Just ordered a North Sonar foil last night. Read through every message on this board and that's what convinced me to buy it. I noticed some discussion about how tight the mast to fuselage connection is. Sounds a little unsettling the first few times you tighten the two screws for that joint. Wondering if I should apply Tefgel or some sort of marine grease to the fitting before putting it together the first time. If so, what should I use? I don't want to use something that will damage the carbon.
The installation instructions only say to apply grease to the two screws.
You can use high quality synthetic grease (for cleanliness) or petroleum-based grease. I don't recommend Tefgel as it is too sticky.
Carbon composites are fine with any lube or grease.
Select to expand quoteFlanner89 said..
Just ordered a North Sonar foil last night. Read through every message on this board and that's what convinced me to buy it. I noticed some discussion about how tight the mast to fuselage connection is. Sounds a little unsettling the first few times you tighten the two screws for that joint. Wondering if I should apply Tefgel or some sort of marine grease to the fitting before putting it together the first time. If so, what should I use? I don't want to use something that will damage the carbon.
The installation instructions only say to apply grease to the two screws.
Congrats 
what foil did ya order? as an FYI, I didn't apply anything, takes a little leverage to unlock but working perfect after a year and plenty of use.
Select to expand quoteUisceBeatha said..
Congrats what foil did ya order? as an FYI, I didn't apply anything, takes a little leverage to unlock but working perfect after a year and plenty of use.
Do you have any tips to share about tightening the fuse/mast connection, or taking it apart? I'll be in salt water and in the past have disassembled my aluminum foil immediately after each use and then rinsed with fresh water. Also have Tefgel on all bolts. Is it better to leave the fuse/mast together to reduce wear on the joint?
The kit I bought came with the CF72 mast, the C700 fuselage, the S270 rear wing, and the 2021 version of the HA1250. (It's an older kit but was at a good price.)
Don't laugh but I also ordered the MA2400V2, the MA1500V2, the S320 (to work with the 2400), the AF55 mast (for the shallow water in the Outer Banks of North Carolina), the AF85 mast (for something a little longer), a spare A700 fuselage, and the shim kit.
I've been on Neil Pryde foils for the past three seasons and felt it was time to move onto a new brand that offered a wider variety of options and has better availability in the US.
I'm about 90 kg and mainly go out in the Chesapeake Bay. Light winds in the summer and I really enjoyed the ease of getting on foil with my Neil Pryde HP23. Just fun to be flying over the water even at slow speeds. When a weather front rolls through we get higher winds and the water gets messy out there. I'm about 90% on my gybes. This year I want to try my first tacks and catch some short rides on wind driven swell while luffing the hand wing.
I use the lube they provide. Grease up the whole mast top. Just push down as far and even as you can and tighten each screw a little at a time bringing it down flush and even.
Select to expand quoteShlogger said..
I use the lube they provide. Grease up the whole mast top. Just push down as far and even as you can and tighten each screw a little at a time bringing it down flush and even.
That makes sense. Do you disassemble after each use? I wonder if there is less wear on the parts if I leave them together. I could still remove the M8 bolts, but keep the parts attached.
Thanks
Congrats on going for the North! You won't be disappointed :-)
Using the North Sonar now for more than a year. The only lube I applied is the standard one (provided in the bag). The only components lubed are the screws.
I would NEVER apply any grease or lube on the bottom of the mast that inserts to the fuse. Why? to keep it clean. Adding grease will collect sand, dust, and dirt, which WILL wear the fuse insert.
If you really need lubrication use mouth saliva :-D is cheap, always within reach and works!
As for disassembly.. I don't after each use as I can throw my gear in my car (board and foil) in one piece, lying down sideways.
I do from time to time disassemble just to check and clean. To release the fuse from mast just a gentle few upward taps with the hand (no hammer) at the stab end.
The screws are also managing well in salty water. I'm not sure if they are titanium (does anyone know?) but nicely anodised (I think..)
Hope this helps! Post some pics of when you receive the kit
Tiny amount of high quality grease is not dirty at all.It certainly help for new mast/fuse which are very tight at the beginning. After few sessions you don't need to lube it anymore.I use TefGel on all screw and rarely disassable my foil if I don't need to change setup TefGel keep saltwater out and prevent corrosion. Never have any problem in 3-4 year of foiling.
Thanks for the responses. I see the positives and negatives now of applying grease to the mast top.
Another question: I remember my two piece carbon windsurf masts sometimes getting stuck and also wearing a bit over time. What are your thoughts about the following that I just emailed North's support email address asking them:
Is it better to take apart the Carbon Edition North Sonar mast and fuselage after each use or to keep it together?
If I keep it together then I worry that the fuselage will always be under stress from the mast pressing against the fuselage. If I take it apart then I worry that sliding the parts together and apart frequently will wear the carbon parts down faster.
Select to expand quoteFlanner89 said..Shlogger said..
I use the lube they provide. Grease up the whole mast top. Just push down as far and even as you can and tighten each screw a little at a time bringing it down flush and even.
That makes sense. Do you disassemble after each use? I wonder if there is less wear on the parts if I leave them together. I could still remove the M8 bolts, but keep the parts attached.
Thanks
Heaps of saliva works too! I don't take my fuse and mast apart very often and have never had a problem. I'll back the screws out after 15-30 sessions and clean and grease. I always wash w freshwater after every sesh. I've never had salt crystals form at any bolted connection which says a lot about the North connection. Enjoy !!!
Why would you do that? Its for the screws, not the foil.. never did that with my carbon mast/fuse.
Select to expand quotelarsdegroot said..
Why would you do that? Its for the screws, not the foil.. never did that with my carbon mast/fuse.
I've put together quite a few North mast to fuselage connections. When dry, the sounds can be a little unnerving when you tighten them the first time. But each to his own, it doesn't hurt but it's also not necessary. The key is to make sure you do it evenly and slowly as they say in the directions. It's a rock solid connection regardless and that's what counts.
Select to expand quoteMProject04 said..
Hope this helps! Post some pics of when you receive the kit
I received my kit. Four disappointments so far:
1) They forgot to include the AF85 mast I ordered
2) The aluminum board adapters were out of stock almost everywhere. Luckily I found one and it should be here later this week.
3) I received an AF750 fuselage instead of the A700 I ordered as a spare. (North is looking into this one, since only a small number of AF750s were manufactured in 2021, and not sure how I ended up with one.)
4) There is a small chip of carbon on the bottom of the surf plate near one of the holes (see the second picture). Since there is no padding on the bottom I worry this will crack my board. Not sure how this one passed quality control. I'll contact North to see what they recommend to deal with this.
On point #4: do the other Sonar owners use any type of padding between the board and the foil? Thinking I could make something out of a rubber bicycle inner tube, or perhaps buy this: www.liquidforce.com/products/pod-foil-transition-plate
When I buy my carbon foil, I had those plastic rings for mounting the fuselage. Are the plastic rings/ washers necessary!?
