Shopping for a new 160-210cm monocoque aluminium boom for general freeride sailing (mostly set at around 160-180cm). Currently leaning towards an Aeron MCT or V-Grip based on responses to previous posts re this topic on Seabreeze.

Any feedback on Aeron booms appreciated, particularly V-Grip, or other ali booms with good stiffness/weight ratio relative to price.

The 32mm is stronger. The 29mm reduces arm fatigue. Email ' Paul Kelf ' on here and he will give you plenty of good advice.

My choice in ally ata good price is Chinook - I broke 3 masts and numerous other bits in 3 yrs in nasty nasty waves and the boom was still good. Equal first choice, Hydrodynamix.

For the best alloy boom full stop BUT an extra couple hunge, a Tecnolimitz Ergal alloy is the shazzizzle - but really it is 60% extra in price but dunno if it will last 60% longer?

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nebbian said...

GazMan said...
Which one do you use and recommend, the 32mm Pro boom or 29mm Pro Slim boom?
http://www.hydrodynamix.com/booms.html

Depends on what you tip the scales at. If over 80 then take the 32, otherwise go the 29. At least that's what Paul told me

I'm around 75kg so 29 would be the go.

tbh the best ally boom is a carbon...

Yeah I know they're more expensive. But seriously, if you're considering sailing the ocean blue, the last thing you want to have weighing on your mind is galvanic corrosion...

And someone's got to keep keep that crazy bustard Cam honest!

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nebbian said...

tbh the best ally boom is a carbon...

Yeah I know they're more expensive. But seriously, if you're considering sailing the ocean blue, the last thing you want to have weighing on your mind is galvanic corrosion...

And someone's got to keep keep that crazy bustard Cam honest!

I am still unconvinced.

3 yrs hard wave use by a wave kook (me) from a $300 Chinook

Will a $1000 carbon last 10yrs? Dunno anyone who has got 10yrs from a thrashed carbon boom.

Buy a $300 boom every 2 yrs, may cost a tiny bit more over time, but a proactive spend (replacement of a boom that has no problems ) that is $300 every 2 yrs is much easier to handle than a $1000 boom that fails after say 4 or 5 years and u are up for a $1K hit all of a sudden.

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Mark _australia said...

nebbian said...

tbh the best ally boom is a carbon...

Yeah I know they're more expensive. But seriously, if you're considering sailing the ocean blue, the last thing you want to have weighing on your mind is galvanic corrosion...

And someone's got to keep keep that crazy bustard Cam honest!

I am still unconvinced.

3 yrs hard wave use by a wave kook (me) from a $300 Chinook

Will a $1000 carbon last 10yrs? Dunno anyone who has got 10yrs from a thrashed carbon boom.

Buy a $300 boom every 2 yrs, may cost a tiny bit more over time, but a proactive spend (replacement of a boom that has no problems ) that is $300 every 2 yrs is much easier to handle than a $1000 boom that fails after say 4 or 5 years and u are up for a $1K hit all of a sudden.

Exactly my way of thinking Mark! Currently using a $240 Surf Sail Aust slalom boom I purchased two years ago that is still in quite good nick, but not prepared to sail-it-till-it-breaks as I do tend to sail a lot by myself, particularly in the southern ocean (near Albany). Think I've broken more booms in nearly 30 years of windsurfing than any other piece of equipment (possibly the same for others?) so in my opinion the weakest link is still the boom!

What about the Aeron V-Grip, anyone used one?

Severne Alu-race. Haven't had one fail yet and been sailing with them for years.

We don't make masts out of aluminum.. Why make booms out of it?

It's a high stress component that requires a narrow diameter while maintaining maximum stiffness..

I can't fathom using a 32 or even 30mm grip..

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Mark _australia said...

nebbian said...

tbh the best ally boom is a carbon...

Yeah I know they're more expensive. But seriously, if you're considering sailing the ocean blue, the last thing you want to have weighing on your mind is galvanic corrosion...

And someone's got to keep keep that crazy bustard Cam honest!

I am still unconvinced.

3 yrs hard wave use by a wave kook (me) from a $300 Chinook

Will a $1000 carbon last 10yrs? Dunno anyone who has got 10yrs from a thrashed carbon boom.

