More carbon please

100% mast - responds better to gusts and chop, easier to pump. Carbon boom - after using one aluminium booms feel like wet noodles.

I found the difference between 30% carbon masts and 60-65% masts very pronounced, but the difference to 90+ % less so. Carbon booms: yes, you never go back.

1. Probably, but I'm slow.
2. Yes.
3. Yes.
4. No.
5. Yes. Big difference from 30% + alu to 75% or more and carbon boom.

Hi MarkSSC, I'm in the very competent beginner category in terms of ability and equipment experience. I bought my first carbon boom a few months back. Don't believe anyone who says they don't break when you crash, they do. I turned my first one into 5 pieces with a very big crash and am now on my second one which is going great guns but I haven't had a massive crash yet. They are stiff which means that the sail doesn't change shape with load on the boom so they make the feel of your rig very consistent and you get very quick feedback from your rig because flex is minimized. For small sails with shorter boom lengths it doesn't feel like there's much difference, but for longer boom lengths you'll never go back. The equal best feature is no maintenance, it's a polymer so no corrosion, just chuck it back in the shed ready for next time. Going to carbon booms was one of my better investments, but I never really had a high quality aluminium alloy one either.

I gadually updgraded to a mix of 60% and 100% masts and mainly carbon booms. Well worth it.

1. Biggest improvements were carbon boom on 7m+ sails and 100% C on 490 mast. Planed ~5knts earlier/used ~1m2 less sail area. On Freeride sails <6m2 the 60% Carbon mast was much better than 30%, but was hard to notice 100% C vs 60% C, and my favourite boom is still an X3 alloy below 180cm as it is lighter and stiff enough. (However, improved performance was also more noticeable from 100% carbon on smaller sails in very rough bump and jump conditions as stiffness of 100% carbon mast recovered sail shape faster)

2. Much better handling on all sails due to lower mast swing weight. Transforms gybing 7m+ sails and easier to recover from gybe errors on all size sails. All sails feel more comfortable in gusts with at least 60% mast (and carbon boom in +7m2) up to 430 and 100% 460 and above)

3. In freeride sailing, mast swing weight noticeably lower on 60% carbon at all lengths. 100% noticeably better again in 460 and larger, but marginal at 430 and shorter. (In bump and jump lower swing weight was noticeable and worth it on all sizes)

4. SDM 100% Carbon feels fragile compared to 60% so rigging is a bit more careful/slow to avoid dropping mast. No difference in rigging carbon RDMs as they feel robust

5. Since upgrading I use smaller sails for the same wind, so get less fatigued and sail for longer. This is my main motivation for spending the money on carbon.

Rigging range/wind range per sail is more affected by sail/mast bend compatibility. My X3, X6 and X9 masts are all Neil pryde as are my sails, yet each rigs slightly differently on the same sail.

I get greater wind range by varying fin length (and changing boards if that's an option for you) while keeping the same sail. Makes for faster changes when the wind changes strength.

carbon boom : less swimming

Carbon Booms:

1. How much does it improve overall speed and performance? Not at all for shorter booms. Significant for longer booms, say 6.6m and upwards
2. Does it make handling any easier, especially through the gybe? Not because of weight as they are usually almost the same. Yes for larger sail stability by reducing flex and change of boom length. No for small sails, even maxed out 5.0m-5.4m speed sails.
3. Do you notice the slight difference in weight? No. There is usually NO or insignificant difference in weight in most brands between a good quality alloy and most carbon booms.
4. Any rigging improvements? Yes with bigger sails as they hold the length and shape a little better.
5. Does it improve the wind range of each sail? Yes with bigger sails.
6. Will you get greater hang time in the air after a high speed catapult (just joking) No, you will slam into the water harder as your rig catches the water if you booms don't break and let you fly. But seriously, I usually use alloy booms on my small speed sails on epic days BECAUSE they WILL break! I have had some serious hurt with a catapult at 40-45 knots when the rig hits the water like a giant sea anchor and stops dead. Something has to give or your body also suffers massive deceleration pain. Since alloy booms are very cheap, I prefer it if they break and not my body or my expensive carbon mast. If the boom does not break you have to hope the harness lines break. If not the harness will be torn apart, and the force required to do that hurts a LOT! In a really big stack, all the hardware above is totalled! Better than my body!

Carbon Masts

1. How much does it improve overall speed and performance? Slightly, related to easier handling, higher weight. see 2 below.
2. Does it make handling any easier, especially through the gybe? Yes, because they are lighter.
3. Do you notice the slight difference in weight? Yes, sometimes, quite a bit, especially with larger sails.
4. Any rigging improvements? No, not if the heaver mast has the correct stiffness and bend curve.
5. Does it improve the wind range of each sail? No, not if the heaver mast has the correct stiffness and bend curve, except that with a lighter rig you may have slightly less fatigue.
6. Will you get greater hang time in the air after a high speed catapult (just joking)

Extra notes from extensive experience with many different masts:

For SDM masts, the difference between 70-75% Carbon and 100% is not that much in weight in most brands. There is high difference between 30% and 70%!
In SDM masts, I am usually wary of 100%C masts and prefer to use 75-80% of I can. The difference in weight is minimal and the increase in longevity and crash resistance is significant. 100% Carbon mast have very thin walls and can be very brittle. That can get damaged from a seemingly innocent knock and then suddenly snap with no warning later with seemingly little provocation when just sailing along.
That said, I do have and use a couple of longer 100%C SDM masts in my largest sails (460 and 520) and I that them like glass when transporting, handling and rigging.

For RDM masts, 100% is very definitely worth it. They are almost unbreakable, and they are significantly lighter and crisper handling than 60% or 80% RDM's. They work best in sails from 6.6m and down. In larger sails, RDM's can be significantly heavier and have more flex = lost power. Personally, I much prefer SDM's in sails from 7m and up, but some sailors like them up to 7.5m in certain sail models.

Have just invested in 2nd hand carbon boom for same price as a quality new Ali. Definitely improves stability and wind range of my 6.6 twin cam. I did find the lack of flex causing a little fatigue in the hands but trying to relax my grip I hope will help. It is quite jarring in chop too.
Masts have been on 92% carbon RDM for a decade now. Definitely a huge improvement but is has meant I am limited to one sail manufacturer who no longer has an NZ agent.