Thank you; please keep in touch!

First off, thank you for your support of Project Cedrus. This has been a labor of love and I can assure you that a lot of thought, design time, and money has gone into every decision that has been made. That being said, I am still learning and I hope the mast is ever improving. Please read these recommendations and instructions thoroughly, failure to do so will void any and all warranties.  Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding your mast assembly or use. It is challenging to keep up with all developments in our industry… new fuselages, wings, boards, forms of foiling, and aggresive tricks. Some of these may necessitiate design changes or clarifications to the use of adapters and mounts. Project Cedrus was designed to be durable and last a lifetime. But incorrect assembly, inadequate cleaning, or infrequent dis-assembly can cause permanent damage to the mast. If you are loving your mast, feel free to let me know! If you are having any issues, PLEASE contact me so that I can help you resolve them. I cannot fix problems I don’t know about, and I can assure you that at this point I’ve seen everything: masts assembled upside down, adapters into the wrong fuselage, and most critically: continued use of a damaged mast. So let me know if you are having any problems before you try to solve them yourself, because I can most likely prevent a lot of frustration or worst case, loss of equipment, if you just let me know. If you sell your mast 2nd hand, please ensure the buyer reads this page.

Seized Hardware

Thanks to pioneering use of stainless steel threads in carbon and aluminum foil equipment, corrosion and stuck bolts with Project Cedrus are rare. However, as mentioned above, in-frequent dis-assembly or cleaning will eventually lead to seized hardware that is difficult to remove. If a bolt feels stuck, first apply a penetrating oil such as Boeshield T-9 or WD-40 to head of the screw on either the mount side or adapter end. Apply liberally, as the fluid will wick into the threads and penetrate deep into corroded areas. Let it sit for a few hours or more, and then try again, I have been amazed at how effective this can be resolving seized hardware, but if it’s not working for you, DO NOT FORCE OR STRIP BOLTS. As mentioned again above, please contact us so that we can help resolve the issue. We have been able to repair almost every single mast that has been sent to us whether it was after groundings, impacts with wildlife, or seized hardware. In some cases, it has required specialized equipment. If you attempt to remove stuck or broken bolts, extract helicoils, and cause further damage, it will only increase the repair costs or potentially render the mast irreparable.

Using Adapters

Just like any component of a hydrofoil assembly, any and all fasteners must be tight before use. When arriving at the beach to assemble the wings and fuselage of your OEM setup, you must torque the screws tight before heading out. Using adapters with Project Cedrus is no different: you must check tension of the bolts connecting the adapter to the mast before each use to prevent loosening and possible damage. Any and all cases of adapter loosening have occurred when the user did not check preload before use. Temperatures (thermal cycling), residual salt and sand, and simple loads from use can cause bolt tension to decrease. Hence the necessity to check before each use, and give a simple strong torque using a hand tool (no power tools!) before foiling.

Dealing with loose adapters or mounts

The modular architecture of Project Cedrus has some significant advantages. Mainly, every mast built since 2018 (launch customer production) is still in service today, as far as I’m aware. Abuse loads from groundings, hard landings from incomplete tricks, or even transport events have destroyed adapters or mounts yet caused minor repairable damage to masts over the last few years. A modular architecture eliminates the need to scrap an entire, expensive, carbon mast. However, there have been a couple instances of unreported damage to a mast, and continued use, which led to loss of equipment. If your adapter or your lightweight plate continues to loosen while riding, it is likely one of two things. 1) Hardware can wear out. If the bolts strain and fatigue, thread pitch can change, rendering them impossible to stay tight. This is rare, but it can happen, and it’s important to be aware of it. Replacement hardware kits are available on the site. 2) The two aluminum surfaces at each end of the mast are precision machined to interface with adapters/mounts. If these surfaces are damaged, and the joining components are no longer planar and parallel at the interface, there will be increased bending loads in attachment screws. These surfaces can be damaged in groundings, or caused by continued use of the mast with loose bolts. If the adapter or the mount rocks back and forth on the ends of the mast, it can cause damage to these surfaces. This is easily repairable damage! Simply purchase a mast functional repair, and I will machine the surface(s) flat again, apply corrosion prevention treatment, and send the mast back. Checking flatness of the surfaces is easy: simply find a straight metal object (ruler, square, calipers, etc) and place them on the surface to ensure there is contact along the entire length of the object. If the edges of the aluminum round off, revealing a visible gap between the straight edge and the mast, the surface needs to be repaired. You can check both directions (for/aft) as well as side-to-side. If the head of the mast does not fit into the strong mount, it is likely due to this same damage. Images below show a flatness check of an in-service mast. 

