Hi all,
I am looking at buying a smaller sail for my foiling quiver, which requires me to buy a new boom. I currently have a 6.7 Ezzy Hydra Sport (love it) with carbon boom. I am thinking to get the 4.7 Ezzy Hydra Sport, and by default I am looking at carbon booms. The boom range on the 4.7 is about 150-165.

Carbon boom cost about 2-3 times more than Alu. So I think it validates to ask the question: is a carbon boom a real necessity for foiling? Would alu not do a fine job (especially for such a small sail?

I ask because once up on the foil, the forces on the sail are completely different than when planing at full speed.
Any thoughts on this?

Carbon boom all day long for me! I bought a Hawaiian proline carbon boom 15 years ago, didn't use it that much for windsurfing buts it's my go to boom for foiling 4.0 to 5.8. Sails
super light, stiff and you'll break 3 aluminum booms while the carbon boom keeps on going.

I've had 2 carbon booms (North Platinum 190-250 and 140-190) break on me in 2 years, one was 4 years old, the other 3, although I estimate both had 200-300 sessions / over 1000 hours of use. Now I use alu for my wavesails since money ran out and its fine, the difference in stiffness is marginal, its just you dont want to catapult because the boom will become hoop shaped if you do that too often. I might buy another carbon boom just because of the bending if you crash tho...

Edit: They both broke right at the boomhead, NS / Duotone has since adjusted their boomhead design, so I think this failure is a lot less probable in the future.

I've have had bad luck with the streamlined booms both have failed in the same way. They crack then the only thing holding them from splitting in half is the boom head.

So stay away from North and Streamlined then

All carbon booms I have used, I have never had an issue after years/decade of abuse!
- Chinook
- Maui Sails
- Neil Pryde X9
- Hawaiian Proline (in pic below)

Seems if you wish your boom to last 3+ years, carbon is the choice.
But some alu booms last much longer than 3 years or 300+ days of use in salt water. Just can't count on it being yours.
And stress flexes all booms, possibly causing salt water incursion, possibly causing corrosion on the inside.
There probably is no ONE SURE answer.
I mostly use alu booms, but I don't stress them much, and they usually last longer than 200 days of use.
I have broken over 15 alu booms, but about as many carbon booms.

Chinook Carbon RDG for me. The smaller dia is really great in colder weather when you have gloves on. Boom is stiff and designed well. Great for pumping and getting up on the foil.

Looking to get a smaller range one. When I try out a standard dia boom now its really uncomfortable, LOL.

Note: Of course I am not doing loops.

I am still using several year old Fiberspar and HPL carbon booms with great results.

Not only is the light weight an advantage, but also the stiffness of carbon over aluminum is a really big advantage. Also, as long as the carbon has no contact with aluminum, it cannot corrode.

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MProject04 said..
Hi all,
I am looking at buying a smaller sail for my foiling quiver, which requires me to buy a new boom. I currently have a 6.7 Ezzy Hydra Sport (love it) with carbon boom. I am thinking to get the 4.7 Ezzy Hydra Sport, and by default I am looking at carbon booms. The boom range on the 4.7 is about 150-165.

Carbon boom cost about 2-3 times more than Alu. So I think it validates to ask the question: is a carbon boom a real necessity for foiling? Would alu not do a fine job (especially for such a small sail?

I ask because once up on the foil, the forces on the sail are completely different than when planing at full speed.
Any thoughts on this?

Nothing else to do after 3 weeks of isolation, so here's my useless opinion. A carbon boom is generally, lighter, stiffer, narrower in diameter, more durable and more expensive. For me it is a very worth piece of equipment to have. I have Severne Wave for anything less than 5.8 and the Freeride model for anything bigger (my biggest sail is a now never used 7.3). Very happy with them.

I would rather smash into a alloy boom while learning and bend it than smash into a carbon boom and bend my body Been using an alloy while learning use my carbon once worked out.

re: carbon

necessity? no.
luxury? yes

if they both cost the same, I don't think many would choose aluminum over carbon, so it really just comes down to cost and whether you want to spend the extra money. either way, not all aluminum and not all carbon booms are created equal... various different quality of materials, design, and parts and features.

My favorite boom is the Duotone Platinum Wave:
-the bend is my favorite and really good if you ride with a overhand front hand grip
-light and stiff
-wide tail end lets you bag out your sail a little more
-good plastic parts i.e. front end and adjustment clips... also the outhaul block is excellent
-available in standard and skinny grip sizes.
-back end is very light for reduced swing weight

Anyway, I've had good luck with these (I'm a retailer). I haven't had to warranty any, and my personal booms have held up great since I started using them in 2016... I'm about 90kg and windsurf pretty hard (freestyle, wave, & b&j)

full disclosure, as mentioned previously, i am a retailer, so I may be biased! However, I'm also a gear snob, and I don't/won't ride anything I don't like, and I get to choose from a lot of stuff. Previously was riding Streamlined booms, and Maui Sails before that.... the NP before that.