trying to sort some gear for surf and free-ride after break from sailboarding.
is it a matter of ultimately you will want carbon - so might as well stump up for it now
or will alloy do for a long time ?
Durability and stiffness is why you buy carbon. However carbon booms are very expensive so depends on your budget. Rider weight is critical, if you are on the larger gentleman side, you will go through alloy booms too quickly if you sail with big sails, this is where carbon booms have their greatest advantage = large booms for large sails for large men
do you want a long time boom or a hack .
i paid the carbon price after stuffing many alloys on my big sails
its now on its 8 th year and still going strong .they where only $850 then .
it hurt ,but never regretted it ...i don't like washing my alloy gear ..so another bonus for carbon .
the new alloys are better than 10 year ago ...pro limit sell a hybrid ,,,carbon arms alloy rear .
which is a bit cheaper ..i have one of those too .its almost as good as full carbon ..check those out.
It also depends what size you're talking about. A good quality 150-200 ally boom can last for years and feel as stiff as carbon. I got about 5 years each out of a North and then the Aeron I replaced it with. Both eventually broke at the harness lines. If you regularly use >200cm then carbon for sure, It's easy to feel the difference.
The weight is a big factor too.
My Maui 170-220 wave carbon boom on my digital scales including lines comes in at only 2.7kg.
The larger 190-240 Maui carbon feels so heavy. I cannot enjoy my sailing with it as my arms start to ache in a short time!
I used a alloy boom last week after forgetting to bring my boom down and it worked great.
It had a rock solid modern front end and the whole boom felt very stiff. It did feel somewhat heavier though.
Also,I much prefer a boom that is very narrow. They feel faster for top end.
And if you sail offshore a long way the durability of carbon is an asset. I learned the hard way. 
Select to expand quoteShifu said..
And if you sail offshore a long way the durability of carbon is an asset. I learned the hard way.
^^^^ Yep, I got towed in by a boat a couple of weeks ago when my mast went through the tip of the sail. That wasn't very enjoyable. 
The following week my boom broke at the head ( fortunately my friend was using it 
), that could have been another long swim. The boom looked in good condition and it was used for my sails 4.7 to 6.2m, I'm around 82kg.
I decided to replace it with a carbon boom, even though it's not often used, just to minimise risk
My large sail boom boom is carbon 12 + years and going strong ( hope I haven't jinxed myself). I plan to also replace my mid size boom even though it looks pretty good atm, again just to minimise the chance of another swim.
^^^
I agree it seems that dollar for dollar they are about the same , 3 to 1 ratio of cost and life. I hate swimming , After bending two ally booms I'm now a carbon sort of guy . The wife understands its a safety thing 
Same for the uni joint and quiver of new sails 
Select to expand quoteShifu said..
There is nothing safer than a new set of sails.
And a new board. Because boards are subject to wear and tear and can snap in half spontaneously if over a year old.
Ive also heard that if one doesn't have enough fins in the box of bits to keep themselves cool they can spontaneously combust.
Could take out the whole garage.
Lucky we take safety seriously .
Select to expand quoteShifu said..
There is nothing safer than a new set of sails.
That's because the wind doesn't blow for months after they are delivered
normster: if you are using modern wave sails, a carbon boom is a must due to the stiffness that wave sails need. If you use an aluminum boom, the centre of effort of the sail will constantly change (back handed one second, then front handed the next etc) as the boom is flexed by the ride.
Select to expand quotejn1 said..
normster: if you are using modern wave sails, a carbon boom is a must due to the stiffness that wave sails need. If you use an aluminum boom, the centre of effort of the sail will constantly change (back handed one second, then front handed the next etc) as the boom is flexed by the ride.
amen to that ...^^my no cam cheetah s feel a lot nicer with a carbon boom ...especially when sailing overpowered ..going for that top speed ,
Select to expand quotejn1 said..
normster: if you are using modern wave sails, a carbon boom is a must due to the stiffness that wave sails need. If you use an aluminum boom, the centre of effort of the sail will constantly change (back handed one second, then front handed the next etc) as the boom is flexed by the ride.
+100. You notice this when you go from carbon to aluminium. Last year I was using aluminum booms at a hire centre on holiday. I'm not an expert by any means, but the first thing I noticed was that the boom felt like a wet noodle on a 5.6 sail.
(Ditto for super light 100% carbon rigs. You notice the difference when you go back to a heavier rig.)
One hooked in catapult and that alloy boom can get bent.... I went through 2 alloy booms in a short period this way, back in 2009, carbon severne wave booms since then, had 2 of them and the first one (my girlfriend now has) still going strong! Not expensive when they last that long! I'm still doing the big hooked in catapults too!!
Select to expand quoteStuthepirate said..
Sometimes it doesn't matter
Is that a full carbon boom?
A few years ago I had a NP X6, which is an alloy boom, with carbon tailpiece. The aluminium flexes and fatigues the same as all alloy booms, and when that lets go the tailpiece snaps instantly. The carbon really doesn't add much to those booms.
Select to expand quoteFormulaNova said..Stuthepirate said..
Sometimes it doesn't matter
Is that a full carbon boom?
A few years ago I had a NP X6, which is an alloy boom, with carbon tailpiece. The aluminium flexes and fatigues the same as all alloy booms, and when that lets go the tailpiece snaps instantly. The carbon really doesn't add much to those booms.
Full Carbon
in the booms defense, i did have it at near full extension on a 7.7 in 20+ knts at full speed on a downhill slalom course.
Stu. How to turn a monocoque boom into a 4 piece
I broke the tail on my 2-11 boom last month. Luckily a mate donated an old Neil Pryde carbon tail that fitted exactly, so it's spare boom now.
Select to expand quoteStuthepirate said..
in the booms defense, i did have it at near full extension on a 7.7 in 20+ knts at full speed on a downhill slalom course.
I heard the stack was epic though Stu, wish I was there to see it. Well done, glad you're ok.
Select to expand quotejn1 said..
normster: if you are using modern wave sails, a carbon boom is a must due to the stiffness that wave sails need. If you use an aluminum boom, the centre of effort of the sail will constantly change (back handed one second, then front handed the next etc) as the boom is flexed by the ride.
"new sails" have reached a point in design technology where stability is tantamount. An alloy boom compared to a carbon boom will have a negligible affect on the centre of effort if the sail is:
1) Rigged on the appropriate mast.
2) Rigged for the conditions.
3) Not being used in conditions that exceed that size as recommended by most manufacturers.
Sure carbon is great but why not throw that $500 you saved on a 2nd hand freestyle board!
Select to expand quoteKukahi said..jn1 said..
normster: if you are using modern wave sails, a carbon boom is a must due to the stiffness that wave sails need. If you use an aluminum boom, the centre of effort of the sail will constantly change (back handed one second, then front handed the next etc) as the boom is flexed by the ride.
"new sails" have reached a point in design technology where stability is tantamount. An alloy boom compared to a carbon boom will have a negligible affect on the centre of effort if the sail is:
1) Rigged on the appropriate mast.
2) Rigged for the conditions.
3) Not being used in conditions that exceed that size as recommended by most manufacturers.
Sure carbon is great but why not throw that $500 you saved on a 2nd hand freestyle board!
You have never used a proper carbon boom then...
It would be the same to say using using alloy vs carbon wheels on the latest carbon bike frame
Select to expand quoteKukahi said..
I agree with you for some freeride and cammed sails. Outhaul on these sails has less effect on COE than it does other sails. However, sails whose COE that are very sensitive to outhaul, a carbon boom is a must.