This image shows subtle damage to the aluminum insert after overloading of the lightweight plate. The mast was easily repaired and is now being ridden with the Strong Mount without issue.

Attaching the Mount

There are two styles of board mounts for Project Cedrus. The Lightweight Plate and Eccentric Mount rely on two M8 stainless steel fasteners as the primary loadpath between your feet and the mast. Because these screws are under a little more load than tradition collar-style mounts like the Strong or Clydesdale, I include special high-strength screws and a small packet of loctite. If you are using these mounts, I recommend applying loctite to the screws and allowing for a proper cure. Feel free to torque the screws as tight as possible by hand, but NEVER use power tools. These mounts have proven to have adequate strength for prone and kite foiling, and were designed long before the sport of wing foiling existed. With the introduction of wing foiling, there have been reports of loose/bent bolts. In general, wing boards are much higher volume and wing foilers put a lot more load on the joint when pumping and carving bigger boards and wings. If you experience loose/bent bolts with your lightweight plate, please purchase the Strong Mount to ensure you do not do further damage to your mast. I see no reason to eliminate these mounting options, because they are much appreciated by those who wish to keep weight low, ride pocket boards, and minimize component size for travel. However, it is important to use them with discretion and acknowledge the design limitations.

The Clydesdale mast was designed primarily to offer a longer length option without a major design change to tooling and components. The mount precisely contacts an aluminum plug that sticks proud from the TOP of the mast. This ensures a super tight connection and adds additional length. There are threw screws connecting the Clydesdale mount, and no special treatment is needed. You can grease the screws to facilitate easy removal if you wish, however thanks to stainless helicoils and as mentioned frequent rinsing/dis-assembly, you really don’t have to worry about seized bolts. The Strong Mount is a slightly shorter collar and mounts to the Classic mast with two standard M8x1.25mm flathead screws. Again, with the collar taking the majority of the heavy loads during use, standard A4 or even A2 hardware is totally fine.

Shimming mounts: Due to natural variability in the painting process (for carbon masts) or extrusion process (for aluminum masts), the strong mount my not perfectly capture the mast. Again, the primary loadpath of this joint is through the M8 fasteners in tension, with the collar of the strong mount providing support during abuse or other heavy loads. If desired, you can apply strips of foil shim tape on the inside of the collar to better support the mast in the case of a larger gap. Please message us if you have any questions about this process, and check out McMaster-Carr for a source of these products.

The Clydesdale and Strong Mounts employ a more traditional collar. In the case of the Clydesdale, the mount captures a precisely machined aluminum plug proud of the top of the mast. The Strong mount may have a tight fit against the painted carbon mast, but will ensure a super strong and stiff connection for wing and other aggressive forms of foiling.

Connecting Adapters

There are a few different styles of adapters, details discussed below. In general, adapters can actually offer a stronger connection than OEM masts. Think of certain carbon masts which have cast resin plugs containing brass inserts at the end. When these connections fail, there can be catastrophic damage to the mast. In the case of Project Cedrus, this resin plug is replaced by precision machined aluminum. Fit is more precise, the material connections are stiffer, and any damage due to impact is limited to the $120 adapter and not the mast. I have also seen many aluminum masts which have inadequate wall thickness around threaded holes, resulting in lost wings/fuselages and scrapped masts. This being said, like all bolted joints, it is critical to check fastener tension before use. The only time I have ever heard of adapters coming loose, and it is very rare, have been on occasions when the user did not check bolt tension before connecting the fuselage. Salt, sand, and even climate can affect the screw tension. Properly torqued and checked adapters offer a solid connection which has been validated over 4 years of use including impacts to sandbars by 285lb riders. Teflon tape or Loctite 242 applied to the M8 attachment screws can further reduce the likelihood of loosening in addition to reducing corrosion. Grease is not recomended, because the stainless threads and stainless hardware are already slippery enough. As most fuselage attachment screws will be threading into the aluminum adapter, grease can prevent seizing and ensure easy removal. As mentioned previously, do not leave aluminum adapters inserted into carbon fuselages for extended periods of time as this will promote galvanic corrosion among dissimilar materials in the mast, adapter, and fuselage. It is impossible for me to keep track of every brands’ constantly changing hardware, so I do not include fuselage connection hardware with adapters. Typically the OEM hardware will work with adapters, and if not I recommend sourcing stainless steel fasteners from http://www.mcmaster.com/screws.

Shared-hole adapters like Cloud IX can be a bit more confusing, so read below and let me know if you have any issues connecting these adapters!

