Nacra 5.2 vs Solcat 18 mast. Which one for my Scarab 18?

Beach cat experts:

I've got an opportunity to buy either one. Is there a reason I should prefer one or the other? I'll be loading it a bit beyond what it would see on the original boat with an 18' trimaran with a 15' beam.

 

Ask Ray Kendrick

 

I don't have the detailed specs on either mast. Thus the question. I kinda doubt Ray Kendrick does either. I understand the sol cat mast is the same extrusion as the G-Cat, but the G-cat mast uses spreaders. Why? Does that mean the Solcat is going to be floppy w/o spreaders?

I think beach cat owners would be much more likely to be able to compare the two masts in terms of how flexible they are and whether the solcat 18 is sufficiently rigid w/o spreaders. I was hoping someone who's had some experience with either mast could give an idea of weather there is a reason to choose one over the other.


Both are more or less the same length. The Nacra is a bit longer.

 

I have no experience with either but given the choice of a mast with or without spreaders I think I would take the one with them 9 times out of 10. Just check that the shroud base will not interfere with the rotation of the spreaders.

 

On the Ray Kendrick web site under one of the links is a builders blog that went into fitting a monohull mast to a scarab 22, by Olivier Blanc And some computer design work for spreaders. It may may be of help. I think it may have mast section size as well.

 

I had a thought and another person who may be ale to help you could be Richard Woods at woods design, as his striker 17 trimaran is a similar size and designed to use catamaran hulls and rig, so may be aware of the mast section sizes.

 

Without the specs you don't have a question anyone can answer unless they have used one of those masts in a similar application. The S18 has a much higher righting moment than any beach cat. There must be a suggested section size in the plans, how do these masts compare? Ray used a modified Tornado rig on the prototype, suggest you do some research on the masts to find out section size and wall thickness and ask him what you need to do to make them work. Or talk to a sparmaker but likely they'll ask the dimensions section you've got.

 

Either one but I would prefer the Nacra mast only because I had one and never had a problem with it. In fact it's an old boat now and still in use here on island.

 

This is my problem. I will have to drive to see either mast. I can't seem to find any info on the solcat mast. Even if I do measure the wall thickness, I really have no idea what grade of aluminum is used.

I was hoping there might be a beach cat guy or gal who has owned both over the years and could compare them.

I'm leaning toward the Niacra 5.2 mast at this point because it's a bit taller and already has spreaders and a diamond wire set up. I mostly sail in light winds, so a bigger rig would probably be OK for me.

 

on the Oliver Blanc link is a section on mast sections used on his scarab 22, it ca be found by scrolling down to February 2008 redesigning diamond spreaders. he also went into FEM work for some new spreaders for his mast from an Ethchells 22.

the Oliver Blanc web site is http://www.voile.org/trimaran/progress/Feb08/Diamonds.htm

 

I ended up buying the Solcat mast. The other seller had two Nacra masts, but both had been damaged. I figure I'll start with the solcat and add some spreaders and diamond wires and see how it works.