Question on Extensions

Hi,

I ordered a Goya Nexus 6.9 sail and know that the luff length on it is 469. The mast I have is a RDM 460 and I use a US cup base (now regretting not getting Euro Pin).

My question is where to find a skinny extension that will accommodate my luff length of 469. I believe the minimum setting on a Chinook aluminum skinny extension is 12cm. I didn't know how bad of an idea it would be to put a little less downhaul on and use that on the minimum setting.

Thanks,
Ryan

I was taught to make sure that there is no slack in the lines between the tack and the outhaul pulley.

Since then, I have realised it pretty much doesn't matter. As long as you are putting on the correct downhaul for the sail, the actual numbers and extra line don't matter. In fact, I get annoyed now when people look at my rigged sails and critique them without even looking at the sail shape and just go from the numbers printed on it. Some sails just don't rig correctly using the numbers, whether its slightly different masts, or just poor sail accuracy.

So, use your extension, allow extra line, and just ignore anyone that tells you 'it's wrong'.

You should also know that extension which go lower basically just have the pulleys set higher on the base. For instance the Chinook US cup version has the pulleys down below the bottom of the extension, whereas the Streamline has them very high on the tube - this is kind of an artificial way to make your extension go lower. Like has been said, just don't pull the sail all the way to the tack pulleys. Learn to rig by sight.

Ryan's point is, that if the sail is made to spec and the mast is to spec and he wants the tack of the sail close to the mast base, then he needs an extension setting of around 6cm. The minimum setting on alloy US cup RDM extensions on most brands and models is 10 to 12cm. Streamlined have a carbon RDM extension with US cup with a minimum 6mm extension, but is expensive at 170 USD. See the following URL

http://www.streamlined.us/extensions/copy-1-of-rdm-hmx-us

Ryan's options are:
1. Invest in the streamlined carbon extension
2. Use his existing extension and rig with 4 to 6cm distance between downhaul pulleys
3. Rig on a 430 mast and use his existing extension (if it can accommodate 36cm extension)
4. Change to Euro cup mast bases and extensions
5. Cut 4 to 6cm off the bottom of his existing 460mast

Just going off the description given down further in the ad, Daffy. Streamline site has the new model listed as 7cm for both aluminium and carbon. Below is a pic of older model I had lying around, it's the same as the one shown in the ad.