Thru Hole Adapter Instructions

Most Project Cedrus adapters (Takuma, Axis, Lift, F-One, Unifoil, SPG) employ two discrete thru-holes for attaching the adapter to the mast. The assembly of these adapters is very straightforward, they are screwed into both threaded inserts within Project Cedrus using counterbored fasteners. The helicoils in Cedrus offer 20mm of thread engagement, which is more than adequate. The attachment screws are supplied with each adapter, and differ slightly in length depending on design. The screws are designed to have 15-20mm of thread engagement beyond the adapter, and are not too long to bottom out into the mast. The adapter provides a robust interface for the stock fasteners included with your existing fuselage to anchor. However, in some cases your existing hardware may be too long due to thread depths of the adapter. To verify proper fastener lengths, test them with the adapter BEFORE attaching to the mast and ensure a tight fit between the fuselage and adapter. It is important at this time to verify that the fuselage screws do not stick above the adapter, which could damage the mast.

Shared-Hole Adapter Instructions

To minimize wing offset and adapter size, and sometimes due to OEM fuselage hole spacing, “shared hole” adapters employ a slightly more complex mounting method. Examples of three hole adapter designs include Cloud IX, and Slingshot Zero Offset. Instead of screwing to the mast in two places, there is only one counterbored hole for attachment to the mast. As shown in the Cloud IX adapter above, the aft most connection to Project Cedrus has a counterbore for an adapter connection screw to the mast. Without the fuselage attached, the adapter will pivot about this hole. The adapter then has a clearance hole at the location of the other Cedrus threaded hole, to provide pass through for a long fuselage attachment screw connecting your stock fuselage directly to the Project Cedrus mast. The other threaded hole in the adapter which does not line up with either of the two holes in Cedrus becomes the other anchor point for your fuselage. It is absolutely critical that the fastener used in this hole is not too long or too short. Too long, and the screw will bear against the mast and actually push the adapter off and potentially damage the structure. Too short, and you will not have enough enagement for your fuselage. In the figure above, you can see the forward most screw is longer because it must pass through the fuselage and adapter, while providing adequate thread engagement to the mast. The aft most screw must thread into the adapter with 15-20mm of thread engagement. Again, please check fastener lengths BEFORE the adapter is connected to the mast to ensure a tight fit and adequate joint strength. If something doesn’t seem right, it probably isn’t, so please contact me with any questions or concerns. With these shared-hole adapters, it is even more critical to check bolt tension before use.

Captured Screw Adapters

The latest adapter designs for SAB and Unifoil offer even cleaner interfaces and further reduce interference with OEM attachment holes which allows for reduced offsets, shorter screws, and stiffer connections. However, installation can be a bit more complicated. With these adapters, the screws must be tightened together to prevent binding and damage. To do this, install the screws into the adapter (either using the top slot, or tucking them under any overhanging slots). Then, line the fasteners up with the two Cedrus connection holes and make 1-2 turns on each screw at a time. This will slowly bring the adapter to the mast surface with parallel faces. 

The screws to attach the Unifoil adapter tuck underneath an over-hanging lip in order to prevent interference with the fuselage interface screws. Like the SAB adapter, these screws must be tightened 1-2 turns at a time in order to bring the adapter to the face of Project Cedrus.

Adapter Shimming

Manufacturing tolerances, time, wear and tear from use, and frequent assembly/dis-assembly can cause the interface between the adapter and the fuselage to fit more loosely with time. This is true for OEM assemblies as well. To reduce bending loads in the fasteners and improve overall stiffness, you can shim the adapter surfaces when needed. Various forms of adhesive tape work well, from aluminum to teflon. But I personally prefer aluminum as it is a more consistent thickness and due to HVAC applications, adheres well in cold/hot/wet environments. When shimming, only apply tape to flat surfaces designated for contact with the fuselage. More detail on shimming can be found in the blog here.

The F-One Titan connection can benefit from a thin shim as well

Modular Fuselage Assembly

The modular fuselage features a unique dovetail joint at each end for the “heads” and “tails” which interface with OEM foils from Armstrong. Additional heads and tails are in development. When connecting heads and tails, it is critical that the set-screws are tightened FIRST. This will bring all components together with the main body, after which the additional backup machine screws can be tightened. As with adapters, tension by hand only with medium force using a small hand tool. You want the fasteners pre-loaded so that they do not vibrate out, but not so tight that you strip any aluminum threads. Loctite 242 can be used if desired. It is highly recommended that you remove carbon wings from the fuselage head when not in use. Furthermore, complete dis-assembly is suggested during longer periods of non-use to prevent sized hardware. 

