Has anyone had their aluminium boom break in the middle of the mast clamp as shown in the photos.
This boom is about 5 years old and been well looked after. Even though there are signs of corrosion the double layer of aluminium tube has cracked clean in half, presumably from the constant flexing of normal use. I am no heavy weight (70kgs) so a bit surprised to have a boom fail like this. I don't think it matters much about what brand it is as they all appear to be manufactured the same and possibly from the same factory.

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Garry M said..
Has anyone had their aluminium boom break in the middle of the mast clamp as shown in the photos.
This boom is about 5 years old and been well looked after. Even though there are signs of corrosion the double layer of aluminium tube has cracked clean in half, presumably from the constant flexing of normal use. I am no heavy weight (70kgs) so a bit surprised to have a boom fail like this. I don't think it matters much about what brand it is as they all appear to be manufactured the same and possibly from the same factory.

AFAIK, that's how they all break. The the rental boom I broke a few years ago broke in the same way. A second hand carbon boom makes more sense than a new aluminium one, TBH.

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Garry M said..
This boom is about 5 years old and been well looked after. I am no heavy weight (70kgs) so a bit surprised to have a boom fail like this.

It's 5 years old .. you've had a great run. Move on.

Errr you mean like this?
Tropical Cyclone Oma n i didnt get along too well this day!! Snapped it CLEAN in half =
45 min swim home.

My 3 year old carbon boom cracked in the same spot. Luckily I noticed the looseness from the crack before it broke right through and contribute to a big swim.

Aluminium fatigues over time, and booms will break after a certain number of uses. Your break looks pretty typical. 5 years of regular use is good for an alu boom. Carbon tends to last a lot longer, there are plenty of 20+ year old Fiberspar booms around. Any boom can break in crashes, or be damaged to break later. I have had at least 5 alu booms break, most from old age, and one carbon boom, which was probably a crash damage (or maybe a manufacturing defect). Probably had a similar number of sessions on alu booms and carbon booms.

This was from the last aluminium boom I used and never again

not sure if human limb
or chicken drumstick

Dear Garry M,
Same thing happened to me. My weight is 70 kg and my boom was made of aluminium metal and broken from the same place. However I used this boom for 16 years. Again I use aluminium boom because it is cheap. I repaired my old boom and keeping it as a spare.

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Garry M said..

fixes broken piece
first sail, breaks other side

5 years for the alu boom, is pretty good going, if used often.

From a shop points of view, I sell both Alu and carbon booms.
I would always recommend carbon, before alu. Even a used carbon instead of a new alu. It can however be hard to find the used ones,,

Over time the alu will decrease in strength, and potential eventually break. Even a used carbon boom is as strong as a new carbon boom, but just the grip / plastic parts / boom end can be worn out a bit.

To repair a broken alu boom, I would be quite sceptical on the strength.
To repair a broken carbon boom ( by a professional) I would have a lot of confidence in. Saying that I can't remember when I broke a carbon boom last time ( maybe 10 years ago). - now I most likely break one tomorrow,, he he

It comes down to the $. I fully understand different sailors budget.
Carbon can be at least 2 or 3 times more expensive.

I do do sell more alu booms than carbon, so this might reflect most are happy to spend less, even with the awareness of above.
Or do it also reflect they have to buy booms more often?

J

Gone carbon after two alu booms broke in less than year each, the same place next to head. Mine were the V-grip with even more alu in them. Snapped straight thru. Never again.

5YO,
well beyond any warranty. Longer expectations, yes, real world, should not break, but did.
get over it

I only weigh 65kgs and I still went through a aluminium boom every few years. Same break as yours. I now have carbon.

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What was the initial damage?????

stroppo said..
This was from the last aluminium boom I used and never again

I went from Aluminium to Carbon pretty recently. No way would I go back!

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i love this
chicken on the cob

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AusMoz said..

What was the initial damage?????

stroppo said..
This was from the last aluminium boom I used and never again

I was sailing along and then we parted company the bit I was holding got me in the crash some how on the forearm it had a very sharp edge on the break

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stroppo said..

AusMoz said..

What was the initial damage?????

stroppo said..
This was from the last aluminium boom I used and never again

I was sailing along and then we parted company the bit I was holding got me in the crash some how on the forearm it had a very sharp edge on the break

Ah, it's that big bicep muscle RHS that confused me..I wonder why my arm doesn't look like that..

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sboardcrazy said..

stroppo said..

AusMoz said..

What was the initial damage?????

stroppo said..
This was from the last aluminium boom I used and never again

I was sailing along and then we parted company the bit I was holding got me in the crash some how on the forearm it had a very sharp edge on the break

Ah, it's that big bicep muscle RHS that confused me..I wonder why my arm doesn't look like that..

Stroppo's a big lad

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sboardcrazy said..

stroppo said..

AusMoz said..

What was the initial damage?????

stroppo said..
This was from the last aluminium boom I used and never again

I was sailing along and then we parted company the bit I was holding got me in the crash some how on the forearm it had a very sharp edge on the break

Ah, it's that big bicep muscle RHS that confused me..I wonder why my arm doesn't look like that..

An arm like that Sue will get you into the mid 40's

Mine broke like that after two years. No corrosion at all, just broke. A long swim back.... It was a reputable brand.

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firiebob said..

sboardcrazy said..

stroppo said..

AusMoz said..

What was the initial damage?????

stroppo said..
This was from the last aluminium boom I used and never again

I was sailing along and then we parted company the bit I was holding got me in the crash some how on the forearm it had a very sharp edge on the break

Ah, it's that big bicep muscle RHS that confused me..I wonder why my arm doesn't look like that..

An arm like that Sue will get you into the mid 40's

Thanks! Now I have another excuse for poor performance... I can't blame my equipment anymore..