windsurfer mast for Hobie AI?

I've been working on converting my 2013 Hobie Adventure into a full-fledged AI, and I've been trying to do it on the cheap. I already have an AI, but I've always wanted to do the Adventure-to-AI conversion. I'm now done converting, except I don't have a mast. Well, I do actually have a mast for my "real" AI, but I'd like to have a complete, independent setup for my converted AI.

The mast on a pre-2015 AI is about 15' 2" tall, and Hobie doesn't sell it anymore. They do sell the 2015-and-newer AI mast, which is 16' 6" tall. I could make the taller mast work, but it's also $659 (the taller TI mast is $1079, btw).

I see a lot of used windsurfing masts for sale for fairly cheap, such as a 460cm (very close to 15' 2")  70% carbon for $250. The Hobie mast has some flex to it, but I'm not sure how it compares to a windsurfer mast.  Any ideas on how a windsurfing mast might compare to an AI mast?

Where is pepperland? I have one in Sacramento you're welcome to investigate

Where is pepperland? I have one in Sacramento you're welcome to investigate

Thanks for the reply. I live in the hills between Santa Cruz and civilization. My younger son is at UC-Davis, so I'm in the Sacto area once in a while, but unfortunately they are off for the summer. On Craigslist, there's a windsurfer mast for sale in Sunnyvale, so I'll probably take a look at that one.

There are a couple of relevant posts on the Hobie forum, and one guy did get a windsurfing mast to work. However, he never followed up to say how well it performed. I've heard a few people claim that the Hobie mast is a "modified" windsurfer mast.

What about sail?  Do you have something in the works for building adapting or buying another Hobie sail?  After not using mine for some time the clear part you see through is scuffed up and drives my weak eyes crazy.  But they aren't cheap, so was curious if it can be replaced by a sail maker.  I tried cleaning the whole sail with dawn soap, but didn't help.

Intensity sails used to sell one that fit on the AI and I got one for $130. I only used it a couple times, but I didn’t see any issues with it. Here’s a video:



I can’t seem to find it on their website anymore, but maybe the have something that’ll work. I’ll look closer when I have some time later.

https://www.intensitysails.com/

Shoot that's a serious cost savings!  Thanks for the link, I'll poke around it!

Shoot that's a serious cost savings!  Thanks for the link, I'll poke around it!

I emailed them and they say they don’t make that sail anymore. What a bummer.

The Hobie sail is crazy expensive. I wonder how much it would cost to get a custom version made at Ullman Sails in Santa Cruz…