Buy a $300 boom every 2 yrs, may cost a tiny bit more over time, but a proactive spend (replacement of a boom that has no problems ) that is $300 every 2 yrs is much easier to handle than a $1000 boom that fails after say 4 or 5 years and u are up for a $1K hit all of a sudden.

yes i had a what would be now a twelve year old chinook carbon, until it got stolen 2 years ago. i bought it second hand. for 300

mines for sale in buy n sell cheap if interested

carbon all the way. or at least ally with carbon tail peice.

I have broken Carbon and Alloy booms. I think carbon only makes a big difference on longer booms were alloy booms tend to flex.

Farrk troppo if you couldn't break one then they must be pretty decent!
I may be after a carbon at the right price so I'll see whatchya got

Think Ty and Luke have some HPL carbons from their days on tour which are still going strong..

Appreciate the feedback about carbon booms but this topic is ending up as an 'ali vs carbon' topic (more like an online argument!). Have considered carbon but budget for new gear this year won't allow, though this carbon boom does look appealing at $499 (reduced from $730):
http://www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/showProduct/Windsurfing/Boom+Max+Length+From+201+to+225cms/390714/Surf+Sail+Australia+Monocoque+Carbon+Slalom
(shame about the back end though, have used same previously and don't like)

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SWS said...

I think carbon only makes a big difference on longer booms were alloy booms tend to flex.

My reasoning too, 160-210 boom has less flex than a longer boom and the largest sail I will be using on this boom has a 178cm clew length thanks to stepped clew! If I needed a longer boom than this or regularly used a boom close to the max adjustment range then I think I would be better off with carbon.

I'm using the latest model Gun alu wave boom, its stiffer and skinnier than other alu booms I've used. I also owned a full carbon Pryde boom but hated it compared to the Gun so I sold it. I'm currently in Maui so its getting a good workout, no problems yet...touch wood
They slalom ones are about $250 from windsurfingsales

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GazMan said...

Appreciate the feedback about carbon booms but this topic is ending up as an 'ali vs carbon' topic (more like an online argument!). Have considered carbon but budget for new gear this year won't allow, though this carbon boom does look appealing at $499 (reduced from $730):
http://www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/showProduct/Windsurfing/Boom+Max+Length+From+201+to+225cms/390714/Surf+Sail+Australia+Monocoque+Carbon+Slalom
(shame about the back end though, have used same previously and don't like)

Agreed.

But I'd rather get the best ally than a cheapo carbon.
If you cna swing for $500 you can get a Tecnolimitz Ergal boom.

Forgot to mention the North Platinums are very very stiff for ally and about $350 - $400. Just that they may or may not have resolved the grip ungluing problem?

I've got the Aeron V-grip boom 200 - 250 cm, but have only used it a few times. Its very stiff for aluminium and I quite like it, quality seems very good. No idea of longevity though. Yes I have broken a carbon boom when I hit a sand bank and the rig hit the sand, I have had it repaired but am yet to try it.

That's one good thing about the carbon you can repair it.
for me (85kg) carbon is the way to go Ive broken every Ali boom out there.
for your weight though Ali should be ok, I would still recommend carbon if your using sails 7.5 or bigger.
Once you have used carbon you never go back

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GazMan said...

Appreciate the feedback about carbon booms but this topic is ending up as an 'ali vs carbon' topic (more like an online argument!). Have considered carbon but budget for new gear this year won't allow, though this carbon boom does look appealing at $499 (reduced from $730):
http://www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/showProduct/Windsurfing/Boom+Max+Length+From+201+to+225cms/390714/Surf+Sail+Australia+Monocoque+Carbon+Slalom
(shame about the back end though, have used same previously and don't like)

I've been using one of these for about 8 years, in the next size up 180-240. I didn't like the clamp allways felt a little wobbly so I replaced with a Maui Sails one. The boom has been solid. I use it with my 7.8m sail in 12-25knots and I hang 90kg off it.
The only issue is the that the extension clips need to be replaced every 2 years or so. The metal reacts with the carbon and seems to corrode the plastic whic makes them break.

I used my Gun sails monocoque alloy boom today for the first time. Much thinner in the grip than any of my other booms (Loft and Chinook) but way more comfortable as a result. Super stiff, weight is comparable to my Loft so for the price ($220 delivered) I can't think of anything else that could come close to the value.

