Any advice on north sails xt mast extension with ratchet system? Have they improved in the later models? Any happy users out there?

I have two of the older ones with the shorter lever. I love them (that's why I bought a second). They do take a bit of getting used to. It is best to pull on a comfortable amount of downhaul by hand and then use the ratchet to do the hard work.
Since North introduced the metal spring they haven't had a problem with rope slippage.
I have had to replace the spring and the rope a couple of times but that is no big deal (I have had them for years and use them a lot).
For big race sails > 7m I think a downhaul winch would be better, although the longer lever may help with those.

+1
I used to have the older SDM version with the plastic spring, and no issues with it for the 3 years I had it. I used it with Maui Sails TR race sails from 7.0 to 9.2 (but Maui Sails TR race sails are known to not require a lot a downhaul tension vs. some other brands).

I upgraded to a new RDM version with a metal spring 18 months ago, and that too has been problem free. I'm using it with HSM GPS race sails up to 8.8.

I also downhaul by hand most of the way, and only use the ratchet for the last 10 cm.

The newer version with the longer lever is better. Very happy user here. I love being able to adjust on the water. Only problem is I've moved to more sails with a triple pulley, rather than a cringle (eye). Still haven't worked out a good get-around for that.

I had one of the original ones and it ate through the line. Or maybe my technique did.

This post reminds me; I might buy another. I know we can all estimate exactly how much downhaul to use from the beach and they are so unnecessary, but obviously I'm being sarcastic and that's bull****. I loved being able to tune the downhaul in two seconds to exactly where you wanted it. Hell, if you were dextrous enough you could do it while planing. It made adjusting the outhaul seem painful in comparison.

Thanks for all your input :). I noticed only a few local people use them & the rest had them years ago and they said endles problems and threw them away!

Great I would do the same use normal downhaul technique and the last bit via the ratchet.
I thought you can use them via any system eye or 3 pulleys?! I have loft blades used with rdms now!

Select to expand quote

MikeyS said..

The newer version with the longer lever is better. Very happy user here. I love being able to adjust on the water. Only problem is I've moved to more sails with a triple pulley, rather than a cringle (eye). Still haven't worked out a good get-around for that.

I use mine with a triple pulley. The only problem is my KA sails don't have quite enough room between the bottom of the sail and the pulley so I can't loop loop go, I have to thread the rope as you would any normal downhaul. You get used to it.

Select to expand quote

Windxtasy said..

I use mine with a triple pulley. The only problem is my KA sails don't have quite enough room between the bottom of the sail and the pulley so I can't loop loop go, I have to thread the rope as you would any normal downhaul. You get used to it.

Yeah, I do that sometimes with my KAs, but I find it's a p.i.t.a. to do, particularly compared to just loop loop go through a cringle with North sails. The newer version of the XT I find is harder to extract the rope past the cam as there's a tongue which keeps the rope in the cammed groove, and it takes a while to remove the rope if the ratchet is on the reverse setting.

The other problem I find with threading through the pulley is that the pulley doesn't sit nice and square when tensioned-up. It usually tends to pull more on one side than the other and it feels like I need to put a lot more force through the lever to tighten things. In other words, it doesn't feel like the tension is being equally spread across all loops of the downhaul line through a pulley, unlike with a cringle.

There may be some simple and elegant solution to this, but i don't seem to be able to do simple and elegant.

The answer is no they are still a problem and as North do not even answer emails with constructive ideas, it is obvious the basic mechanism is too expensive to do a proper job on.

I have been using the North XTs since they came out, the big advantages to me are:
a.?If you have a dodgy back they save you when first rigging from sudden strain.
b.?They can be altered very quickly out in the waves (if careful) for those who sail offshore reefs or rocky shores where it is hard to adjust sails, assuming your sail adjusts a lot on downhaul.

Mechanical faults with the XTs are just a challenge to me most of the time???????????????..after all its only another high maintenance, expensive item like the wife.

I have until recently used North sails and what many do not realize is they do not work as well with some other sails due to: luff tube thickness, luff curve, amount of downhaul required, pulleys etc.

I can hopefully point out some helpful stuff though:
a.?Always us the steel springs to stop any rope slippage and keep spares, they do break (pre compress them a little before use an over compression early, sees some crack).
b.?Use if possible the long handle it is much better, they are sold as spares.
c.?Use good rope (North or Chinook is OK) as the main wear is in the same area.
d.?Do not use pulleys they are not required, some will cause the rope to run badly and rub on edges causing unnecessary early rope wear. These can where necessary be replaced with a simple D ring from Ezzy or others (very strong, simple, light, no parts to corrode or go wrong).
e.?If the cog gripping the rope becomes very corroded then just place it in the normal kettle descalent solution it works wonders.
f.?The cogs will stick to the spindle if corroded or dirt gets in or not enough tension when releasing the downhaul (tight/curved luff, or very dry with a mixture of previous problems). Servicing/cleaning the XT parts will stop some of these problems.
g.?The carbon RDM extensions, especially the long ones are known to snap, I replaced all mine in the end with alu ones off old/free extensions they only bend at worst! Having said that I never broke a carbon one but know those who have, and North stop making them for that reason!
h.?The tack of your sails may be like an Ezzy with an extra tack strap or too low and tight, to use the lever easily, so you may not gain by using a XT
i.?I know a few smaller wives young and old who love them (no big crank handles or rope pulling bars), but their husbands who get the ???benefits??? look after the condition of the XTs.

Having said all this I still like them for the reasons I said at the beginning but like Marmite (sorry Vegimite) you either love it or hate it!

Broomstick, 2 holes in it.
Done.

no gadgets that cost twice the price and fill up with sand.

Select to expand quote

Mark _australia said..

Broomstick, 2 holes in it.
Done.

no gadgets that cost twice the price and fill up with sand.

This is by far the coolest gadget I have for downhauling

www.mauihookup.com/