Just saw this RDM 490:
windsurfsystems.com.au/product/nolimitz-skinny-copy/
Nolimitz F.A.S.T 95% RDM
in 460 and 490!
If that means I can take my 8m out in the ocean and be less concerned about my mast snapping if I muck up the shore break then maybe its a good thing. But that doesn't seem to be their angle.
Thoughts ?
Is this just what someone out there has been waiting for?
actually larger/longer RDM masts have been around for a while
LOFT and HSM/HotSailsMaui are some examples ...
Have people all switched over to RDM for those sails ? NO
Heavyweights like myself and the middleweight from whom I purchased an HSM SpeedFreak 8.5 all seem to prefer SDM in 460 and up
This does NOT take wave sailing and shore break into consideration
If I was worried more about breakage than feeling/performance perhaps I would also use RDM in the longer lengths
Each to his own I guess ...
Hope it IS what you have been waiting for and all works out 
It's personal & depends if the sails work well with rdm generally. Im heavy, happily use rdm's 490 & below in lofts, I dont see much difference between bottom wind limit of my 8.6 with rdm to my 9.7 with sdm, any loses in power are made up in handling. If using no cam sail 7m & above it can make them feel spongey.
But to believe rdm is guarentee of strength over sdm is not true, some of rdm's ive owned were so thin that they would retain slight bends after rigging, not good. I would rate a good quality 90% sdm over alot of big rdms have seen, catch is get a good quality brand which is hard with masts, a good 90% shouldnt weigh a ton if they use good carbon, even if it has a good wall thickness.
I used to race using Hot Sails Maui 4 cam race sails and RDM masts. I was much heavier than I am now, and very competitive. So if the sail is designed from the beginning around an RDM the average amateur racer won't lose anything by using an RDM over an SDM.
@philn
what about a RAF sail with no cams - does it make it more "spongey" /softer for you too ?? as mkseven suggests
Thanks that helps a lot. It seems to be more vague than the black and white ideas I had about RDM and SDM. I also had never seen a 490 RDM. I like the feel of RDM on smaller sails but I don't know if the power would be there for the larger sizes for me. And my main fear is snapping my 490 SDM, but perhaps the 490 RDM isn't that much better. Will wait for the moment.
Hey Joe I love the average Joe blog. I assume that's you.
When I first sailed my 6.6 sailworks hucker on a RDM (got both together) it did feel spongy to me on a powerful setting, but it is such a powerful heavy weight friendly sail I actually learned to like the feel. I wish they made bigger huckers. Then Id be more than happy to try a 490 RDM. For me the sailworks retros dont seem to work in the big sizes. but Im 115kg and the race sails are great. So back to the point, for me spongy would be ok if there is power behind it.
i wouldn't be worried about using a RDM on a 8.0 .. i use my 460 + 40 on my carbon extension .on the odd day .its a soft .feel ..
i wouldn't be worried about using a RDM on a 8.0 .. i use my 460 + 40 on my carbon extension .on the odd day .its a soft .feel ..
oh heavy one , yes it is i, the average joe windsurfer 
joewindsurfer.com
and you have tried a Hucker = woohoo
actually the real reason why I am writing back is as follows:
WHY do they NOT make an aluminium 45 cm RDM mast extension ??
would it break ??
have a 460 RDM that I wanted to try on my 8.5, but aluminium extension is not 45 cm $%^%&*(()
How safe is it to use extensions at max setting? I've heard that it "break the mast", "bend the extension", "break the extension", "never use more than half of an extension", "never use more than 2/3 of an extension". All sorts of things. Yet I've seen 0 length extensions as well, where the extension is just a short nub.
good question mr cranky ..I guess they wouldn't make them if unsafe ....haven't broken one ..but true ..having only 140 in the mast is a bit of a worry ..with a 8.0 or 8.5 ...as I've done in the past
I don't make a habit of it ,as the sails rig a lot nicer and behave better on a 490 .
I only do it if Ive left gear home ,having a 46 carbon extension does illuminate extra luggage If travelling .
ive found the sails do feel a little too soft and a slight loss of bottom end in using the 460 + 46
It can be done .
but stick to recommended mast length if possible ...
eg .if travelling you can eliminate 1 mast
1x 430 1x 460 1x extension 46 .
5.0 6.0 7.0 8,0 sails.
Its a handy piece of equipment ..having a 46 extension .I have a Naish carbon .$200 at the time .