I haven't had a savaging for a while, so I'll say that my el cheapo Pryde X3 which is now 3 years old has seen some solid action with no problems, including going through the rinse cycle at Palmie and the Bin an embarrassing number of times.
I'm not hard on gear though.

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SWS said...

I have broken Carbon and Alloy booms. I think carbon only makes a big difference on longer booms were alloy booms tend to flex.

completely agree I sold my carbon boom a few years ago and went back to ali, for sails under 5.3 the difference is negligible.mostly in weight not stiffness.

maybe its because I am light, however if some one gave me a carbon boom i wouldnt say no. but much more important to spend money on the mast.

barn big difference between mast and boom is that the mast is designed to flex with the sail, and has a direct effect, whereas the boom ideally should maintain a constant position i.e. outhaul

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KenHo said...

I haven't had a savaging for a while, so I'll say that my el cheapo Pryde X3 which is now 3 years old has seen some solid action with no problems, including going through the rinse cycle at Palmie and the Bin an embarrassing number of times.
I'm not hard on gear though.

I'll second that. I use X3 (160-210) and mostly on my 6.2m. The clamp mechanism is great (nice firm fit - no slop) and slightly oversized so it spreads the load on the mast. The 2010 model I currently have is very stiff and it is a narrow diameter so nice in the hands. I have tried a few brands of boom and allways come back to the Prydes.

We hear feedback of alloy booms lasting X years etc... I'm afraid that's pretty much useless info as if you sail once a year, your alloy boom might indeed last forever.

There's something called fatigue for alloys and it plays a big part in the failure of these alloy booms as opposed to carbon not affected by fatigue!

Then when brands say carbon, there is X% carbon and 100% carbon... cheapo and dearer...

The funniest comment for me on this thread was "I have tried a few brands of boom and allways come back to the Prydes." Cant think of anything worse for alloy booms.

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Rob11 said...

We hear feedback of alloy booms lasting X years etc... I'm afraid that's pretty much useless info as if you sail once a year, your alloy boom might indeed last forever.

There's something called fatigue for alloys and it plays a big part in the failure of these alloy booms as opposed to carbon not affected by fatigue!

Then when brands say carbon, there is X% carbon and 100% carbon... cheapo and dearer...

The funniest comment for me on this thread was "I have tried a few brands of boom and allways come back to the Prydes." Cant think of anything worse for alloy booms.

Which would be why I commented on my use rate.
I've had a few alloy booms, all of which have lasted about 5-6 years, with a lot of use, before corroding out or snapping the plastic head
In Bundaberg, I would sail about 100 times a year, for hours some days. I used Hydrodynamix, and North, and summat else, can't remember, and they were all fine.
The X3 has had steady use, on 4.5 to 6.6, in variable conditions from under-powered to seriously over-powered conditions, including a few big crashes and crap loop attempts. Most of it has been on a 6.2 at Currumbin.
I didn't say it was the best, just that it had held up.
It's a much better design than the older ones it replaced.
I think people that break booms, break all brands of booms.

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Rob11 said...

We hear feedback of alloy booms lasting X years etc... I'm afraid that's pretty much useless info as if you sail once a year, your alloy boom might indeed last forever.

There's something called fatigue for alloys and it plays a big part in the failure of these alloy booms as opposed to carbon not affected by fatigue!

Then when brands say carbon, there is X% carbon and 100% carbon... cheapo and dearer...

The funniest comment for me on this thread was "I have tried a few brands of boom and allways come back to the Prydes." Cant think of anything worse for alloy booms.

Let me qualify that statement a little for you.
My last pryde boom I replaced in year 4 it didn't break but it looked sus. While I don't keep a sailing log this is the approximate frequency of use:
Year one - summer sailed 3-4 sessions a week and winter 1-2 sessions
Year two - I took a year off work - sailed 5-6 a week (very windy year)
Year three - 2-4 sessions a week

65 % flat water, 25% B&J, 10% waves - During the weekdays I'm out 2 hours per session and weekends around 4 hrs (wind permitting).

