When I get the spare cash I've been meaning to change my mast and 45cm extension to a skinny. It's a big extention I know but I can currently rig 4 sails from a 6.2 down to a 4.5 on the same boom and mast and have never had any damage to the extention or mast in that area (broken a few masts at boom and top area in shore break or very overpowered conditions, but appears unrelated to extention).

The obvious advantage for me is ease of rigging/de-rigging, not having to crinkle the sail so much which always makes me cringe. So with a skinny 430 and 45cm ext. can I expect more or less strength? What other advantages/disadvantages are there?

Thanks.

Seems a number of people have broken skinny extensions
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=52089
lots of opinions here
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=45982
I have the aeron ally rdm and it seems tough but have only used it on small extension.

Hmm something to think about. Thanks for the info Lao Shi.

I use a Chinook 45cm carbon skinny extension up to 28cm so there is plenty of left over in the mast (Powerex skinny). I would probably not go beyond the 30cm mark with this set up though. Aluminum extensions are certainly popular but a picked up a few that have been significantly heavier that the carbon one I use.

Not attempted to highjack the thread but what;s the opinions re euro pin or USA cup on the mast base. Strong?, Good Fit?

cheers

Thanks Tim, given me a little to think over. On my biggest sail I need up to 34cm extension. I've had zero trouble with the standard extension even using that size sail the most but sounds like I may be pushing it with a skinny.

I'll give it some thought since I'm in no hurry.

Tim I changed to euro pin a few years ago after a decade of only using chinook cups. I love the euro pin, have not had any issues at all with it, works great even in sandy/muddy conditions, fits well, & easier to connect when changing something on the water. The system seems strong enough, I haven't seen any failures although some models a few years ago were prone to some failure but apparently this was rectified.

Leman - skinny masts are sweet, are stronger, sails are now designed for these

I've bent cheap skinny extensions, but I wasn't using them in a skinny at the time, so don't listen to my previous thread comments. I've since cut them down and they work fine (i've go multiple sized skinny extensions now - awesome for minimal extension to bugger up mast curve - not that it really matters with my skill level but...)

Make sure you have at least like 18cm of extension in a skinny but, otherwise bad for the mast

Leman,

I'd also definitely endorse skinny masts. Really reliable, easy to rig, and I reckon the sails set better too. I've been using them for many years now, but am still using my regular sized Chinook extension. The mast fits inside the extension, and it seems to work very well. I too have seen quite a few skinny extensions go pear shaped-ali ones bent, while Corey has managed to snap at least 2 carbon ones right at the base. On that basis I've just stuck with the standard extensions I already had.

Cheers, Jens

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Jens said...

Leman,

I'd also definitely endorse skinny masts. Really reliable, easy to rig, and I reckon the sails set better too. I've been using them for many years now, but am still using my regular sized Chinook extension. The mast fits inside the extension, and it seems to work very well. I too have seen quite a few skinny extensions go pear shaped-ali ones bent, while Corey has managed to snap at least 2 carbon ones right at the base. On that basis I've just stuck with the standard extensions I already had.

Cheers, Jens

So a skinny mast fits quite well in a SDM mast extension without any issues? Is the Chinook extension the pin and collar variety?

I am new to carbon skinny masts and carbon extentions and i havent broken one.... yet.
Sorry to add a question too but my aeron carbon skinny extention is 'sloppy' in the mast. Is there a reason for this and is everyone elses the same?
i thought this might help to make your decision too Leman.
cheers

You can use a skinny mast in a standard extension if you are worried about the strength/weight of skinny extensions. The mast fits inside the extension. You need a plastic cone that sits between the bottom of the mast and the collar pin(s) on the extension. I think the cones come from Ezzy?

Yep-standard Chinnok extention with a rubber (not plastic) volcano bung at the bottom. The only issue is that there is some wear on the mast at the pivot point on the exit of the tube. Basically you wear small grooves into the mast. However, I've been doing this for about 7 years, and I'm still using the original Ezzy masts, so I guess its cosmetic rather than structural.

Cheers, Jens

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Jens said...

Leman,

'The mast fits inside the extension, and it seems to work very well.'
Cheers, Jens

Seen a few posts in this topic with the above mentioned reference, but won't someone please tell me how you 'fit the mast inside the extension' (surely it's the other way around in the 'real world'?).

Are you guys actually talking about the SDM mast base cup (on top of the universal) fitting into the RDM extension? I went shopping for a new extension last week and noticed that the mast base cup for an SDM extension (Chinook/Streamlined) also fits into an RDM extension (same diameter at base of extension) which is handy to know.

GazMan,

It's pretty straightforward really. You have to buy a pin and collar arrangement for the std Chinnok mast extension which replaces the earlier mechanism for changing the mast length. Adjustments are made by selecting the appropriate hole for your pin, which goes all the way through the extension. Then you slip the collar over the protruding pin to fix it in place. To insert the skinny mast, take the top cover off the extension and slide it in. The base of the mast has to be protected by a rubber volacano bung which sits on your new pin.

Cheers, Jens

Jens,

Would it be possible for you to take some pics of the setup (i.e. RDM mast fitting inside SDM extension) and post them here so I can see what you're talking about?