braithra
Well-Known Member
Im having to re mast my Catalina 30 (after rather carelessly loosing the old mast) - and would like to know peoples thoughts on Seldon vs ZSpar for the mast/boom
Seldon vs Z-Spar
- Thread starter braithra
- Start date
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
Curiously enough I have just ordered some extra footblocks and some replacement plastic pieces for my 18 yr old Z spar mast. I think their prices are very very good indeed, the email response is fast, they are spot on with the knowledge, they keep spares in stock (18 years!) And they are local British company. Def gets my vote.
Having met and chatted to their delightful (female) managing director at Southampton at some length about quality vs 'perceived' quality, I am not quite clear why some mast manufacturers still get away with charging a premium for the same extrusions, same alloys etc...And this is reflected in the way surveyors see 'em too sometimes..
Selden build a very nice spar, of course. So whos's paying?
Having met and chatted to their delightful (female) managing director at Southampton at some length about quality vs 'perceived' quality, I am not quite clear why some mast manufacturers still get away with charging a premium for the same extrusions, same alloys etc...And this is reflected in the way surveyors see 'em too sometimes..
Selden build a very nice spar, of course. So whos's paying?
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
Had very good service from both.
Z Spars did me a boom (years ago) and a spinnaker pole kit (recently). Great assistance on the phone and cheap transparent internet pricing.
Selden did my bowsprit, which is also very nice, but a bit pricey?
pagoda
Well-Known Member
Zspars / Selden ?
My vote has to be with Z-Spars.
After son no1 had a heavy gybe in WHW off Mull (normal he said?) -I needed a new boom :-((
Z-apars were incredibly helpful and had a new boom- with internal fittings and mousing lines was delivered just over a week's warning. Under £400 for a 21- year old replacement was pretty impressive.
It was fairly easy to re-fit and works perfectly.
Selden make good kit too...
regards, Graeme
My vote has to be with Z-Spars.
After son no1 had a heavy gybe in WHW off Mull (normal he said?) -I needed a new boom :-((
Z-apars were incredibly helpful and had a new boom- with internal fittings and mousing lines was delivered just over a week's warning. Under £400 for a 21- year old replacement was pretty impressive.
It was fairly easy to re-fit and works perfectly.
Selden make good kit too...
regards, Graeme
Mistroma
Well-Known Member
Seldenvs Z-Spar: Z-Spar excellent
I haven't had much experience dealing with Selden. However, Z-Spar replaced my rigging 3 years ago.
Service was excellent.
1) Provided better advice than any other firm I'd spoken to
2) They organised collection of old rigging
3) Returned new rigging very promptly
4) Got hold of really old fitting for roller furling
5) Even included new bottle screws, split pins etc. even though I expected to have to buy those items elsewhere based on price.
3 years since I dealt with them so things might have changed but I remember them as a friendly efficient lot with goo prices. So I'd personally try them first.
I haven't had much experience dealing with Selden. However, Z-Spar replaced my rigging 3 years ago.
Service was excellent.
1) Provided better advice than any other firm I'd spoken to
2) They organised collection of old rigging
3) Returned new rigging very promptly
4) Got hold of really old fitting for roller furling
5) Even included new bottle screws, split pins etc. even though I expected to have to buy those items elsewhere based on price.
3 years since I dealt with them so things might have changed but I remember them as a friendly efficient lot with goo prices. So I'd personally try them first.
wotayottie
Well-Known Member
No - they are French. There isnt a British mast maker any longer
Gin
Well-Known Member
Z spar is cheaper and not an option for my boat, so I went for Selden, as they own Kemp which originally equipped my boat.
I've no complaint about the mast BUT the Selden agent completely ignored how I wanted it set up; the section ( in spite of national advertising in our usual mags. boasting about the sections all being available in the UK) was only available in Sweden and instead of a 4-6 weeks delivery took 12!!!! I protested to the agent who, frankly, didn't seem to care and so I complained to the homes of the UK and Swedish directors individually- much the same result.
Next time I need to spend about £5k I shan't be considering that mob!
PetiteFleur
Well-Known Member
I've also used Z-Spars when I got a new boom for a Jaguar 27, had a look round their stores while I was there and bought a new stainless spring for the kicker. Also new 4mm gaurd wire made up as they were the cheapest. Very helpful and knowledgeable but they are local to me. Well worth a visit and chat.
matt1
Well-Known Member
I've had Selden and Z spars rigs (both fractional). Each have pro's and cons in my view
I believe that the anodising Selden use is thicker and better quality (this certainly used to be the case, but you should check as this may no longer be true). Many of the mast fittings are better with Selden and they seem to put more effort into preventing chafe. Having said that Selden are ridiculously expensive, and as a company (and the agent I used) not particulalry easy to deal with. Frankly I was ripped off for my new rig. Further, if your boat is fractional you should give serious thought to what section you want. my new Selden C section is almost impossible to bend - which is great for forestay tension but if you are used to depowering by putting on the bakstay you could be dissapointed.
Not really sure I would buy Selden again and certainly if money was tight then I would be straght down to Z spars.
