Jackie Treehorn wrote: ↑Fri Oct 06, 2017 3:07 pm
mast [mast, mahst]
noun
1.
Nautical.
a spar or structure rising above the hull and upper portions of a ship or boat to hold sails, spars, rigging, booms, signals, etc., at some point on the fore-and-aft line, as a foremast or mainmast.
any of a number of individual spars composing such a structure, as a topmast supported on trestletrees at the head of a lower mast.
any of various portions of a single spar that are beside particular sails, as a top-gallant mast and royal mast formed as a single spar.
2.
Also called pillar. the upright support of a jib crane.
3.
any upright pole, as a support for an aerial, a post in certain cranes, etc
I have checked, and yes indeed the upright part of a crane, carrying the platform with the operator (rider), is called a "mast" yes.
So it makes sense, having a little wing just under the water as the base, with a tall "mast" above the water to carry the platform and rider up in the air.
Whenever somebody who have never seen a hydrofoil before, asks "what is THAT", I explain that it is only the little horizontal wing that is in the water, lifting me up, and the long thing (I point at the mast) is NOT a fin or keel like everyone thinks at first, but only to support holding me and the board up free in the air above the water
Strut is also a correct word, but as said before, this word is not used in our language whereas mast is the very same word and easy to understand, and it makes okay sense in general in both english and non-english countries.
Good thread (if bored at least ha haa) - I thought "mast" was an adapted word, but it is also correct according to above definitions, just as the word "strut" can be considered correct, for the vertical part of a hydrofoil.
But a "modern" hydrofoil, opposed to old hydrofoil passenger boats and similar, dont have much in common, so on the old ones the sometimes diagonal supports are often called spars and struts.
Would say the major difference is somewhat that struts are often not that big (or tall) compared to what they are holding or mounted inside/outside, and typically not a major part of what they are holding, whereas masts are a major part.
This is the typical distinction IMO and experience, that makes one choose words like pole/mast instead of spar/strut/rod.
It makes sense to differ those IMO, as for us the mast is such a major part of a hydrofoil with a visual look that got nothing in common with these classic hydrofoils:
Mast or pole is used about a "thing" holding something or someone up in the air:
"Mast is a spar or structure rising above the hull and upper portions of a ship to hold sails, spars, rigging, etc".
"Mast is any upright pole, as a support for an aerial, a post in certain cranes, etc".
Strut or rod or spar is used about a "thing" connecting parts, stiffening parts, usually smaller than a mast, compared to the whole unit:
"strut is a structural piece designed to resist pressure in the direction of its length".
"strut is a strong rod, usually made from metal or wood, that helps to hold something such as a vehicle or building together".
"strut is a rod or bar forming part of a framework and designed to resist compression".
Both words can be considered correct, so no reason to rant one or another expression
PS: Aaah, okay BWD, you summarized the same in a few words, while I was writing, cool
Peter