Have seen some reasonably priced RDM's and wondering just how many benefits there in in going to RDM????

Anyone made the move, and how did you find it?

Cheers.

K

The thing that surprised me was the handling. The way they fit into your hand better when moving the rig (esp water starting) Lighter too I think. Matched up with the correct sail they feel great in bump and jump conditions. Much smoother and easier to use, a more comfortable ride.

I have broken less RDM masts than SDM, make of that what you will. I also find them easier to get out of the luff sleeve at the end of a sail.

I do however find that my rig seems to sink faster than it did with an SDM, or at least not ris to the surface as easily after being creamed by a wave... could the extra air volume of the SDM mast have helped with that??? dunno. Could just be me...

It seems most sail brands now recommend a RDM for all their sails except the big race sails.

RDM :
tougher
easier to rig
lightness "sensation" though being heavier
comfort
better handling/easy to grab
flex is lower on the mast
less drag

SDM :
More power on bottom end
Stability
Acceleration
More Upwind
progressive power

Bigger breakage rate on sdm and gets worse when on 100% carbon

Information from october planche magazine #343

So unless you're a heavy slalom racer go for the RDM

Thanks for all the comments, really appreciated.

At what point did most sails become RDM-able? 2000?

I changed to a RDM 430 earlier this year for my 5.3 & 5.9 wave sails after breaking the 430 SDM I had previously used for a few years. Luckily I was not far off the beach when this happened.

The main thing I noticed with the RDM is it is easier to rig/derig than the SDM and it also gives me more confidence of it not breaking when in the waves.

But, when I rig the 2 sails to the recommended settings on the RDM both the sails seem to be layed-off more i.e. much looser in the leech than with the with the SDM.

Maybe this is because the RDM is "softer" than the SDM, even though it still has the same mast "specs/ratings".

If you are going to be in the waves, then I would get one.

I have a SDM for my larger slalom sails.

Select to expand quote

K Dog said...

Thanks for all the comments, really appreciated.

At what point did most sails become RDM-able? 2000?

Most wave and freestyle became RDM'able about early 2000's, most no-cam freeride sails were quite a bit later with the exception of Ezzy and then KA I guess they were about the earliest. Cammed sails were even later

The early 2000's wave and freestyle / crossover sails were often cut on an SDM but worked very well on an RDM .... but you still need to be conscious of bend curve.
What sail/s are you thinking of and what mast?

At one point on SDM's I broke at least one each summer in waves .... now 6yrs later using RDM's and have not broken a mast at all.
Having said that, there are masts and there are masts. I very much doubt one of the cheapo $400 RDM's will be as good as a $800 one. Never met anyone who has broken an Ezzy RDM. Some pro who busted numerous masts each season said a fe wyears back he could not break an Ezzy RDM (made by No Limitz and same as Powerex back then)

K Dog - I've converted to RDMs - for all the reasons above, although I've already snapped one, but managed to repair it using a previously broken SDM mast to sleeve it. In theory, all my sails will be suited to my masts within the next 2 years (coin pending!)

If you've got cammed sails, first check to see if the cams will rotate or fit to the RDM. I think some sail manufacturers sell interchangeable cams, but I decided to stick with my SDM on those days where I use my cammed sails.