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Anybody seen or tired one of these "new and improved" extensions from North Sails?
They look interesting but I rig my sails down really close to the cleat, so it may get in the way. Maybe better for racing only?
Got to laugh at the picture, it would appear North believes SD Masts have a different idea of where 4CM is? Having said that I have used the XTs from when first introduced due to a dodgey back, old age and a petite wife. They The XTs that is)are very useful to take the strain but do need care, patience and servicing skills as they are mechanical so don't buy one unless you are prepared to be that type. The new ones crank up as well as down and yes that 4 cm start can be a pain with many sails without adjustable heads, also the spare rope is not automatically hidden on the RD types. Oh and the older version carbon extensions are better swapped (they are known to snap) for aluminium ones( easy fix) as they usually just bend at worst. I have 3 in UK and 3 in Oz Alu that is.....
I've got the SDM XT2.0 and have since purchased the RDM version as well, so far they have been excellent and would never go back to a standard extension, first off they make down hauling easy and being able to adjust the down haul out on the water without the need to come back in is fantastic, well built bit piece of equipment.
I was thinking that these wouldn't hold up to well where I windsurf, super windy and super sandy, very hard to avoid the sand.
I also noticed that my finger's dyslexia struck again in the OP.
I rig on grass, what is sand?
can't comment on the sand but sand+ mechanical probably be no good
Been using them for years and I really like them. Never had a problem rigging on sand. I always try to keep it off the sand by lying it on my board to keep the Euro pin, uni and ratchet sand free. On the SDM ones, you can get the mast down to 0 cm by not using the collar. Haven't tried the same on the RDM (haven't needed to).
Big fan of my XT extensions. Have only used the aluminium version and have had great service from them.
I've got teh 2.0 SDM and am super happy with it. I only use it for my sailloft Ultimate which I jast can't propoerly downhaul with a normal extension. So far no complaints. I've been advised not to buy an old version second-hand, as they seem to be a lit odgy when it comes to releasing power from the sail.
Alas, using it with twisted pulley blocks (Severne) is less than ideal. You have to thread the rope rather than loop and go. The extension comes with its own dyneema rope, which is thicker than formuline. It frays easily at the end after repeated threading. And it's hard to melt the end properly - it becomes too thick to thread. I've tried the trick of wrapping the end in masking tape before melting the end - doesn't help.
Mind you the manual's instructions for twisted pulleys are wrong. This is how it's done:
OK, a couple more things to consider.
The extension collar has a protruding (albeit plastic) edge, which sticks out enough to puncture the luff sleeve in my Severne Blade. Again it's probably because Severne luffs sleeves are made of rice paper sheds every gram in low load areas of the sail, but that collar ring is just a crap design. It's quite fiddly too. Ironically the Severne extension collar fits the North XT extension perfectly and is smoother and slimmer.
I've had this extension for 3 months and all the markings have rubbed off.
The German Surf Magazine reckoned the North XT was the best bang for buck in terms of improving your time sailing of any product they reviewed. I have to agree. The accuracy it gives you to set the downhaul perfectly, the ability to change settings on the water and the back doctor visits it saves you, makes this one of the best pieces of kit you can buy. On top of that, it's proper German quality.
How do they cope with big "formula" size loads. I have a NP Evo4 12.0m that is a bitch to downhaul. The downhaul is so tight I have to spin the winch 180 degrees just to cleat it off because I cant squeeze the rope into the cleat with my hand its got so much tension.
Don't have them anymore Cam, but I found them easier to use on my 10.7 RS6 than my winch. Just had to be sure the rope was in good condition as it will start to slip as it wears.
