I've seen posts related to an exorbitant increase in the price of carbon mast for the N20. A few questions:

1. What is the basis for this increase in price? Is it solely the carbon fiber that has driven up the cost? If Southern Spars is still the manufacturer, are they built in the Rhode Island facility, or elswhere and shipped here?

2. I liked the carbon mast, as it seemed a little more resistant to stupidity than a comprable weight aluminum mast. Is this really the case, or is an aluminum mast equally as abuse resistant as carbon (by weight)? Like when the mainsheet lets go with the spin up....

3. If shipping costs are the true culprit, is there any feasable way to produce a two-piece mast (either aluminum or carbon) that would help keep this cost down?