Mast

A hydrofoil mast connects your board to the fuselage, which carries your wings. Its length sets how high you can fly. Its profile affects glide. All our standard foil masts are carbon, in four constructions: HR, HM, UHM and UHM Skinny. To understand how they differ, read our guide to choosing a carbon mast.

Not sure which one? Use the "Which mast?" foil finder. Enter your weight, your riding and your biggest front wing, and you get one mast and one length.

How to choose a hydrofoil mast

Two choices matter: construction and length. Construction depends on your weight and on the span of your biggest front wing. Length depends on your riding.

The four constructions

Mast	Lengths	Thickness / chord	Who it's for
HR carbon mast	65, 80, 85 cm (25.6, 31.5, 33.5 in)	16 mm / 135 mm	Versatile. For learning and for tough conditions.
HM carbon mast	80, 85 cm (31.5, 33.5 in)	15 mm / 120 mm	Thinner than the HR: more glide, more speed, easier to maneuver.
UHM carbon mast	80, 85, 95 cm, 95 cm RACE (31.5, 33.5, 37.4 in)	13.5 to 14 mm / 115 mm (95 RACE: 12.3 mm / 120 mm)	For racing and for demanding conditions.
UHM Skinny carbon mast	75, 80, 85 cm (29.5, 31.5, 33.5 in)	13.2 mm / 105 mm	Narrower chord than the UHM. Livelier in waves, less drag at high speed.

Which construction for your weight and front wing

Your profile	We recommend at least
You weigh 75 kg (165 lb) or less and your biggest front wing spans less than 1.00 m (39.4 in)	HR
You weigh 80 kg (176 lb) or more and your biggest front wing spans 1.10 m (43.3 in) or more	UHM
Everything else (for example 78 kg / 172 lb, or a wing between 1.00 and 1.10 m)	HM

For advice that also takes your priority into account (budget, balance or performance), use the "Which mast?" foil finder.

Which mast length for your riding

Your riding	Length we recommend
Surf foiling (prone)	80 cm (31.5 in). With the UHM Skinny: 75 cm (29.5 in), the only 75 cm mast in the range.
SUP foiling, dock start, downwind	80 cm (31.5 in)
Wing foiling: freeride, freefly, freestyle, carving	85 cm (33.5 in)
Wing foiling: freerace	95 cm RACE (UHM, 37.4 in) with a front wing spanning 1.00 m (39.4 in) or less. Above that: 85 cm (33.5 in).
Parawing, kitefoiling, wake foiling	85 cm (33.5 in)

We don't recommend a 95 cm mast with a front wing spanning more than 1.00 m. We also don't recommend the UHM Skinny for dock starts, or for downwind with a front wing spanning 1.10 m or more.

What about the Infinity masts?

The Infinity × Foil Drive and Infinity × Manta Foils masts are for foil assist only: they have the motor mount built in. You'll find them on the foil assist page.

Why an AFS mast

• Our foils are made in France, at our factory in Brittany.
• 2-year AFS limited warranty on all our masts.
• On the UHM and UHM Skinny, the HDI (Heavy Duty Insert) inserts are fitted after molding and run through the full thickness of the carbon. Loads at the mast / fuselage joint spread across the whole mast.
• For returns, see our terms of sale.

Hydrofoil mast FAQ

What's the difference between HR, HM and UHM carbon masts?

All four constructions are carbon. What changes is the mast's thickness and chord, and so its glide. The HR is 16 mm thick, the HM 15 mm, the UHM and UHM Skinny between 12.3 and 14 mm.

How long should my hydrofoil mast be?

It depends on your riding. We recommend 80 cm (31.5 in) for surf foiling, SUP foiling, dock start and downwind, and 85 cm (33.5 in) for wing foiling, parawing, kitefoiling and wake foiling. The 95 cm (37.4 in) is for wing foil freerace.

Long mast or short mast?

If you often ride in strong wind, an 85 cm mast or longer lets you lean the board over and clear the chop. For surf foiling and downwind, we recommend 80 cm to stay balanced on your feet.

Carbon or aluminum foil mast?

We only make carbon masts. An aluminum mast with the same stiffness as our UHM is around 19 mm thick and weighs about twice as much. To compare both materials on a complete foil, read our carbon vs. aluminum foil article.

How does the mast attach to the fuselage?

The mast bolts to the fuselage. The HR and HM come with three M8x45 mast / fuselage screws. Before you buy, check with our team that your fuselage fits the mast you picked.

Will an AFS mast fit my board?

The UHM mounts on almost any board with a double US track.

Where can I find a used hydrofoil mast?

Used AFS masts and foils are listed on the AFS marketplace.

To go further on the four constructions, read the full AFS mast comparison. To complete your foil, see our fuselages, stabilizers and front wings.