Carbon Boom on RS300

Blaze mast ? 

Unusually we developed a mast to suit the already universal North Blaze sail.  The intention was keep the sail 'static' and minimise switching costs...  In fact the Icon mast tube is identical (just 50mm longer and all below the gooseneck - so same relative positions for everything else and luff length etc) and was developed with the Blaze in mind for the long term from the beginning.  Keeps volume up and stocking costs lower asd well.  Anyway it is stiffer than many carbon masts of 50mm o/d and the crew weight demographic of the Blaze fleet will be largely unchanged - again one of our key objectives.  The stick itself is lighter but not amazingly so and the alloy masts do remain competitive .... but it feels so much better in use especially in gusty conditions.  The M7 was and is for the immediate future a good economical mast for the boat but I suspect a gentle migration will occur over time.  What surprised us was that the Blaze class voted so enthusiastically in favour a few months back ....

The 300 owners will not be disappointed with their  carbon boom - The Blaze went that way 12 years ago and the immediate impression is that tacks and gybes, if it goes like the Blaze did, will be easier as there should be a lot less mass flying around.  So much less 'water time' is likely .. and a bit more time racing right way up  !   Will not make much difference to the front runners as their technique is generally superior and they can cope with  the boats characteristics more successfully but it should make it much easier for the mid-fleeters imho.  The fact that carbon can be so durable is a bonus really.    Again in the Blaze our impression that the carbon boom had more immediate impact on the class than any other change that has come since.

Mike L.

Originally posted by maxibuddah Originally posted by jeffers I believe they have also just approved a Carbon mast (not that there was anything wrong with the ally mast IMO) and have done it right by not making all the ally masted boats obsolete. Not sure why there would be any obsolete ali masts just because they changed to carbon. A lot of people have this preconception that carbon must be faster. It has its benefits in that it's lighter and easier to manage and allows for a lighter weight range of sailors. Yes ali is not normally as gust responsive as the carbon but it isn't necessarily obsolete.

Originally posted by RS400atC [QUOTE=Ruscoe]I think the class have been testing one for a while.  So i would think it will work fine with the gnav.  From what i have read it sounds a pricey upgrade though.

They said they'd tested the RS400 carbon bowsprit....

Its Not even Carbon is it?

Originally posted by jeffers I believe they have also just approved a Carbon mast (not that there was anything wrong with the ally mast IMO) and have done it right by not making all the ally masted boats obsolete.

Not sure why there would be any obsolete ali masts just because they changed to carbon. A lot of people have this preconception that carbon must be faster. It has its benefits in that it's lighter and easier to manage and allows for a lighter weight range of sailors. Yes ali is not normally as gust responsive as the carbon but it isn't necessarily obsolete.

Very similar for the boom too. No real performance boost but it definitely does not hurt as much when it side swipes your noggin. In the case of the 300, you can also easily mould a nice gooseneck into it that will be much stronger than the current offering

Is a new 300 actually £8500? That seems quite a lot for a simple boat?

Dan