I would assume Chinook is near in middle(constant curve). Naish is near the middle on the hard top side(blue), so should work well with a constant curve mast.
I would recommend you get the lightest mast you can afford for your budget.
Also the Naish Vibe has a film window, if you're a beginner i would advise a sail with all x-ply and no mono film.
Thank you all. I really appreciate. Can you explain the difference between the xply and the monofilm?
I think I will get the chinook then.
Monofilm is a clear film. X ply is crossed fibres laminated between 2 sheets of thin film.
The benefit of x-ply is that if punctured the tear normally only travels a few inches, whereas the monofim has no tear resistance and the panel will normally tear in 2.
The benefit of x-ply is that it tends to be more durable, so it tends to be used for wave/crossover sails
The benefit of mono film is that it has a small performance advantage, so it tends to be used for race/speed sails
In the pictures below the translucent panel in the Vibe is film and the translucent panel in the force is x-ply.
Ezzy sails probably have the reputation as the most durable.
I would disagree with others here that the Chinook mast will be suitable. As was pointed out Naish is a hardtop and the Chinook mast is constant curve. These are two different bend curve philosophies and do not really match. If you are getting into Naish sails then get the Naish mast. The mast and luff curves will be a certain match. As you go through the beginner and intermediate learning process you will be confident therefore that your rig is correct. It's one less thing to worry about while you are refining your technique. As you get more Naish sails will will appreciate having the correct mast. All of us windsurfers eventually accept that it's best to rig sails on their own brand masts, or at least masts with the right bend curve. I think it is wise to start doing this from the outset. It will save you money in the long run.
And Yes Xply is what you want. Full mono for performance heads only.
thanks you all, just in time i am getting this info about the xply…. i am not getting the vibe now because the xply… and yes i agree about getting the recommended mast for the sail, it will be something less to worry like you said ikw777 i like the idea. i have a naish moto 2012 6.5 and i was looking for a smaller sail for about 15-25 knots tops and i thought that it would be easier to stay with similar sails, not that i am a brand guy but may be not jumping from one brand to another may be easier to learn… there is also a good deal on a NP fusion 5.5 any comments on that sail, i think the moto is front hand draft and the NP fusion little back hand i have no clue wish design is easier… i also can wait to see if i find another good sale. Thanks again for sharing.
I've got a chinook 430 rdm 60 and have no complaints. Unless you are going to set off down the path of a single brand of mast sail combo there is little point in paying more. Chinook gear had a fairly good reputation for reliability and quality
Select to expand quotemusorianin said...
I've got a chinook 430 rdm 60 and have no complaints. Unless you are going to set off down the path of a single brand of mast sail combo there is little point in paying more. Chinook gear had a fairly good reputation for reliability and quality
This philosophy is fine up to a point. The essential truth, though, is that Naish sails are made to fit the Naish hard-top masts. The Chinook mast is constant curve. These are two different things. Constant curve masts are for constant curve sails like North, Loft, Aerotech, Ezzy. Not hard-top sails like Naish and Severne. With the wrong mast the sail will not set the way the maker intended. Some experienced sailors mix and match successfully based on their years of experience and not pushing the envelope too far. Everyone else is better off not putting a mast with the wrong curve in their sails. Sure, sometimes you can get away with it, but why add and extra layer of complexity in an already complex sport just to save 100 dollars? If the bug bites hard that 100 will be a drop in the ocean...
Maybe this discussion is not being so helpful now to the op because he mentions an NP fusion. NP are soft top so that definitely wouldn't work with Naish. If you are getting into it and going to go down second hand gear route is going to be hard to get a perfectly matching quiver and mast. Hence I still reckon a CC mast is the go as you may well end up with different types of sail. If you are going new them pick a brand and stick with it as suggested. But...
... Don't agonise too much as the main thing is to get out on the water...
hey thank you all, all the opinions help… like you say musorianin the most important is get out on the water with a good gear to improve my progress… about the sail i think is better staying with the same brand or a similar one, i don't know how much different will be using different sails (types/brands)… about the mast i got it: i can afford a 60 carbon mast so i´ll get the same brand of the sail. I now know about the xply, so i will look for a sail with it…. i also know that the NP sails will feel different to the Naish ones because of how the mast works, and that severne sail will feel similar than naish i guess…. so thanks for sharing i keep learning!!
