RDM and Cam Sails

jingebritsen · Joined: 21 Aug 2002 Posts: 3371

naish had an rdm specific cam sail about a decade ago. it had a lot of luff curve. when a mast is bent that much, it becomes much more stable. does not matter what type it is.

i suspect the rdm will not match your sail. indeed, the cams may not stay attached.

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

As a long dedicated Wingwing customer, I have a late 2006 8.3 Hammer that I chose to use less the two cambers, but with the Gulftech 490cm RDM. The sail mast combination works quite well in light wind conditions. Even powered up a bit, the power and balance is very good.

I was undecided between going with a SDM or a RDM, but based on recommendations from Windwing's pro at the time, Devin B., I got a good heads-up on RDM. I have to admit though that John Chao gave me an excellent price on the mast when I bought the sail.

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

Yup, Bill H. recommended I use RDM on the '93 Race sails on up.

jingebritsen · Joined: 21 Aug 2002 Posts: 3371

if i remember correctly, wind wing sails have lotsa luff curve.

dllee · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 5329 Location: East Bay

2003 and newer, after the split, more luff curve.
Pre '03, normal luff curve but designed for big riders, so RDM worked well for everyone including Devon at 215 lbs then.

swchandler · Joined: 08 Nov 1993 Posts: 10588

Actually, it depends on what years you are talking about. I found that Bill Hanson overdid the luft curve only for a year or two, and only for a couple of models. I still have one of those sails, a 2004-5 6.3 Hammer which is a bear to rig well, and it's incredibly mast sensitive. I had a similarly sized 2003-4 Bash model that was even worse, a truly terrible design. Overall though, through the 20+ years I've owned Windwings, most were outstanding sails, and many are still a part of my sail quiver today.