myiW Current Conditions and Forecasts Community Forums Buy and Sell Services
 
Hi guest · myAccount · Log in
 SearchSearch   ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   RegisterRegister 
Gear Reviews Anyone?
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    iWindsurf Community Forum Index -> Windsurfing Discussion
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
U2U2U2



Joined: 06 Jul 2001
Posts: 5467
Location: Shipsterns Bluff, Tasmania. Colorado

PostPosted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 3:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

nw30 wrote:
I got another totally biased opinion.

Still using std. diameter masts, SNAP OUT OF IT!!!!!!!!!! (pun intended)
RDM's are the way to go, they are so worth the money.


I have used skinnys from 2000 or 01, in the van are 310 340 370 400 430 460 490 RDMs 2 SDMs 430/460

they work a treat IMO in smaller sizes, when I go to 460 + for the majority of my sailing a SDM 100% works better, the sails using 460/490 are obvious large and freeride, NOT wave sails. The larger sails to me benefit more from the SDM because of probably lighter weight, more flex esp in fully powered + conditions.

So my opinion is both have some advantage , so just as obvious , some will have disadvantage.

generally speaking the RDMs will be stronger , work better in lighter winds

in general the RDMs sink faster, depending on your hand shape ,you may be able to grip better, or not, because they are pointer than a fat mast, they could cause more deck damage on impact, and if hit your head will inflict more pain, good reason to wear a helmet.

_________________
K4 fins
4Boards....May the fours be with you

http://www.k4fins.com/fins.html
http://4boards.co.uk/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
U2U2U2



Joined: 06 Jul 2001
Posts: 5467
Location: Shipsterns Bluff, Tasmania. Colorado

PostPosted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 3:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

zirtaeb wrote:
Lots of examples of bias already, those guys knowing ONLY the gear they chose to use, not knowing every other brand of sails make about the same thing, or slightly worse, or slightly better, than their "cherished" brand.
Nobody can really say which sail brand is the best. The best is the one you use, of course. NP, North, Gaastra, Maui, Hot, Ezzy, Northwave, Sailworks, don't matter, it all works well.
Same with boards.
The PILOT matters.


I dare say some posters have tried/owned a few sails.
Sailworks, Ezzy, Northwave, Gaastra, Arrows, Aerotech, HotSails Maui,
Naish, NP, North come to mine that I have owned

of the current offerings available I would consider Goya, Simmer, Severne as well

I do agree that its not the arrow
its the Indian

a definition of the best brand would be interesting, what is the criteria? cheapest, best resale, more durable, lightest, most range, fastest, better lo end grunt, most color, most mast compatible with masts as NoLimitz,
ease of use, range, easy rigging, features

_________________
K4 fins
4Boards....May the fours be with you

http://www.k4fins.com/fins.html
http://4boards.co.uk/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
capetonian



Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 1196
Location: Florida

PostPosted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 3:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm in agreement with U2U2U2.

zirtaeb wrote:
Lots of examples of bias already, those guys knowing ONLY the gear they chose to use, not knowing every other brand of sails make about the same thing, or slightly worse, or slightly better, than their "cherished" brand.


Maybe some on here only sail one brand, but most of us switch brands from time to time. I currently only have Hot Sails Maui sails in my garage, but I only switched last year after trying a Firelight. Before that I changed brands from Ezzy to Gaastra to Maui Sails over a 5 year period.

With respect to boards I see even less reason to settle on a brand so I currently have boards from Fanatic, Starboard, Exocet, Quatro, RRD, and I have opinions on other brands too from renting waveboards on vacation. The oldest board is 6 years old, and 3 of them are less than 4 months old.

Yes, I have a severe windsurfing addiction, but at least it isn't hookers and coke.

Among my peers at my local beach I may be more of a gear head than most, but the majority of them have switched sail brands in the last 3 years.

zirtaeb wrote:
Nobody can really say which sail brand is the best. The best is the one you use, of course. NP, North, Gaastra, Maui, Hot, Ezzy, Northwave, Sailworks, don't matter, it all works well.
Same with boards.
The PILOT matters.


