I looked at a 1985 Nonsuch 30 Ultra and have concerns about the mast.
When looking at the mast it initially looks good however did note a line of pitting about 10 or so feet long by 3 inches wide in the top section of the mast. is this a problem?
I am wondering if anyone knows a source for replacement masts?
Dan Skaggs
Narragansett RI
prospective 1985 30U
New masts are available from Klacko Spars at http://www.klackospars.com/. They ship worldwide, well to the UK at least. They’re based at
Klacko Spars Ltd
663 Third Line
Oakville, Ontario
L6L 4A9
Phone: 905.825.0015
In 2010 a new mast cost $9,600 (Canadian)
Bob Illingworth
Nonsuch Luck 30U #367 (GBR1262T)
Moored Brightlingsea, UK cruising the rivers of East Anglia and the North Sea.
Who make carbon fiber masts? And what would one of those cost?
Tim in STL
White O’morn NS26U #216
Harbor Point Yacht Club
West Alton, M
A picture would be great. Minor pitting at the top is probably not a issue. Get in touch with Mike Quill
The carbon fiber masts were made by Composite Engineering, which still lists Nonsuch and Wylie Cat masts on their main page description
http://composite-eng.com
Brian Berdan
260 #007 Blue September
Bainbridge Island Wash.
I did enquire about a carbon fibre mast back in 2010 and if memory serves me right the cost was only marginally more than the aluminium one. The problem I came up against was arranging intercontinental shipping, as a carbon fibre mast comes in one piece and won’t fit into a forty-foot container. If it won’t fit into a forty-foot container nobody is interested in carrying it. Back in the day stuff like that used to be shipped as ‘deck cargo’, apparently that doesn’t exist any more.
Shipping within the States is probably easier; carbon fibre masts to Nonsuch specifications are made I think by an outfit in Florida, someone on this list will be able to enlighten you as to who they are and where they’re based.
Bob Illingworth
Nonsuch Luck 30U #367 (GBR1262T)
Moored Brightlingsea, UK cruising the rivers of East Anglia and the North Sea.
A recent check with Composite Engineering (the original supplier of carbon fibre masts for the Non-use out of West Port Massachusetts) reveals that they will make a mast in two sections. Some of their masts are built in pieces because their autoclave to cure them is 60 feet. The company says the masts can be assembled at the shop or on location if the required expertise is there or some arrangement is made for someone to fly out. It can all be discussed comparing the price of assembly on location versus shipping. So it its possible to get the mast built in two pieces for shipping.
So far using Google as a search engine I have not been able to find a Florida company making carbon fibre masts.
A friend of mine build a freestanding mast from plywood and carbon fibre for a Spencer 42. Eric Sponberg, the designer, mentions it in an article free-standing-mast-designs
My friend says that when they were done it ended up weighing about the same as an aluminium mast. The mast is still standing and the boat still sailing with it. My friend also says he does not want to build another. They built it in the hallway of his shop. To get it out of the shop they had to move a cabinet, cut a hole in a wall and stop traffic on the street in Granville Island. From the shop to the boat yard was about a block so several people simply walked down the street carrying it to the yard.
Mark Powers
You might try these folks based in Bristol, RI.
https://gmtcomposites.com/spars/masts
“GMT Composites has been building carbon fiber masts for sailboats longer than any other builder in the world. Our masts have sailed in every ocean, including many successful passages around the globe. They have competently handled the most demanding wind and weather conditions under sail, and have produced winning results in many of the world’s most prestigious sailing events.”