I believe that the anodising Selden use is thicker and better quality (this certainly used to be the case, but you should check as this may no longer be true). Many of the mast fittings are better with Selden and they seem to put more effort into preventing chafe. Having said that Selden are ridiculously expensive, and as a company (and the agent I used) not particulalry easy to deal with. Frankly I was ripped off for my new rig. Further, if your boat is fractional you should give serious thought to what section you want. my new Selden C section is almost impossible to bend - which is great for forestay tension but if you are used to depowering by putting on the bakstay you could be dissapointed.
Not really sure I would buy Selden again and certainly if money was tight then I would be straght down to Z spars.
matt1
Well-Known Member
oh and one last thing - the Z spars "french system" of single line reefing is probably better than the Selden in boom systems with cars etc. Having said that you could specify either method with either mast maker so it's upto you. I just wouldnt get the in mast Selden system again
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
Whilst I agree with your sentiments, I have, respectively, to point out that Z-Spars are the subsidiary of the French company Z-Diffusion, based at Perigny, la Rochelle.
In a comparison with Seldén both companies produce fit-for-purpose equipment, usually Z-Spars is about 65% the price of Seldén. Z-Spars economise by using fairly cheap plain-bearing blocks and somewhat agricultural die-castings. However they are a delight to deal with (I see you were charmed by Marilyn, who used to be the UK office manager) either in UK or in France.
Here I have to declare an interest, knowing Loic Gilbert the owner and having had my run-ins with David Wright the previous UK MD.
Though I have a Seldén spinnaker pole, it's only because I bought it 2nd hand for €100, Loic would have supplied me with a new for €150, only French vacances intervened and he wasn't prepared to entrust anything to French couriers during August.
Personally, being penny-pinching, I'd go for Z-Spars every time, less money, more pleasant experience and a thoroughly good product.
Blueboatman
Well-Known Member
Wotayottie, Matt, Charles,
That is fascinating and informative, thanks..As I suspected, the part costs lie in the cleaning up of the castings.. The bit about anodising thickness is interesting.
And French? And not even a bit of France that used to be England, non?
I did wonder why you see quite so many Zspars on french boats, mon dieu.
That is fascinating and informative, thanks..As I suspected, the part costs lie in the cleaning up of the castings.. The bit about anodising thickness is interesting.
And French? And not even a bit of France that used to be England, non?
I did wonder why you see quite so many Zspars on french boats, mon dieu.
Strathglass
Well-Known Member
Why not try Sailspar?
That's where I got my mast kit from - very impressed Both with the quality of the product and the service.
I did get quotes from many sources inclucing Seldon and ZSpars.
I went to ZSpars for the boom. I have purchared spars from them in the past and have also found their parts delivery and availability very good.
For example when buying a part then all the necessary fittings (ie rivets) are included with that part.
flaming
Well-Known Member
Over the last 3 seasons I've given a selden rig a right hammering. And also witnessed a specialist rigger replace just about every piece of underspecced cr*p that was originally fitted to it. My favourite "feature" was that someone had cut the back plate off the jib halyard box, leaving it to collapse twice before we realised what they'd done and replaced it. The main halyard sheave also collapsed due to a woefully underspecced pin.
I know that rigger has written to selden warning them about what is coming out of their factory, but I don't expect that rig was a one off.
Of course, to slightly temper this, it should be remembered that the loadings we use racing, and the sail area we hang on to, are probably significantly higher than I would expect the average cruising boat to be exposed to.
My choice for a new stick would be to get one custom made by a top small rigger. They'll use the same sections and fittings as the big guys, but with a little more care, and more willingness to adapt to your needs. This would not be a cheap option though.
I know that rigger has written to selden warning them about what is coming out of their factory, but I don't expect that rig was a one off.
Of course, to slightly temper this, it should be remembered that the loadings we use racing, and the sail area we hang on to, are probably significantly higher than I would expect the average cruising boat to be exposed to.
My choice for a new stick would be to get one custom made by a top small rigger. They'll use the same sections and fittings as the big guys, but with a little more care, and more willingness to adapt to your needs. This would not be a cheap option though.
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
Z230 on ebay right now - 6 hours to go only £34.99 AT THE MOMENT
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Yacht-Mast-Z2...tEquipment_Accessories_SM?hash=item27ac9204e3
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Yacht-Mast-Z2...tEquipment_Accessories_SM?hash=item27ac9204e3
mps_surcouf
New Member
zspars are french made as others have said. Finish is fairly rough on castings but having said that everything is fit for purpose and good value..
I had a zpar 301 profile on my cat when I bought it and have bought some spares from them. They are very helpful and had stock of lots of bits.
I had a zpar 301 profile on my cat when I bought it and have bought some spares from them. They are very helpful and had stock of lots of bits.
alan_d
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the forum.
Do you realise that you have responded to a thread that is more than five years old? Most people will have lost interest in it by now.
Do you realise that you have responded to a thread that is more than five years old? Most people will have lost interest in it by now.
daviddb
Well-Known Member
Ah! I wondered why that ebay bargain had vanished....
Z-spars still well thought of?
Z-spars still well thought of?
savageseadog
Well-Known Member
Z Spars the Ford of masts and Selden the Mercedes. I've ordered and used both and found Z spars very pragmatically functional and adequate quality for any boat, Selden stuff is more finely engineered but more expensive.
dslittle
Well-Known Member
I suppose that a good indicator is that, although this thread is over five years old, Marilyn and Z-Spars are still there!!!
Oh and I too, have had great service from her/them
Oh and I too, have had great service from her/them