Most of us are capable of weeding out "my brand is better than your brand" and are rather looking for opinions on the characteristics of the sail or board reviewed.

I still think the original posters request was a reasonable one. What would you rather they do, take up knitting?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
isobars



Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 20935

PostPosted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 4:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

3-phase wrote:
The reason gear review often does not work is the bias of the tester as well of the Magazine / Web page. (aka you don't pay for ads your stuff will not be tested)

It's a shame if that mindset has dominated since Performance Windsurf Report left the industry >15 years ago. However, I've gotten some very good purchase pointers some years from many of the other sources since then.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
keycocker



Joined: 10 Jul 2005
Posts: 3598

PostPosted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 5:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There is no best brand. Individual sail lines can suit a location and personal sailing style better so that is the thing to look for in a revue.
I sail on Hot because of the Freaks.
The Ezzy wave sails work well for me also, but I mostly sailed Naish in my life.
I like almost no backhand, others don't mind it. Understanding these preferences in a review can lead you to a sail with the character you want.
No reviewer can filter these prefs out for you no matter the mag they are printed in.
I ran nearly the only windsurf retailer in Central America so I was often asked for an assessment of new lines for sale. I always started the opinion with an explanation of my own prejudices so they could understand why I preferred one sail over another.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
cgoudie1



Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 2597
Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove

PostPosted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 6:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It gets more expensive than hookers and coke though.


capetonian wrote:

Yes, I have a severe windsurfing addiction, but at least it isn't hookers and coke.

I still think the original posters request was a reasonable one.


So do I,

-Craig
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
adywind



Joined: 08 Jan 2012
Posts: 665

PostPosted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 7:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

nw30 wrote:
I got another totally biased opinion.

Still using std. diameter masts, SNAP OUT OF IT!!!!!!!!!! (pun intended)
RDM's are the way to go, they are so worth the money.

I'm std free and I love it Laughing
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
dllee



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 5328
Location: East Bay

PostPosted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 9:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Try going fast in 15-22mph winds with a RDM, and you'll get smoked by SDM's.
Going thru a rinse cycle with SDM is a bad idea, while most RDM's can handle.
And if you like to drop your sail while sailing, RDM for you. SDM's can break.
But if you're trying for speed performance, RDM's take a back seat...unless it's blowing steady 25.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
U2U2U2



Joined: 06 Jul 2001
Posts: 5467
Location: Shipsterns Bluff, Tasmania. Colorado

PostPosted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 11:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

zirtaeb wrote:
Try going fast in 15-22mph winds with a RDM, and you'll get smoked by SDM's.
Going thru a rinse cycle with SDM is a bad idea, while most RDM's can handle.
And if you like to drop your sail while sailing, RDM for you. SDM's can break.
But if you're trying for speed performance, RDM's take a back seat...unless it's blowing steady 25.


lets see, if I have a SDM and the speed is 15-22MPH I will be faster than a RDM masted sail........umm

RDMs will not break if dropped while SDMs 'can' break..umm

if speed performance is your forte then unless the wind is 25 steady the SDM will be faster...umm

OK Crying or Very sad got it

_________________
K4 fins
4Boards....May the fours be with you

http://www.k4fins.com/fins.html
http://4boards.co.uk/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
dllee



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 5328
Location: East Bay

PostPosted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 11:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Are you still braindead?
Like the mast base post?
15-22, if you want to go fast, you rig a 7 meter slalom sail.
Said sail don't rig on RDM, right?
RDM's have thicker wall, can resist impacts OK.
SDM's have thinner walls, think before you stuff your head into the sand!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    iWindsurf Community Forum Index -> Windsurfing Discussion All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5  Next
Page 3 of 5

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum

myiW | Weather | Community | Membership | Support | Log in
like us on facebook
© Copyright 1999-2007 WeatherFlow, Inc Contact Us Ad Marketplace

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group