Anyone give me some feedback on the redline masts. Currently using powerex 400/430 which are fantastic but wondering if the redlines would benefit my new severne blades performance wise.The powerex has been used with 09 blades.
Also do they handle the heavy surf like the powerex do(eg. places like margs etc).
If you are sponsored by severne, please mention that in your feedback.
Thanks
Rob
Roberto,
I bought some secondhand Code Reds about 2 years ago from a WA guy who I think was sponsored by severne. Anyway he threw in an old 460 SDM redline mast for I recall around $150. He said he couldn't guarantee it not breaking the first time used though. It was banged up and wasn't too pretty at all but 2 years later it is still going strong. It is probably my equally used mast with my 490 Tushingham (which are excellent masts too). In fact I wouldn't be surprised if the two are made in the same italian factory to thje same specs.
I mainly sail open ocean with Slalom setup so they don't get too much wave abuse apart from the occassional failed launch off the beach through the breakers. Don't know what their bend curve characteristic rating (CC, Soft top, hard top?????) is but if your powerex masts are same, then I doubt you're going to notice a difference (perceived or actual).
BTW - Call me anal but I'm pretty cautious with my masts and don't let them bang together or throw them on the ground. I also recoat worn areas (cams and boom head zones) with some epoxy resin every so often which minimises excessive wear. I think you can wrap some mylar type tape around cam zones and at open ends as a preventative too [maybe someone can confirm which tape is suitable]
PS -If Severne or anyone else for that matter wants to sponsor a mediocre but keen sailor PM me 
Thanks sausage, was particularly interested in the RDM wavemast and as you mentioned, is there a difference in the- quote- "their bend curve characteristic rating (CC, Soft top, hard top?????) is but if your powerex masts are same, then I doubt you're going to notice a difference (perceived or actual)."
Hi Roberto,
Being the distributor for Severne products I thought I would state that first.
Sails such as the Blade, S-1 are both desinged around the Redline RDM mast. The masts undergo testing before the leave the factory to ensure that they meet Severnes specs. The bend curve of each individual mast is measured at 7 reference points instead of the usual 3 points. Those that don't make the cut are discarded to ensure the highest of quality control. This allows the Severne sail designers to match the luff curve of the sail to that mast curve. It's because of this consistancy you benifit from the follow on effect of better performance and control.
The Redline mast comes with a 12 month warranty. With someone like Scott McKercher who lives and charges pretty hard at Marg's regularly while using the Redline RDM's exclusively with his Blades, it is a good representation of the products performance and durability.
Regards,
Auswind
I am pretty sure Scott McKercher use to have Powerex stickers on his sails because he used Powerex masts exclusively with his Blades.
Could it be that he now uses Redline because you can't buy Powerex anymore?
Roberto,
Unfortunately Powerex aren't mentioned but check the Unifibre mast chart for mast compatibility (link below). Looks like Severne sails are designed for hard top masts.http://www.unifiber.net/2011/mast-selector.
Out of interest I rig a Tushingham 100% SDM (Flex Top) with my 2010 8.8 Code Red sail (Hard top mast recommended) which still performs really well. Maybe I should give a stiff top mast a go to see if any different.
EDIT
Found this on www.peterman.dk/masts-all-imcs01.htm
2007 Powerex Wave RDM 85% 430 IMCS Stiffness 21.1, IMCS Bend Characteristic 14.0 - this makes the Powerex a CC / Flex top whereas the Severne Redline RDM 400 (2008) has a bend character of 9.8 making it Constant Curve
0-6 = Hard top,
7-9 = Hard Top/Constant Curve,
10-12 = Constant Curve,
13-15 =Constant Curve/Flex top,
16-18 = Flex Top,
19-21 = Flex Top/Super Flex Top and
22+ = Super Flex Top.
My 1.35kg Redline 400 is still going hard after nearly two solid seasons (touch wood). I have broken about 8 sails on it and completely shattered 2 sails with it. God knows how its still alive.
The 85% powerex I tried feels pretty lifeless compared to the redline. Though yes the redline is obviously 100%. I don't really buy into the flex characteristics, just rig it see how it goes.
Another brand worthy of consideration is Carbon Tech. I've tried the 100% 400 RDM and its just as good as the Redline IMHO.
Thanks for the input guys,particularly ozpricey,that was the type of answer that makes the most sense to me.
Going to bite the bullet and upgrade to the redline after rigging the 2011 6.2 blade on the weekend. The battens around the boom area didn't sit that well on the powerex and seemed particularly back handed compared to the 08 blade on the powerex(using the rigging specs on the bag).
Kman 5000 had his same sail rigged on the redline and the battens sat much better on it and no ripples where they shouldn't be on the sail.
Still going to keep the powerex for those sketchy big days.
New enigma boom too, ouch I am poor now!
You can now book that holiday Ben
Anyone know how close the SSR is to the Redline in terms of curve? I have the 460 SSR which is great - just wondering if I could rig Code Reds on it.
Roberto, I would suggest inspecting the redline mast closely before you purchase it.
My experiences with Severne redlines have unfortunately been a little less than desirable. It took 9 months and 3 masts before I received an acceptable 430 and 400 redline.
They must have changed there manufacture last year (wasn't there some brief note in U.K boards mag or windsurf?), as the finish was really bad, with bad sticker lay-up, rough finish and poor collar finish.
Like ozpricey I have a 2008 1.35kg (measures 1.4kg) redline 400 also, which has a good finish and is still going strong. However the weight of the new masts are allot heaver, 1.55kg for my 400 (quote on web site 1.5kg) and the 430 was 1.79kg, where as the spec weight on the web site was 1.65kg!. All the shipment of 430's were about this weight. My gaastra masts are all within 0.05kg of spec. Severne really need to have a look at this misrepresentation of weight with the 430.
The masts I finally got sent are good and I've had no problems with them so far. It may have been abit of a teething problem with the new mast layout (manufacture?). The unfortunate part is that severne have missed out on sales, as I ended up buying a gaastra 2010 5.8 poison and naish 2010 6.0 all terrain (I managed to find some 100% gaastra masts) because I couldn't get a 430 redline for 7 months. I would have liked to have got a 5.7 blade and 6.0 Gator.
Other sail brands haven't been that much better in terms of stocks of sails and top end (100% carbon) compatible masts. Next time I'm tempted to go over seas where you can demo the gear and buy the masts and sails all together in one go.
