I think the F17 switched to aluminum mast as standard shortly after (1 or 2 years?) it became the F17 from the I17. That's a mildly uneducated guess, though.
A carbon fiber I17/F17 mast will not perform well with your F18 sails. Or, at least the leach curve of your sail would not be correct for the mast.
As Yurdle pointed out, the F17 started using an aluminum extrusion in 2006. This is the same extrusion used on the F18 Infusion. To be picky, these would not exactly match the characteristics of the 2002-2005 F18 rig.
Is that right? I thought that the curve was set based upon downhaul with the mast extrusions essentially straight. My experience has been with the 5.x seriese boats, but all of those use the exactly the same extrusion just slightly different lengths (except that Nacra did change extrusions in 1984). So in my mind, as long as the extrusion is the same, you should be able to do it. Unless of course they did something different on the racier boats.
Where is it bent.. Cut it down for a 5.2 and send it to me. IM if it could happen !! I have some one to pick up and get it here. We got no Nacras in CALIF.. Hal
-- Hal Liske
Livermore CA
H 16 (6+ 1.. Friends) H 3.2 N 5.2 (2) H 17 (2) H-18
Nacra 5.8 (son's) H 20 (Friends)
It's a Sickness
the specs on the mast of the 2003 nacra inter 18 that i just sold was:
Mast Length: 29.79 ft (9.08 m)
this was a certified NA-F18 and was a few inches shorter than my 19' nacra 5.8's mast(30'). it seems odd that an F17 mast would be longer than an F18 or a N5.8 mast.
in the 2012 class rules for Inter 17 it states:
'Length of mast is 8.65 m' (28.38 ft.)
here is the link:
http://www.nacrasailing.org/files/docs/1326622169_Class%20Rules%20Nacra%20Inter%2017%20January%202012.pdf?PHPSESSID=bb3a09696eea001c29af55de08556a2b
The F17 was originally designed uni (which could certainly warrant a longer mast) and has a much higher aspect sail than the 5.8, so I could again see it having a longer mast. I'm not saying it does -- just that it doesn't seem odd to me.
If anyone needs... I have an Nacra Inter-18 mast conviently separated into 2 15 foot lengths. If someone wants to try a splice. Cut you a good deal.
Also, I can go on a long rant about getting a new mast shipped from Perfomance/Nacra. Let's just say you should be there to accept/reject and it may take multiple tries to get one in good enough condition. Oh and it's still full price.