Demasting

[Stix]

I have looked around but can't find any info on Demasting as opposed to shooting sails? Anyone seen a guide or YouTube video or any info about shooting enemy masts?

[LeeUK]

Chains to shred sails, but use ball to destroy masts, your cannon ball must hit the actual masts to cause damage to it, enough damage done and TIIIMMBEEERRR.

[Ink]

LeeUK is right, use a ball.

 

As it was said in the 9.5 patch notes:
 

Mast strength tuned to approximately these numbers 7 shots for lower mast section, 5 shots mid mast section, 2 shots upper mast section (taking into account the damage from the max gun possible for that ship)

 

[Stix]

Has anyone made a video of this? Are there any visual cues that you are/have hit the mast?

[thomas aagaard]

You get the same shower of splinters as when you hit the hull. but centered on the place you hit the mast.
IF you hit sale, no shower of splinters and holes in the sails.

[Stix]

Thank you

[Ruthless4u]

Is demasting worth the effort? I imagine it's not the easiest thing to attempt.

[maturin]

Is demasting worth the effort? I imagine it's not the easiest thing to attempt.

Not until you have really heavy broadsides. And then mostly in group play.

[ParaBellum]

You need some serious damage to break a mast. I tried today with 24lb carronades and gave up after 7-8 hits with no apparent damage.

[Ruthless4u]

Sounds like shredding sails is the better way to go. Still seems time consuming.

[John Paul]

Just out of curiosity, anyone know the diameter of main masts (IRL) on some of the ships?

Edited January 21, 2016 by John Paul

[Henry d'Esterre Darby]

Just out of curiosity, anyone know the diameter of main masts (IRL) on some of the ships?

 

I'm having trouble finding the measurement, but here is a photograph of a woman standing next to a piece of one of her original foremasts:

 

[VonVolks]

I have demasted a few ships using my yacht especially in small teams. It's worth it for the sense of achievement and the crews cheers alone!

[Scorpio Shirica]

Broke a privateer's mast in my yacht, made fighting it a bit easier since they like to run off and snipe you from afar. Also makes boarding considerably easier. Also also, really fun to see splinters everywhere!

[Flavalicious]

On average you need 2-3 broadsides of steady hits to take a mast down. Ball and aim for the wood. You may also want to unlock your guns aim by pressing the R key, this will allow the cannons to pivot and fire towards where your aiming instead of the default locked position that fires directlt out. Takes some practice and is most used on 3 mast ships of a larger size.

On the beginning ships (triangle riggers), if you ram the enemy in the front at the right angle youll snap their bow sprite off and they will be a sitting duck.