Ezzy Infinity 6.6 mast choice - NoLimitz?

[Nikita]

I just bought an Ezzy Infinity sail and am looking for a good mast for
it. I came across a seemingly good deal ($190) on NoLimitz masts -
they have Genesis/Wave/Race masts. Are these good masts? Which one
would work best with the Ezzy sail? (Race has 65% carbon and is the
lightest, Wave is at 30% and is pretty heavy, Genesis is at 55% and is
slightly heavier than Race)

I am not that far away from the beginner stage, but I expect to be
learning waterstarts, gibes etc next spring. At this point I don't
need the super-high performance and consider durability to be
important. However, I would still like to have a decent setup for
better handling, easier waterstarts etc.

What other alternatives do I have if I don't want to spend more than
$200?

Thanks! Nikita.

[+o+x.net (Glenn Woodell)]

Post by Nikita
I just bought an Ezzy Infinity sail and am looking for a good mast for
it. I came across a seemingly good deal ($190) on NoLimitz masts -
they have Genesis/Wave/Race masts.

I don't see the Genesis on their site but the Race has 63% carbon. It's a
pretty expensive masts. Can you get the skinny at a good price? The
recommended mast for this sail is actually made by NoLimitz this year as well
as last year. No matter which NoLimitz mast you get you should be fine.

In any case I would bring the sail to the shop unless it's mail order, and rig
it up to see how it looks.

Get the lightest mast you can afford. You will thank yourself later. How old
is your Infinity and what size?

Glenn

[Nikita]

Post by +o+x.net (Glenn Woodell)

Post by Nikita
I just bought an Ezzy Infinity sail and am looking for a good mast for
it. I came across a seemingly good deal ($190) on NoLimitz masts -
they have Genesis/Wave/Race masts.

I don't see the Genesis on their site but the Race has 63% carbon. It's a
pretty expensive masts. Can you get the skinny at a good price? The
recommended mast for this sail is actually made by NoLimitz this year as well
as last year. No matter which NoLimitz mast you get you should be fine.

Nope, no skinnies available at such prices.

Post by +o+x.net (Glenn Woodell)
In any case I would bring the sail to the shop unless it's mail order, and rig
it up to see how it looks.

This is mail order, so won't know how it looks.

Post by +o+x.net (Glenn Woodell)
Get the lightest mast you can afford. You will thank yourself later. How old
is your Infinity and what size?

The infinity is 6.6, it's a new 2004 sail.
The other alternative I have is a slightly used Powerex Z-Wave, which
is 55% carbon, I believe. It's cheaper than the Nolimitz masts and I
won't have to pay shipping. Would this mast make sense?

Post by +o+x.net (Glenn Woodell)
Glenn

[+o+x.net (Glenn Woodell)]

Post by Nikita
The infinity is 6.6, it's a new 2004 sail.
The other alternative I have is a slightly used Powerex Z-Wave, which
is 55% carbon, I believe. It's cheaper than the Nolimitz masts and I
won't have to pay shipping. Would this mast make sense?

It definitely makes sense if it is a lighter mast. You might want to send a
message to ***@gorge.net and see if this mast will work ok. Ezzy uses a
pretty standard constant curve luff design but not all masts do. Ask Tim or
Dave about the match. You are doing right by asking about getting the correct
mast.

BTW, this is a great sail. I'm on my third 6.6, having just received my 2005.
(I roll mine over every year) If you are normally a no-cam sort of guy and do
not like the feel of a cammed sail then I would suggest that you remove the
top cam. You will loose all feel of the bottom cam but retain the stability
and power of the longest batten.

If you like cams and you think I am nuts then just sail it with the two cams
and you will love it. Just make sure that you always downhaul at least to the
minimum, using the indicator on the sail, even in very light wind.

Enjoy!

Glenn

[v***@comcast.net]

The Powerex Z Wave will work fine and it is durable.

Post by +o+x.net (Glenn Woodell)

Post by Nikita
The infinity is 6.6, it's a new 2004 sail.
The other alternative I have is a slightly used Powerex Z-Wave, which
is 55% carbon, I believe. It's cheaper than the Nolimitz masts and I
won't have to pay shipping. Would this mast make sense?