Care & Best Practices: Corrosion and Rubber Edges

Project Cedrus was designed to last a lifetime. However, the marine environment is incredibly tough on equipment and it is critical that the mast is regularly rinsed and dis-assembled to prevent corrosion and wear. The main threaded inserts at the top and bottom of the mast are fitted with stainless steel helicoils to prevent siezing and ensure ultimate compatibility with future products. The aluminum adapters and mount plates may be more prone to wear and corrosion, so for extended periods of non-use it is highly recommended that they are removed, rinsed, and stored off the mast in a clean, dry environment. Those lucky enough to live on the water and foil need not dis-assemble and rinse every day, but I do reccomend weekly cleanings in the interest of caution. Galvanic corrosion occurs between dissimiliar materials, and is accelerated by the salty environment and heat. Project Cedrus contains a lot of mixed materials, including aluminum, stainless steel, carbon fiber, and benign thermoplastics. As mentioned on the site, the aluminum inserts undergo an extensive anodizing and priming process to prevent galvanic corrosion within the mast, but this same protection cannot exist outside the mast. Aluminum inserts will be more prone to corrosion if left with an adapter inserted into a carbon fiber fuselage. Since introduction of the mast in 2018, there have been no reports of aggressive corrosion to the mast or adapters. Any extreme corrosion will therefore not be considered under warranty, so I must reiterate the importance of rinsing and dis-assembly.

In the interest of safety, Project Cedrus employs the first non-structural leading and trailing edge components fabricated from flexible PVC. On impact, the material should deform elastically and not chip, crack, or bend like carbon or aluminum. As a thermoplastic, this material should not be deformed under high temperatures, even those achieved in a hot car, to prevent permanent warping. In the event of warping or bending, you can typically re-form the edge using a heat gun (blow dryer) to original shape.

2 Year Warranty

Project Cedrus was introduced in 2018, and there has not been a single structural failure of a mast or other warranty claim, again aside from those related to bent bolts and the lightweight plate. At this point, the design and manufacturing is proven. To the best of my technical knowledge and experience, only the highest quality materials, adhesives, and processes are used throughout the production process, often at the expense of profitability. That being said, we continue to learn and push boundaries in a quest for constant improvement and optimization of performance, cost, durability, and manufacturability. Furthermore, new forms of foiling and equipment are arriving daily. In the event of any structural failure under normally expected use by the original owner, I will repair or replace a mast. Damage due to corrosion, impact with submerged objects, improper use of the Lightweight mounts, or other forms of abuse will not be covered under warranty. I will however do my best to repair or replace a mast at cost and help my clients however I can. Damage to adapters and mounts, being aluminum and not containing any stainless helicoils, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To date, any and all issues related to adapters are due to the selection of M6 hardware by the OEM. In many cases, the Project Cedrus adapter is stronger than the OEM mast. Abuse or use that may have resulted in scrapping of an OEM mast may instead only require the replacement of a Project Cedrus adapter, which is considered more of a wear item.

Individuality

Each mast is carefully assembled, finished, and QC’d by hand. As with any handmade product, there may be slight differences and/or flaws in the appearance. However, all components and mast assembly follow strict manufacturing procedures and are individually serialized for configuration control, and any cosmetic flaws will not affect performance. In the case of aluminum masts, there may exist small gaps or blemishes in anodized surfaces due to the simple nature of high-volume manufacturing. We do our best to protect the product throughout modification and fulfilment, but things happen. We target a zero % scrap/warranty rate, and as in the case of carbon masts, guarentee that any/all cosmetic blemishes are non-structural and do not affect performance. If you are unhappy with the your mast, please contact us for a resolution. Our packaging material is all used, and while I have a great appreciation for packaging design and the un-boxing process, with Project Cedrus we are making every effort to reduce the environmental footprint. Re-using cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, and filler material is an easy way for us to do so.

Repair & Refinish

The architecture of Project Cedrus facilitates easy repair and refinishing work. Edges can be removed and replaced, and the mast can be sanded and clear coated for improved hydrodynamics. Please see the shop for mast repair options.

Selling your mast

There is always demand for used or demo equipment, so feel free to contact me if you are interested in selling your Project Cedrus. If you do sell your mast, please have the buyer register below so that they can be made aware of the details mentioned on this page. It is especially important for those of you prone/kite foiling with a lightweight plate who sell to a potential wing foiler, for example. In addition, it is important that they are added to my customer distribution list in case there is any future important updates or notices regarding adapters, etc. Thank you!