Today was a lovely day down here in Melbourne, so i thought what a wonderful day to go sailing... 25+ kts Northerly Wind, flat and choppy waters, kinda messy!
ANYWAY!
Screaming along (probably) breaking the windsurf speed record on my wave gear 
and all of a sudden the wind takes the rig a little forward, i lose control of it, and its over in a milly second!! over the front WIPEOUT!
After laying on my board for a couple of minutes getting my breath back, i look at my gear for the damage report... board. Fine, Sail. Fine, boom.BENT!
Ahh well it was going to happen eventually!
ANYWAY!
My question to the windsurfing community is!
What is the best type of Ali Boom available?
Must include.
--Cheapness 
--Available to buy over the net
--Not NP or North.
People have spoken about technolimits etc but can you buy these over the net??
Thanks fellas! 
hi sflack,
The best kind of aloy boom has to be the ones made out of ergal aluminuim, its the strongest alloy, and it cant be stiffer/stronger than the cheeper carbon booms,
I use tecnolimits ergal King, its brilliant, had alot of hard treatment, been over extended, and anything els you can think of, and still going great!
but as oyu said not that available over the net. and also not the cheapest either, 
if you contact windshack they may be able to send interstate, but not too sure.
just look out for ergal alloy, i dont know anyone but technolimits who use it, But i dont know that much anyway.
check out windshack though http://windshack.com/products.php?cat=windsurfing&scat=7&id=53 (scroll down to 100% ergal)
good luck
Mate, I am very happy with the Chinook's I am using at the moment. I have bought mine though SouthSide Sailboards in Sydney and had them shipped to me. All worked out well.
I have also used the prolimit new style alloy booms (what ever you call that odd shape) and it felt really good.
I did exactly the same thing as you to a brand new, first day out Gaastra boom.
Hey Stephen,
MauiSails make about the best alloy boom on the market.
Very stiff for an alloy boom, articulating head, really smooth adjustment and above all, a very comfortable boom to sail with.
The head itself is identical to the one they use on their carbon booms, which has a 20% wider grip on the mast than other brands which means less clamping pressure and less point loading on the mast.
If you don't want to spend the extra $ on a MauiSails carbon boom (which are the best on the market) then the alloy version is a great choice.
Yes, I do ride for MauiSails... because its awesome gear!
Email boardshop@glascraft.com.au for more info or to order.
Cheers,
Muzza
Putting the wetty back on was a bit hard, glad it was 25 c , now is the perfect opportunity for you to go the Z boom!! I know a bloke who has one and is injured, he might lend it to you and if you bend it he wont be able to tell 
Aeron Continuous ALY wave !!
very stiff
cheap
can probably buy over the net
very sturdy clamp
Cons,
if you bend this one you cant just replace one arm ,
it has a 1 piece monocoque arm's
I'm with Maverick, the Aeron continuos alloy booms are awesome, the alloy is actually stiffer and lighter than the carbon version. and 1/4 the price.
It's because the whole boom is made from 2 pieces of alloy, the front of the boom is 1 piece and there is the tail piece, they heat treat them now as well after they are bent to shape, which makes them super stiff..
Think "09" are coming out in 2 versions a 26mm grip and a 29mm..
yep, i'm with maverick and pc....
been using the aeron continuous alloy for 2 seasons and with out a question of doubt the BEST alloy boom on the market... light, stiff, cheap and fits on to a skinny without having to use an adaptor.
prior to that i was using a NP x3 continuous alloy , nearly as good - bit heavier and clamp system not as good.
lost count of the number of 2piece booms i have snapped that are bolted to the clamp..these were all the best brands and their toughest models...they ALWAYS break for me around the bolt., and normally a couple of months out of warranty.
never broke a continuous one, in fact i've yet to hear of one breaking at all!! (sure someone will tell me now).
i snapped my NP X3 one so thats why i wanna get rid of them...
Question. Just say im screaming along and stack still in harness, over the front! will any boom bend??? No matter how good they are?
Also, what would happen if i did that with a carbon??
Cheers guys!
Flacky:
Any alloy will eventually weaken due to some corrosion. However, as I said in the P.M I've had a Chinook for 4 years in waves with no damage.
Using that boom I broke 3 masts and trashed sails plus few hard catapaults. It is still fine.
I dunno why people spend $1K on a carbon when a $350 Chinook is fine for 3 - 4 yrs hard hard use. 3 x Chinooks = one carbon (costwise) and I don't know anyone who has thrashed a carbon for 10 yrs and it is still OK!
Just in case it is corroded inside where I can't see it, I bought a new Tecnolimits boom.
My order would be
(1) Tecnolimits Ergal (King)
(2) Chinook / Hydrodynamix equal second
(3) Aeron (only cos others rave about them, I have no experience)
(4) to (20) lots of other booms
and wway down the list NP, for the reason you mentioned
I've had an amex ergal wave for the last 18 months and it's been so much better than the crappy X3 that I had. Can't recommend it highly enough - I've given it as much of a spanking as I can and it's come up tops
How much difference would an intermediate sailor (70kgs) feel between something like an Aeron/Technolimits/Hydrodynamix AND a Gun /Loft boom (in alu) on a 100% rdm (if this matters)?
Worth the extra cost?
For flatwater freeride (sails 5-8m) and beginning wavesailing (sails 4.7-6.5m)