It definitely makes sense if it is a lighter mast. You might want to send a
pretty standard constant curve luff design but not all masts do. Ask Tim or
Dave about the match. You are doing right by asking about getting the correct
mast.
BTW, this is a great sail. I'm on my third 6.6, having just received my 2005.
(I roll mine over every year) If you are normally a no-cam sort of guy and do
not like the feel of a cammed sail then I would suggest that you remove the
top cam. You will loose all feel of the bottom cam but retain the stability
and power of the longest batten.
If you like cams and you think I am nuts then just sail it with the two cams
and you will love it. Just make sure that you always downhaul at least to the
minimum, using the indicator on the sail, even in very light wind.
Enjoy!
Glenn

[Glenn Woodell]

Post by v***@comcast.net
The Powerex Z Wave will work fine and it is durable.

Makes sense. Powerex made Ezzy masts just prior to NoLimitz.

Glenn

[Alex]

Hi Nikita - I used to build masts at Nolimitz, and I sail on Ezzy's,
perhaps I can help. The Infinity is designed around an Ezzy skinny,
which is actually built by Nolimitz, but is even a bit softer in the
tip than the already soft Nolimitz Skinny. The Nolimitz Race is fairly
stiff, so I would not recommend that one.
Between the Wave and the Genesis, it comes down to your weight. If
you are lighter than 140#, the Genesis will be a better choice, and
youre not likely to break it, as it sounds like Wave sailing is a ways
off in your future. Over 140#, go with the Wave, its durability is
significantly higher and you wont really notice the extra weight.
That said, however, the reason that Ezzy specified a fairly soft
mast in their sails is due to their heavier than average construction.
The 100% x-ply construction is stiff and heavy, and they wanted to be
sure the leech would twist off without requiring back breaking amounts
of downhaul. I weigh about 220# dressed to sail, so I went with a
Fiberspar Reflex wave, one of the stiffest masts on the market. Even
at my weight, my rig feels a bit too rigid and inflexible.
So, my advice to you would be to find a used Ezzy or Nolimitz skinny
and buy that. Their durability is excellent, and your sail and your
downhauling hand will thank you.

[Scott G]

Alex,
Thanks for the inside scoop.
From what I know, Ezzys were made for stock, standard Powerex skinnys.
When Ezzy went to NOLimitz, they had NoLImitz make the masts to "Ezzy"
specs, which I took to be the old "Powerex" specs. David Ezzy told me
the new Ezzy NoLimitz and old Powerex Ezzy masts are 100%
interchangeable.

What is a more constant curve mast? Sounds like you are saying the
stock NoLimitz are more standard and the Ezzy NoLImitz are flex tops.
Are the old Powerex Ezzys stock Powerex masts? or were they softer in
the tip also?

Am at similar weight to you, and prefer the skinnys on Ezzy Wave SE up
to 6.3. Interesting comments about your use of the Tidal Wave masts,
which I always found to be so heavy and dead feeling. Granted, the
skinnys are nothing like a real snappy race mast, but I don't like
snapping a race mast.

_______
Too bad the original poster has INfinty for 6.6 - I think he would be
better served with the Wave SE without the cams and the hassles, but
that's another debate. Interesting comment about making the sail a
single cam. Remember that you don't just remove the cam, you have to
remove the batten and slide it into the adjacent batten pocket for
that to work.
ScottG

Post by Alex
Hi Nikita - I used to build masts at Nolimitz, and I sail on Ezzy's,
perhaps I can help. The Infinity is designed around an Ezzy skinny,
which is actually built by Nolimitz, but is even a bit softer in the
tip than the already soft Nolimitz Skinny. The Nolimitz Race is fairly
stiff, so I would not recommend that one.
Between the Wave and the Genesis, it comes down to your weight. If
you are lighter than 140#, the Genesis will be a better choice, and
youre not likely to break it, as it sounds like Wave sailing is a ways
off in your future. Over 140#, go with the Wave, its durability is
significantly higher and you wont really notice the extra weight.
That said, however, the reason that Ezzy specified a fairly soft
mast in their sails is due to their heavier than average construction.
The 100% x-ply construction is stiff and heavy, and they wanted to be
sure the leech would twist off without requiring back breaking amounts
of downhaul. I weigh about 220# dressed to sail, so I went with a
Fiberspar Reflex wave, one of the stiffest masts on the market. Even
at my weight, my rig feels a bit too rigid and inflexible.
So, my advice to you would be to find a used Ezzy or Nolimitz skinny
and buy that. Their durability is excellent, and your sail and your
downhauling hand will thank you.

[Glenn Woodell]

Post by Scott G
Too bad the original poster has INfinty for 6.6 - I think he would be
better served with the Wave SE without the cams and the hassles, but
that's another debate.

I compared the SE Wave 6.9 with the Infinity 6.6 and the Infinity had more
power and range. The big drawback with the Infinity is the full foot when
sailing in waves.

