REPTILE FIBRA 80 SDM

After joining the Top to the Bottom, you are ready to rig the windsurf sail.

- First of all, follow the instructions on the sail, and more precisely how many centimeters of EXTENSION you will need to correctly rig the sail. If you don't have an extension yet, you can find it in our accessories. Tip: Adding centimeters of downhaul than suggested leads to a flatter profile in the central part and a more open sail in the leech; in this case it is likely to be necessary to remove centimeters of clew from the boom. The thrust center in this way moves forward, towards the windsurf mast. Such a tensioned sail is less reactive and more likely to withstand strong winds. The opposite happens if less downhaul  is given than recommended.

- Once the mast has been inserted into the sail, check that the top and bottom are perfectly joined. To do this, just slide your hand along the mast sleeve to perceive whether the union has been respected. Tip: Apply a tape to the top and bottom junction so you don't run into this problem.

- Finally insert the boom, taking care not to over tighten the handle. Tip: The boom must be tightened the right way, and the new generation booms have the wall in contact with the mast of a longer length and with anti-slip material.

- Once this is done, all that remains is to go into the water to perceive the wonderful reactivity that only Reptile windsurf masts can give.

 A carbon windsurf mast is built to withstand constant effort and blows. But it is not indestructible. To try to make it last the longest and, in the first place, to make your windsurf sessions safe, it needs care and attention.

1. Absolutely avoid blows to the masts, especially if at 100%. Carbon can begin to break down invisibly within its structure, and the ultimate break occurs at just the worst time. If in doubt, we suggest you replace the mast.
2. Do not leave the windsurf mast exposed to the sun. With an external temperature of + 30 ° C, the surface of the mast can reach and exceed 80 ° C, and this can damage the carbon structure. When not in use, leave the rig in the shade and let go of the downhaul. It is a one-minute operation that gives your mast months of life.
3. Always insert at least 20 centimeters of extension in the SDM masts and 15 centimeters in the RDMs.
4. Do not over tighten the boom, especially with SDMs. If you deform the mast even slightly, you are well on your way to breaking it.
5. While rigging the sail, check that the top and bottom of the mast are perfectly joined. Even a distance of a few millimeters between them is one of the most common causes of breakage. Tip: tape the joint with a piece of tape, in this case you will be sure that Top and Bottom are joined together, and you will not risk to stuck the mast due to the sand that could otherwise infiltrate.
6. Use the mast bag to carry your Reptile mast. Remember to handle it with care. Carbon is an extremely fragile material.

What damage does the warranty cover?

 Each Reptile Sports product is subjected to rigorous quality controls during every single production phase. Each windsurf mast is weighed and measured in the IMCS machine to ensure that the technical characteristics conform to specifications. Non-compliant masts are NOT placed on the market but destroyed.

The warranty covers manufacturing defects and / or material defects with a duration of twenty-four months (24) from the date of purchase, in the case of sale to the direct user.

 This date must be proven by a delivery document issued by the seller (e.g., receipt), in which the following appear: the delivery date, the name of the seller, the identification details of the product (type, model).

Main defects in materials and workmanship

The defects of the materials, and in particular of the carbon composites, are normally highlighted in the initial use phase. If a mast is faulty (and this can happen), it breaks after a few sessions. Breakages occurred after months of use, are hardly attributable to defects in material or production, but rather to shocks or stress following poorly executed maneuvers, impact with the seabed, whirled in the waves. This does not mean that the warranty is not recognized, but that it may be necessary for us to carry out a greater analysis of the broken parts to understand if the nature of the break occurred by delamination or by impact.

In addition, there are three very common breakages that are attributable to incorrect use of the windsurf mast:

- Use of an extension with a poor terminal inserted in the mast, which can cause a break in the fibers in the longitudinal direction. It is therefore recommended to use extensions with at least 20 cm inserted inside the bottom section.

- Compress the mast wall excessively with the boom handle. In this case the mast wall risks ovalizing making the unidirectional fibers fragile in the flexion-torsion phase.

- Excessive compression and / or wear caused by camber.

If a mast stays a bit bent, it’s a characteristic of the Ferrule System  that allows this part to bend to allow a natural bending of the mast curve. This results to have a faster reflex, a natural curve to for higher performance.