Yes, news is that though they have been "in production" for months now, I am no longer promising a date for delivery. I will announce when they are in though!

Whoa, so, Jeff, what are we lookin' at here?

Alloy cups (interesting), alu shafts, what are the slots at the top?
What I see here doesn't look like Ti, so I presume that is not the case...and I assume they're available in Europin?

Hi Jeff,

which material is used for the composite one ?

Hi,

How are the carbon and titanium extensions compared in weight? Which is the main reason to buy a titanium extension against a carbon one ocean alloy?

Thanks to clarify me this point.

I will post exact weights shortly, but Titanium is the lightest. Titanium is "laser" etched so markings will NEVER fade away.
Carbon is STIFFER. Serious racers would probably want Carbon over Titanium when extended over 25cm.

Jeff,

Which one is the strongest? I now know of a few skinny extensions (the old design that had an SDM base) that have broken (one while I was using it, though it was my buddy's base) and I'm increasingly wary of that design. To my knowledge, the manufacturers all covered them under warranty. I also am changing over to Euro-Pin, and so have a few reasons to change out my bases.

I presume the Alu or Ti is strongest (highest breaking strength)? If we could know not only the weight but relative strength, that would be really helpful.

The answer depends on who you ask at HSM and if it is on or off the record. My conclusion, which is not based on real experience (yet), is like the proverbial question of whether the oak tree or the willow is "stronger". I know some sailors who do not sail hi carbon masts because they believe that a lower carbon mast can absorb more impact energy and is therefore less likely to break even though it is not as "strong".

I will probably go for the titanium, but apparently the new composite has even more energy absorbing capacity so may be even less likely to break even though it is not as "strong" as the titanium.

Another way that I am looking at my gear now is the more my gear "gives" the less load on my brittle body.

I think toooldtodance has the answer. Either that or just go sailing.

Aloha,

How about availability for Germany?

tooold

Well, the construction (i.e., wall thickness, composite layup patterns, etc.) is as much a factor as the materials intrinsic properties. So we still need more info from Jeff. Corrosion is the least of my particular concerns, since I mostly sail fresh water and see to it that my stuff dries out. The only corrosion-related failures I've had were boom heads, which I mistrust greatly. The continuous tube designs, like the Playmate, reduce the likelihood of this, though water does get up inside the tube (which is probably the worst thing since that doesn't dry out and the corrosion isn't visible).

Dolf

In this case, I was referring to breaking strength. If the alu, for instance, is more likely to bend but not break apart (fracture into two pieces), I might well be inclined for that in wave conditions since my venues for waves are in shallows where a fall in breaking waves can put the gear at risk (broke one mast that way, and one carbon extension....well, actually the carbon extension just broke when I was standing in the shallows and the remnants of a wave washed over the board). To me, the real questions here are about the merits of the Ti and the fiberglass/aramid composite, which are new. And I'm with you on the bending thing...

OOOH

Aw, well, forget it then!

Hmm. Well, then, maybe. OK, yes!

Too bad HSM can't sell them with sail stickers like Intel does computers. You know "HSM Ti EXTENSION INSIDE", with the little arrow....

Yup. they EXIST!!! 3 years in the making OMG.

Enjoy!