aluminium vs carbon mast extension

Hi All,

I'm considering buying a long skinny extension like 48cm. Wonder whether there's real practical difference between carbon and aluminium. should the weight difference matter because its at the bottom and compare dto overall rig after dumped in water? more importantly which is more reliable? Are we putting too much emphasis on carbon and get caught up in marketing hype.

thanks

sonny

I don't think they go alu that long, usually that size is carbon. Carbon will break and alu will bend, but I think under the same stress the alu would bend before the carbon would break. Also for far offshore adventures alu would probably be the choice because you could sail back no problem with a bent extension but a broken carbon extension would be a real problem.
I think the primary reason they make carbon extensions is not for weight savings if there is any but for strength especially in long ones.
The man who runs Chinook told me that a skinny carbon extension is stronger than a standard diameter carbon extension.

Interesting that what works in booms doesn't work for extensions. If carbon snap and alu bend why alu booms break so much? What we don't know is the probability of carbon extension snapping ... Does it happen as often as a boom snapping or is it too infrequent to worry abou. Also I read somewhere carbon extension is better because it bends with the mast curve ...looks like this ones urban myth...thanks lot for all the comments I'm leaning towards 38cm skinny aluminium as a start...

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sonny2727 said..
Interesting that what works in booms doesn't work for extensions. If carbon snap and alu bend why alu booms break so much? What we don't know is the probability of carbon extension snapping ... Does it happen as often as a boom snapping or is it too infrequent to worry abou. Also I read somewhere carbon extension is better because it bends with the mast curve ...looks like this ones urban myth...thanks lot for all the comments I'm leaning towards 38cm skinny aluminium as a start...

Different load directions & extensions have thicker walls, booms can go very thin at the bends depending on the construction method.

Aside from corrosion booms get affected by load cycles, bend a piece of metal enough times & it fatigues then breaks.

Both carbon & alu extensions will bend slightly, the carbon is less likely to keep memory. Where carbon suffers is the pin holes don't hold up as well as alu or if ring & collar it wears.

I've had both carbon & alloy, they've all pretty much functioned the same, some of the early prolimit ring & collar alu ones would die pretty quick if went over 20cm, don't know if they changed that. I have carbon I rarely use, north alloy I use every other day on my race sails up to about 26cm (this is a bit light, wouldn't use it at full extension on race sail) & north shox rdm I use on my wavesails. The strongest by far imo is the north shox rdm, you can use that thing as a club to take out hoards of kitesurfers if you need to.

Ali WILL bend, Carbon might snap.

No alloy at 48 is a good idea, unless you like a nice curve in your extension

I think your mast would be in about 5 pieces before the mast base broke.

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pepe47 said..
I think your mast would be in about 5 pieces before the mast base broke.

Not necessarily. If you are on a wide wave board with a big sail and very long extension you will get quite a bit of force in the extension area. The edge of the board seems to act as a very good leverage. I have definitely seen some skinny extensions snap or being bend before the mast even blinked.

If its any conciliation l have been using a chinook ali extension for the past 10 seasons (48cm) it has been through the mill even fallen out of my car it just wont give up its becoming sentimental in a sence no sign of any fatigue or stress creases the only thing l have replaced is the euro pin collar.so my answer to your Question alloy all the way

I run streamline carbon 46cm. Used it many times up to 42cm. My first lasted 2yrs in lots of wave & reef condition from 4m nuking to 5.7m light winds until a combination of SUP and waves in light winds.
SUP is a large surface and wave broken on top of it whilst me, sail etc were travelling up would and forward at pace. So alot of force.

Streamline importer reckoned first one he has had break. Gave me a decent discount for replacement. No dramas past 18months on replacement.

Regards breaking and swimming. It broke at 35cm mark so i just took out the top broken section and rigged the sail at 30cm. Bit baggy but sailed in no dramas. Still use the extension for 4m sail as its at minmum extension. Once you pick up a carbon long ext and compare weight to alloy you will want the carbon on. big weight difference.

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jh2703 said..
Aluminum will bend, Carbon won't....Get carbon.

carbon snaps clean in half, aluminium bends

true story