Platinum Aero Series

Masts

Less is more, and lighter is impossible. The PLATINUM AERO is ultimately the lightest 100% carbon mast in the world documenting our leadership position in the mast construction.

Whether on flat water or in moderate waves - handling, reflex and reflex speed are at an unprecedented level transforming each rig into an absolute featherweight.

With only just over a kilo many will question the durability, but that is exactly the unbelievable! By processing the revolutionary, ultra lightweight D4.SHIELD we achieve not only this sensational weight but also in addition incredible durability values. In concrete 85% of the durability of the regular PLATINUM! An absolutely sensational result, which is why the new PLATINUM AERO is not only the lightest, but definitely also most durable mast in its class!

The lengths 370 up to 430cm are freestyle/wave-oriented RDM masts, while the longer lengths come as freeride-oriented SDM masts.

Platinum Aero Series

AERO RDM

AERO SDM

RDM = Reduced Diameter (32mm) / SDM = Standard Diameter (48mm)

Key features

> 01   Carbon: 100%

> 02   Carbon-quality: T900

> 03   Resin-quality: SENTEX^TM

> 04   Special: D4 Shield (base only)

SENTEX™ - UP TO 30% LIGHTER AND MORE DURABLE

DUOTONE PLATINUM AERO 3.0 RDM  SENTEX™ Windsurf masts are the best masts we have ever produced. They are beautifully balanced, lightweight with crisp clean actions that provide both industry leading handling and reflex characteristics. They are also phenomenally strong thanks to the revolutionary nature of our new SENTEX™ material.

Background

SENTEX™ is the trade-marked brand name for NorthSails most advanced composite rod material. All SENTEX™ products utilize a Toray matrix resin. The specific mix of material used for SENTEX™ is exclusive, and therefore unique, to NorthSails. The improved strength/reduced weight was the headline for the technology, but the masts shine for a different reason—they’re an absolute joy to Windsurf with. The masts feel light as a feather in hand and generate a superior reflex whilst delivering the highest breakage resistance.

The Material

SENTEX™ is carbon fiber held together with a resin impregnated with silica nano spheres. This technology is brand new and produces a material that is significantly stronger and potentially lighter than traditional carbon fiber. There are two key advantages provided by silica nano spheres: The even distribution of the nano spheres throughout the resin providing equality of strength throughout the blank leading to crisp and clean mast reflex. The second advantage is that silica nano spheres resist compression forces better than any other known material. This results in a mast that is at least 30% stronger than a standard carbon fiber mast without interfering with the action. The improved compression characteristic also greatly improves impact resistance and durability.

Because SENTEX™ material is stronger, in some cases less material is required and thus a mast can be lighter than an equivalent carbon fiber model. Weight savings of up to 30% are possible. That is the reason why every single DUOTONE RDM mast is now the lightest on the market in its class. DUOTONE  SENTEX™ masts are the best masts we have ever produced. Are they the best masts in the world? That's for you to decide.

CARBON FIBER QUALITIES

THE essential quality criterion of carbon fibers when used for Windsurf masts is the bending-elongation of the fiber.

The elongation measures the traction during bending until the fiber finally breaks. For a Windsurf mast this means:  The higher the bending-elongation value of the carbon fiber raw material:

→ The faster the reflex speed (which ultimately increases the performance of your sail, similar to increased horse power in a car)

→ The higher the breakage strength

Carbon fibers are available with bending-elongation values between T300 and up to max T1000 with the T1000 carbon being 10-times as expensive as cheap T300 carbon. The lowest quality carbon fibers used on Windsurf masts have an elongation value of T300-400. This carbon has a bending-elongation that is just slightly higher than glass fiber. Therefore it’s used on cheap “low-percentage carbon masts” only. 80% of all brands nowadays use T400-500 for their top-level carbon masts.

DUOTONE  uses T600 carbon for all Red and SILVER masts, T700 for all GOLD and PLATINUM masts and T800 for the PLATINUM Aero masts. Another advantage of the high quality carbon fibers is that you can reduce the resin content. For example the T800 fiber used for the PLATINUM Aero mast allows us to reduce the resin content by 30%. This results in an unmatched low weight without the usual loss of durability.

DUOTONE  CARBON FIBER QUALITIES
Silver Series: T700
Gold Series: T800
Platinum Series: T800
Platinum Aero: T900 with 30% reduced resin content