The majority of the 18′ skiff masts are now supplied ready for wires to fit, which allow the sailors to receive a product that is professionally finished to the highest spec available. The new masts not only optimise the layup to provide the bending stiffness the sailmakers require, but also maximise the toughness and torsional resistance of the mast through intermediate off axis ply’s.
Avanti high end wind surfing products featuring carbon spars by CST Composites.
CST Composites will be exhibiting at National Manufacturing Week from May 8 through 11…
Our recently built, in house 3D router now allows CST to perform more accurate cutting and trimming of components and tubes. The possibilities are endless with this type of machinery on the factory floor. With a reduction of labour costs of up to 80% on some parts it allows CST manufacturing to continue to compete with China while still be based in Australia.
Australian Made, Australian Owned!
CST launched its new online store, CST Express. CST Express will replace our old online store, Carbon Fibre Express. The new store offers a wider variety of CST products and an improved user experience. Carbon Fibre Express customers can log into CST Express using their existing accounts.
RIG AND SAIL DEVELOPMENT
Take a sneak peek at the latest release of CST RIGS AND DEVELOPMENT
With new mast and spreader configurations, CST has been able to achieve a unique setup on the 18′ skiff mast that has not been seen in the class before. In aiming to utilise the natural stiffness of the sections, the conventional formula was thrown out the window, and a fresh new approach taken to achieve the desired luff rounds and performance characteristics.
We have done this by using thin-ply laminates, which allow more uni creating a stiffer mast, while still maintaining off-axis fibres in critical locations to maintain strength. This thin ply off axis fibre assists with localised load path deflection around the stress-raising points. Controlled by our unique machinery this allows the tow to be spread beyond conventional supply parameters.
With new composite design techniques constantly being applied, stay attachment points have been optimised to utilise the strength of the material and reduce the number of exposed holes in the mast with old methods like t-balling. We also know that finding the right balance of tip/mid/base panel stiffness vs span of the sail is critical to make the mast work the way the sail designer intends. As you can see, through the CST – FEA modelling, the luff round prediction is within 3% of its target bend with the desired leech load applied. We have tuned this model over the last few years and are now successfully applying it to a number of other mast applications.
So, if you combine this stiffer mast with new stiffer rectangular boom sections, and flatter sails, the loads are continually going to increase, pushing the laminates closer and closer to their design thresholds. Through full scale testing as well as scale model testing we really understand our laminates performances and characteristics.
Take a sneak peek at the inside workings of CST BIG TUBE WINDING.
CST 18ft Skiff Wins San Fran
After a short development period Howie Hamlin and his crew steered the “CST Composites” 18ft skiff to victory in San Fransisco.
In the lead up to the JJ Giltnan and the San Fran Regatta, the CST engineering team developed new mandrels and products to provide Howie and his team with the winning platform they were looking for.
Archie massey, Dan Wilsdon and Mike McKensey will also be joining the CST team, putting together a strong 18ft campaign off the back of their I14 World Title victory.
Archie and his team will have the latest CST rigs from the “ELITE” series. This incorporates a number of innovative ideas that developed from the I14, providing them with the stiffest rigs in the fleet.
CST 18ft Skiff
CST is proud to congratulate Archie Massy and Dan Wilsdon who have won the 2011 Artemis I14 World Titles recently held in Weymouth Bay.
Constant mast development has resulted in three back to back wins in this class for CST.
We aim to transfer our expertise and advances to the 16ft skiff class and hope to continue our successes into the future.
© 2024 CST Composites.