Post by Scott G
Interesting comment about making the sail a
single cam. Remember that you don't just remove the cam, you have to
remove the batten and slide it into the adjacent batten pocket for
that to work.

Certainly but that takes all of about 30 seconds to do. If you do not like cams
(like me) then this is a really nice setup for this sail.

I just took posession of an '05 Infinity 6.6 last week. I haven't had a chance
to get it wet yet but it looks quite promising. The cams are different as are
the batten pockets. No more double pocket. If you want to remove a cam you just
back off your downhaul, yank the cam out, close the luff pocket, downhaul again
and go sail.

Glenn

[Alex]

Oh man, you got me there. I have never sailed a powerex skinny, or the
Ezzy branded Powerex, so I couldnt tell ye if they were the same.
However, the "heavy and dead" feeling you felt could be what I'm
calling "stiff and inflexible".
Since I changed both sails and mast this year, I couldnt tell which
component if making it feel that way. I can say with confidence that
my setup last year (Loft Lip sails on Powerex "Super wave") felt much
lighter and more playful. The Ezzy Wave SE on a F-Spar Reflex Wave
(different from a tidal wave) is rigid, heavy, and inflexible. I could
very well call that "heavy and dead", so stiffer doesnt always equal
more lively. On the up side, when its ridiculously overpowered,
choppy, and gusty, the rig acts just like it did when the wind was
lighter. Overall, I'm happy enough with the results that I'm keeping
the rig, but I wish I hadnt changed.
Nikita, still listening? The verdict is: go find a skinny, buy it
used if you have to, but the standard diameter NoLimitz just aint the
right mast for that sail.

[+o+x.net (Glenn Woodell)]

Post by Alex
The Ezzy Wave SE on a F-Spar Reflex Wave
(different from a tidal wave) is rigid, heavy, and inflexible. I could
very well call that "heavy and dead", so stiffer doesnt always equal
more lively.

Are you sure you have enough downhaul? The SE Wave ('04 and older) requires a
lot of downhaul, enough that it looks pretty silly. With too little downhaul
the sail WILL feel heavy.

Glenn

[Alex]

Are you sure you have enough downhaul? >> - Yup, when I first got them, they were so stiff I resorted to a chinook rig winch. I'd downhaul the suckers till they were floppy all the way to the clew. After half the season they got loose enough I could do it by hand. I even started backing off the downhaul to generate more power.

Im pretty sure the heavy feeling is the result of the 100% xply, it
just weighs alot more than monofilm. No doubt theyll last much longer
than my Lofts did, which were pretty beat after one year, but man were
they sweet....

[+o+x.net (Glenn Woodell)]

In article <***@posting.google.com>, ***@pacspeed.com
says...

Post by Alex

Are you sure you have enough downhaul? >> - Yup, when I first got them,

they were so stiff I resorted to a chinook rig winch. I'd downhaul

Post by Alex
Im pretty sure the heavy feeling is the result of the 100% xply, it
just weighs alot more than monofilm.

Hmmm, because my sails feel pretty light.

Glenn

[Nikita]

Post by Alex
Oh man, you got me there. I have never sailed a powerex skinny, or the
Ezzy branded Powerex, so I couldnt tell ye if they were the same.
However, the "heavy and dead" feeling you felt could be what I'm
calling "stiff and inflexible".
Since I changed both sails and mast this year, I couldnt tell which
component if making it feel that way. I can say with confidence that
my setup last year (Loft Lip sails on Powerex "Super wave") felt much
lighter and more playful. The Ezzy Wave SE on a F-Spar Reflex Wave
(different from a tidal wave) is rigid, heavy, and inflexible. I could
very well call that "heavy and dead", so stiffer doesnt always equal
more lively. On the up side, when its ridiculously overpowered,
choppy, and gusty, the rig acts just like it did when the wind was
lighter. Overall, I'm happy enough with the results that I'm keeping
the rig, but I wish I hadnt changed.
Nikita, still listening? The verdict is: go find a skinny, buy it
used if you have to, but the standard diameter NoLimitz just aint the
right mast for that sail.

Yes, I am listening, quite interested in the discussion.
Unfortunately, I wanted to sail my first board/rig next weekend (the
ocean is quickly getting colder around Boston), so I ordered all the
stuff already. Going with the Z-Wave mast. I do see that some people
like skinnies a lot, but I am not convinced it would make that much of
a difference for me right now - and they are significantly more
expensive. The 55% carbon was the most I could see myself going for at
this point. Once I get better at this and have a better understanding
of what I need, I may decide to spend more money. However, I may just
buy another sail first...

Thanks for all responses, I will surely need more help in the future.
Nikita.