I’m looking to try a new setup and am really interested in KT. I’ve heard the masts can be a bit wobbly and curious how they would hold up at my weight, 90kg. Anyone around my size used KT and could share their experience? I’m plan on using it for everything (wake, DW, foil drive, wing). Thank you!
I notice that “everything” didn’t include dockstart or pumpfoil, which is the most demanding in stiffness due to the low speeds.
I’m only 74 kg but I’ve spent a bunch of time dockstarting and pumping the Atlas 1340 and 960 with the 70 cm mast. The only time I experience wobble is on the 1340 very close to stall speed (super slow) and even then it’s totally manageable. These wings are small enough (even though they offer huge lift for size) that you can force their position in the water.
Good point, I haven’t learned to dockstart but it’s definitely something I’d like to learn. Thanks for the input
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I’m 90kg, using FoilDrive in waves with 77cm carbon mast, Atlas 1130 and 1340, Nomad 1160, 980 and 830. I’ve tried the 1340 a couple of times so far and was very surprised that I couldn’t feel any flex.
That could be because I’m pretty crap at rollin’ her over but my experience in similar conditions with an Axis 1201/HM mast was very different, very wiggly, maybe due to the foil flexing as it seemed a lot thinner. The 1340 has a 1220cm span.
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93 KG here. Ride Atlas 960, 570, Nomad 830, 700. Used to be on Armstrong with the Performance mast (one of the stiffest and nicest masts I’ve used so far). I wouldn’t call the KT mast wobbly, but they definitely feel softer and “busier” through the water than an Armstrong Performance or NoLimitz V2 for example. I do feel this more on the spannier 960, but it’s not much of an issue on the smaller sizes. The flex is there, but it’s far from wobbly. It’s likely on par with the previous Armstrong A+ mast that preceded the Performance mast. I’d love a stiffer version to really let these incredible foils shine that much more, but I’m very happy with the overall performance switching to KT. Connections are good and I absolutely love the Nomad range for wave riding and turning. Atlas is great for efficiency, glide and pumping.
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100kg and use the atlas 1340 on the 77 carbon mast and the 1130/960 on the 85 mast. I primarily wing foil, parawing and wakefoil. I have previously owned AS with the performance mast and Axis HM carbon mast. I was initially worried about the KT masts as being wobbly d/t some reports. My experience has been awesome with KT. I can not tell a meaningful difference between the KT mast and AS performance or Axis.
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95kg rider here. Do you notice any difference in mast flex between the 77cm and the 85cm? I’m looking at the 85cm to ride over the constant chop we have. I’ll mainly be using the 1130 or 1340 for parawinging.
If you can wait, the Race mast is coming this spring, I believe. With those larger span foils you’ll likely be happier.
Winddoctor, I also own KT foils and really like them. But I’m curious what you think of the KT mast to fuse connection? There are discussions of supposedly the better designed code/axis and now f-one with the mast/fuse interface where the mast inserts into the fuse. I saw and felt the new kt mast in maui a couple of weeks ago, very nice, and really thin. not sure how it will be for riders 95kg and up however.
Knowing that KDW knows how to break pretty much any foil system and has had the opportunity to study the various systems on the market before putting the KT system out, I’m inclined to trust his choice of mast/fuse connection. 3 M8 bolts are pretty beefy too. F-one has moved away from this style of system (is it identical?), but they were using M6 bolts that took much of the load. I don’t know if/how the KT system differs other than the M8 bolts; it’s possible the KT looks similar but their saddle joint is engineered to place loads differently than the old F-One? No idea, not an engineer. It’s a given that there will be compromises made in any system choice, but so far I’ve been very happy with the KT connections and haven’t experienced any breakage. The new Apex masts are rumoured to be @30% stiffer than the standard carbon masts, so I’m super excited to get on them, especially if this added stiffness is also in torsion. The decrease in “business” of the foil a taller and heavier rider especially feels on a softer mast should be a huge upgrade in performance/predictability on its own with wider span foils. For lighter/less tall riders, the extra slipperiness and ease of yaw/pivot of the new mast will be the more noticeable change, I imagine.
I’m hoping you are right with regards to the new kt apex mast. F-one is definitely looking to the future and wanted to develop a mast/fuse/foil interface that is bomber solid. It sucks for the previous owners for sure. I agree the kt connection seems to be more solid than the old f-one but it’s still similar which gives me some pause.
I saw the new Apex mast in Maui recently and it looked / felt really small and light. Kind of like the 12mm f-one mast which everyone seems to say if you are over 85kg, go with the 14mm. I can tell you at my 100kg (6’6”), that Apex mast didn’t seem to be enough for my size. But maybe KT will come out with bigger sizes.
I think you can have the greatest foil in the world, but it will be worthless if the mast/connection system is subpar.
Hoping to be riding the new masts by April. I’ll let you know my feelings on it vs the current carbon HM blend mast.
95 kilos. Just got the Apex 77. Prone and winging on it about 6 sessions. Love it. 980 nomad 63 mast nomad 190 stab.
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Any not noticeable difference from the old mast?
Better. I never owned the og mast but used it a few times. When I got the KT setup I didn’t get a mast, wanted to wait for the apex and used my Cedrus evolution aluminum in the meantime.
Apex just feels super locked in. Stiff and fast feeling. Turns great with the 980 nomad but feels longer then the 77 size when I’m winging or riding high proning. Rides higher than the cedrus which took me a session or two to get used to while doing hard turns proning.