Hello All,


>>> the FX-1 mast is real hi-tech, strong and light ( metal also).....about 20% or so lighter.........the I-17 mast is the standard Performance Mast ( metal) that ends up on most of their models,....the FX-1 mast is definately a custom job (..especially if you order the all metal one from Europe........not the comp tip job)



You're not saying that your I-17 alu mast is 24 kg (=53 lbs) ! are you ? Another 20 % more than the 44 lbs = 20 kg FX-mast that Steven Bellavia measured.

Man !, would you believe that the Taipan alu mast fully rigged comes out at 15,5 kg = 34 lbs. while being exactly the same length as those of the I-17 and FX-one (= 29 % less then the FX and 55 % less than the I-17 !). And it features the same mainsail area as well, without any problems. And then I still get pounded by Pieter Saarberg (carbon A-cat mast and living quite near to me) about how he can make me a F16 carbon mast for another 4 kg's less (= 25 lbs).

Now I was told by a US sailor that he found that even the Carbon I-17R mast weighted more than the Taipan mast; I thought that was hard to beleive, but now I'm starting to believe it.

Sometimes I can't hide my bewilderment about these differences.


I promised a guy to weight my rudder setup a while ago but since I have nothing to do right I will do it immediately and post it on this forum. Lets see what more we can discover.

Wouter