Just wondering if carbon is worth the extra dollars. Never used one and understand they're lighter, but other than that are there any benefits worth the additional $500+ for carbon? I'm in the market for a new boom and wondering which way to go.
I bought a used carbon boom and really liked the perceived difference. You should do the same - for instance someone is selling a NP X9 for $60, www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Sails/~tx71m/North-Pyro-3D-6-metre.aspx?search=2eFvHElczvBOMXXc6Z1OMw==
Weight was the least reason I choose to go carbon.
The main reasons I choose Carbon over Alu was stiffness and reliability.
Hi Nigel,
Carbon is not really lighter. But far more reliable. And stiffer while sailing.
It depends how much you like swinming with your gear 
Broke my last alloy boom 4 years ago, a few km out at sea....was lucky enough to be able to turn it around, but it took me ages to re-attach it and sail back very slowly....
Bought an AL 360, never looked back, even got another one !!
Interesting... so how are they more reliable? What's typically the point of failure with alu boom?
Not only are they stiffer but I being a big bloke alloy booms just bend when am really powered up that's why they call me Boombuster.
Okay, I think I'm sold (pun) on the carbon boom. Looking at a Gun Sails 160-220, which covers my 5m to 8m sail range. Justin (windsurfing religion) has them for $900... any experiences with the Gun Sails booms? I'd love the Chinook, but it's definitely out of my price range.
Select to expand quoteMrSpinout said..
I bought a used carbon boom and really liked the perceived difference. You should do the same - for instance someone is selling a NP X9 for $60, www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing-Sails/~tx71m/North-Pyro-3D-6-metre.aspx?search=2eFvHElczvBOMXXc6Z1OMw==
Sounds like a great deal, but I'm after a 160-220. My smallest sail is 5m, so I want one boom to cover my entire sail range (up to 220). I guess fully extended isn't ideal though, is it?
J have an X9 180-230 and sometimes I use it on a 8.6. Its pretty much full length and no problems with flex etc.
Carbon for sure.
Alloy booms will corrode over time. It is inevitable even if you are very thorough about drying out gear.
Some components of carbon booms will degrade over time but not the arms themselves and those components can be replaced.
That said, alloy tends to bend rather than break which may allow you to get back in to the shore, and carbon tends to shatter and become completely unusable.
Select to expand quoteN1GEL said...
Okay, I think I'm sold (pun) on the carbon boom. Looking at a Gun Sails 160-220, which covers my 5m to 8m sail range. Justin (windsurfing religion) has them for $900... any experiences with the Gun Sails booms? I'd love the Chinook, but it's definitely out of my price range.
Being German I bought all my rig components from gun when I used to live there: mast extensions, booms, masts, harness lines etc. No complaints. I would not know what would make a Chinook any better than a gun boom. Go for it.
My experience....
Carbon is nicer, aluminium is cheaper.
The carbon one, broke next to the boom head, just as the aluminum one before it.
When I was confronted with the cost of new carbon boom, I bought a Chinook alloy.
After two years, never washed and yet, there is no aluminium rust on it at all.
Very happy with it, and will buy one again.
Having said that, I'm not a performance sailor.
^^^ +1. At 110kegs, the Chinook alloy boom has lasted longer than any boom I've ever owned (although prob got the least use!). As a quality boom - I could buy nearly 3 for the price of 1 good quality carbon boom.
Select to expand quoteSailhack said..
^^^ +1. At 110kegs, the Chinook alloy boom has lasted longer than any boom I've ever owned (although prob got the least use!). As a quality boom - I could buy nearly 3 for the price of 1 good quality carbon boom.
Interesting feedback on the Chinook. That's what I've currently got and it's been a top boom for the past 2 years and going strong. I just need a slightly longer one. Hmmm... decisions, decisions.
Hi Nigel, Carbon definitely worth getting if you want the best out of your slalom sails especially in the bigger sail sizes 7+.
I've just gone through the same process, folded and got an Enigma. Best bit of gear I have. sailed it for the first time on the weekend and love it. It's the smaller diameter in my opinion that makes them sail so nice, and it should last me years.
The Chinook carbon boom has an interesting situation regarding wear.
The arms will last almost forever, but the boom head will become very wobbly where the boom body passes thru it, and trying to get the boom head off to fix it, or replace it, is so far a mystery among us. None of us as yet has attempted to contact Chinook, I don't have one so it's not my deal, but it is with several friends who have that boom, with that condition. If the head can't come off for a fix or replacement, then what good is the carbon body?
Select to expand quoteMastbender said..
The Chinook carbon boom has an interesting situation regarding wear.
The arms will last almost forever, but the boom head will become very wobbly where the boom body passes thru it, and trying to get the boom head off to fix it, or replace it, is so far a mystery among us. None of us as yet has attempted to contact Chinook, I don't have one so it's not my deal, but it is with several friends who have that boom, with that condition. If the head can't come off for a fix or replacement, then what good is the carbon body?
You can buy a new Chinook front end or retro-fit to a Maui front end easily, undo a couple of bolts and flex it off.
I've just had the boom grip replaced on my chinook carbon booms. Replaced the hardware, including new boom heads and had no worries at all with them. Brand new booms for a quarter of the price.
The gentleman that replaced the grip suggested that if I removed the old grip, it would cost about half the price as removal is the most time consuming part of the job.
I've had the chinooks for about three years and expect at least another 3 before I redo the grips, depending on how many times the fin ends up cutting into the grip after an unplanned excursion