I'm a horder so I have a variety of broken booms in the garage (some of the other brands). Maybe I've been lucky wth the Prydes but they've worked well for me.

BTW, I dont have brand favourites, I use what works for me. Having said thet I am wed to my Pryde Sails due to the fact I have a lot of pryde masts!

Got a carbon wave boom that's just had its 8th birthday
160 - 210
Seen plenty of action being bounced out of airplanes by the bag snatches and along reefs and beach breaks as a result of me being a kook.
It's been put through the rinse cycle on a fair few occasions with me holding onto it for dear life.
Few minor repairs/services like tail piece clips and changed out a rusted head bolt along the way along with mast line and outhaul

Still going strong... Though I've no doubt jinxed myself now

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Troppo said...

Mark _australia said...

nebbian said...

tbh the best ally boom is a carbon...

Yeah I know they're more expensive. But seriously, if you're considering sailing the ocean blue, the last thing you want to have weighing on your mind is galvanic corrosion...

And someone's got to keep keep that crazy bustard Cam honest!

I am still unconvinced.

3 yrs hard wave use by a wave kook (me) from a $300 Chinook

Will a $1000 carbon last 10yrs? Dunno anyone who has got 10yrs from a thrashed carbon boom.

Buy a $300 boom every 2 yrs, may cost a tiny bit more over time, but a proactive spend (replacement of a boom that has no problems ) that is $300 every 2 yrs is much easier to handle than a $1000 boom that fails after say 4 or 5 years and u are up for a $1K hit all of a sudden.

yes i had a what would be now a twelve year old chinook carbon, until it got stolen 2 years ago. i bought it second hand. for 300

mines for sale in buy n sell cheap if interested

carbon all the way. or at least ally with carbon tail peice.

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Waiting4wind said...

KenHo said...

I haven't had a savaging for a while, so I'll say that my el cheapo Pryde X3 which is now 3 years old has seen some solid action with no problems, including going through the rinse cycle at Palmie and the Bin an embarrassing number of times.
I'm not hard on gear though.

I'll second that. I use X3 (160-210) and mostly on my 6.2m. The clamp mechanism is great (nice firm fit - no slop) and slightly oversized so it spreads the load on the mast. The 2010 model I currently have is very stiff and it is a narrow diameter so nice in the hands. I have tried a few brands of boom and allways come back to the Prydes.

Sorry NP boom lovers, based on responses to previous Seabreeze topic at link below about X3 booms I definitely won't be getting one:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/Choosing-a-decent-boom-what-do-you-rate/?whichpage=1&replies=93&PageSize=30&mxPages=4

At the end of the day you need to go with what you feel comfortable with. You're always going to get the variety of opinions on the web and where you have a brand that has a high volume of product in the market there are going to be more stories floating around.

Also make sure that whatever you buy that you are confident in the dealer support. As I mentioned in a previous post I have a Surfsail carbon boom which has been going strong for 8 yeras and the support from Surfsail has been excellent.
Apart from having a good run with the Pryde booms the dealer support has also been second to none, and the fact thet they have a 2 year warranty is reassuring.

Will more than likely get an Aeron Ali, though not the V-Grip as I've read on Boards online forum that owners think they're a bit on the heavy side. Have considered the Hydrodynanix Pro Slim boom but the minimum length is 165cm and my smallest sail has a 157cm boom length. Thanks for your opinions everyone!

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GazMan said...

Waiting4wind said...

KenHo said...

I haven't had a savaging for a while, so I'll say that my el cheapo Pryde X3 which is now 3 years old has seen some solid action with no problems, including going through the rinse cycle at Palmie and the Bin an embarrassing number of times.
I'm not hard on gear though.

I'll second that. I use X3 (160-210) and mostly on my 6.2m. The clamp mechanism is great (nice firm fit - no slop) and slightly oversized so it spreads the load on the mast. The 2010 model I currently have is very stiff and it is a narrow diameter so nice in the hands. I have tried a few brands of boom and allways come back to the Prydes.

Sorry NP boom lovers, based on responses to previous Seabreeze topic at link below about X3 booms I definitely won't be getting one:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/Choosing-a-decent-boom-what-do-you-rate/?whichpage=1&replies=93&PageSize=30&mxPages=4

Not sure Aeron are any tougher than NP