G'day
I broke my boom and it is time for a new one.
Interested in opinions of what Booms are good vs great.
Does a continuous alloy / carbon front end offer an advantage over a joined construction ?
Thanks
Berowne
From here:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=54614
My booms normally last me a few years and the last couple failed as a result of corrosion where the arms are screwed or riveted to the head. One piece won't have this problem so it is an advantage in aluminium booms. Time will tell how long my new style Aeron lasts. Over a year so far..
100% carbon wave boom
Rigs sails from 4.2 to 6.2
93kg hanging off it... sometimes literally while being rag dolled in surf
4 years and still going strong.
You get what you pay for.
Will never return to aloy
my 2 cents
Kev
Paul Kelf definately knows what he's talking about. Snapped a brand new monocoque aluminium boom this afternoon and it hadn't once been put under crash conditions. First and last mono ali I'll be purchasing.
Sorry, no brand name as I don't want to be seen as one of those brand bashers. Actually I'll try to upgrade to said brand's mono carbon. First the warranty issue though.
I'm willing to name a brand.
Neil Pryde X9 full carbon boom (flame suit at the ready)
Check out the pix from the PWA, even the non Pryde sponsored slalom guys use em in droves.
Many wave sailors too.
My 145 to 195 wave is still going strong after 5 seasons, and it's had some punishing ( jumping in harness and wipeouts 
)
I know they are a bit $$$ these days, even at the current price, 5 seasons worth is under $200 a year.
Just picked up a new NP 160-220 X9 from WSS. It is great NP added 10cm to the adjustment.
Very happy, have been having increasing problems with booms not adjusting correctly. i guess everybody knows what it's like when you're stinging to get on the water and you're having boom 'issues'
. tested the new boom today and it is tres choice! It feels rock solid and it will do sails up to 8m, gotta love the new clue cut out thang.
If i had gone for one of these 10 years ago, I reckon I would have saved a bit when I look back and think how many booms I've bought over the years.
. tested the new boom today and it is tres choice! It feels rock solid and it will do sails up to 8m, gotta love the new clue cut out thang.
Has anybody tried the Loft Carbon Booms ??
I want a carbon boom, thinking
- unifibre
- Loft
- NP
Hi Haggar, Ive had my Loft Carbon 18 months now thats prob the longest Ive owned a boom for.
I certainly recommend carbon booms for sails >7.5
Yeah Rob, I really cant see myself buying a NP boom new, but at times there are some used ones around that have had little use, offcourse you cant be sure how they have been treated.
Has anybody got ant feedback on the KA Carbon 162 to 222 boom ?? Retails for
$690
The boom I broke was a Loft Alu 145 to 205. My other Loft boom is a Alu 205 to 265, so I will need two booms in time. A problem is also low stock at the mo and some vendors have changed their sizing to be smaller.
i've got KA carbon booms.
have the wide tail carbon boom in similar size to the one you are looking at plus a carbon wave.
like them. had them a long time now. only thing have had happen is a 2 pin arm clip needed replacing after a couple of years. i got some more no problems.
grab me next time i see you and i'll show you them.
Brought a Chinook full carbon in WA in 2000, sailed there for another 2 seasons and have sailed most waves around Aus since. Live in Qld now, not as consistant as WA for wind but good waves to work you just the same. Have only ever used this boom in the last 9yrs and have only just replace the adjustment pins last week ($40 from Stu Bell), I replace the ropes once a season and that's it. I've been through 5-6 masts and trashed 3-4 sails in the same period. I have an X6 as a spare, seems nice enough but the Chinook speaks for itself.
Go into debt and get full carbon Chinook from Stuart Bell in WA!!
Not sure haggar,
i bought it prob around 2005 or earlier before they started selling 60% and 100%.
Hey Gesty, whats the deal with the wide tail girls....ah I mean booms, is it just to prevent sail chafe on the arms ? I'm looking for a newie next month too.
seems they are stiffer. don't know why though.
also allows more draft in the sail without rubbing on the boom but for me it's about stiffies 
Had an interesting chat with Paul at Hydrodynamix on the weekend:
It seems that some so-called 'monocoque' carbon booms are anything but. The straight sections in the arm are tube section that is made separately to the rounded part. So a cheap carbon boom is actually made in three parts -- the front rounded section, and the two straight ends, which are joined together. If you know where to look you can see the join underneath the grip. Both my carbon booms are of this construction
Apparently the more expensive carbon booms are made in a true monocoque process, so it's perhaps stronger. I think that the Pryde X9 is made this way. Certainly the X9's seem popular with the PWA crew... I guess the proof is in the breaking, or more importantly, the not breaking.
That is useful info Nebs, I generally am happy to pay more for a product when you get a better product by doing so rather than making a biger profit for the vendor. Any problems apparent with your non monocoque carbon booms?
The only 1 think I feel to tell to anyone going to purchase a new boom is, be sure to have a good look to a Maui Sails carbon boom before.
I ended up getting an 160 to 210 X9 as there is so much good feedback about them, and I got such a good price from SCS. Cant wait to use
hmm, i doubt the pwa guys use a particular boom because it does or doesn't break. they would use a boom which is the stiffest.
in my experience pros don't really care to much about breakage up until they break everything.
i looked into the wide tail thingo, you will find that most wide tail booms are mono. it's the narrow tail ones where the joints occur,
monocoque is usually wide tail and is stiffer.
typically that is.
