"Guys,
Thanks for the awesome new mast for Strummer. It's made a huge difference; she's a much better boat, definitely stiffer and faster. We took 2nd (Class IV) in this year's (2007) Bermuda 1-2. Lots of days in the 25-30 knot range. No problems with the rig at all."
Louis Meyer
Strummer — Hinkley Pilot 35
Stonington, CT
Louis Meyer Retrofits His Hinckley Pilot 35 Strummer
with a New Forte Carbon Fiber Mast
Louis Meyer has owned his beautiful Hinckley Pilot 35 since 1994. Louis loves to cruise with his family aboard Strummer but also enjoys the camaraderie of the annual Bermuda 1-2 race.
By 2005, Louis started thinking about a new carbon mast, as Strummer deserved something new. The original 1967 aluminum mast had the usual corrosion and wasn’t rigged the way Louis liked. When a friend won the 2005 Marion-Bermuda (Class IV) with his Hinckley Pilot, which was outfitted with a carbon mast, Louis started to think about replacing his old aluminum mast with a new carbon mast.
Louis got a few financially unfeasible quotes from other carbon mast manufacturers. Then, in early 2007, Dodson’s Boatyard in Stonington, CT, got Louis a quote from Forte. At first, Louis couldn’t believe how reasonable Forte’s quote was, so he had to take the tour. Seeing the factory and braiding process first hand made him a believer, so Louis placed his order.
Louis began working through mast details with Forte’s engineering and rigging staff. Notable upgrades included larger gauge wiring, storm tri-sail track, a radar mount on the front of the mast, all new internal halyards (the old mast had external halyards), a composite mast head crane, an aluminum internal forestay fitting, all new lights, and carbon fiber spreaders.
Production of Louis’ new mast began in April 2007. When completed, the bare carbon tube weighed 75 pounds, half that of the old bare 150 lb aluminum mast. Including upgrades, the new fully rigged mast weighed about 100 lbs less.
The new carbon mast was installed mid May, just two weeks before the 2007 Bermuda 1-2. Prior to 2007, Louis had completed the Bermuda 1-2 three times and the Marion-to-Bermuda once, each time finishing in the middle or back of the pack. In 2007, however, Louis finished second in his class! He attributes his strong performance to the new Forte rig, which has made Strummer a steadier, faster boat.
Since the boat also now pitched much less, Louis’ daughter was much more comfortable on the 2007 return race from Bermuda, compared to 2006, a happy bonus attributed to the mast retrofit.
Louis’ new Forte mast cost under $20,000, a sound investment when considering the increase in boat value, reduced maintenance costs and significant performance gains.
In a word, Louis is "delighted" with his new Forte carbon mast.