Anyone had a similar experience with a boom shattering as your putting it on.

I was using the RDM shim that came with it 5.4 poison nothing unsual normal rigging

Popped in my hand with shards of plastic goin everywhere- nearly took me eye out.

Bought it in January 08 - board shop is sorting out warranty - I am amazed that this can happen.

Ive had one or two break - took it back to Reg in Perth and got another one - I believe its a well known fact that they do break - in fact it seems that the lever is the weak spot on the booms. The plastic moulded lever has a metal insert that grips the rope - you can exert a high leverage with the lever and this causes the metal insert to spread, cracking/ and or breaking the plastic lever. Its a Neil Pryde design problem that needs resolving.

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big-gazza said...

Ive had one or two break - took it back to Reg in Perth and got another one - I believe its a well known fact that they do break - in fact it seems that the lever is the weak spot on the booms. The plastic moulded lever has a metal insert that grips the rope - you can exert a high leverage with the lever and this causes the metal insert to spread, cracking/ and or breaking the plastic lever. Its a Neil Pryde design problem that needs resolving.

Should I? Shouldn't I? Oh, it's just too easy [}:)]

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nebbian said...

big-gazza said...

Ive had one or two break - took it back to Reg in Perth and got another one - I believe its a well known fact that they do break - in fact it seems that the lever is the weak spot on the booms. The plastic moulded lever has a metal insert that grips the rope - you can exert a high leverage with the lever and this causes the metal insert to spread, cracking/ and or breaking the plastic lever. Its a Neil Pryde design problem that needs resolving.

Should I? Shouldn't I? Oh, it's just too easy [}:)]

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Should I? Shouldn't I? Oh, it's just too easy [}:)]

Maybe I should have gone the Chinook after all.


Nebbian - Please enlighten me.

I dunno about the clamp, but you should try using a screwdriver next time instead of a knife -- or key -- or stubby lid -- or whatever you 'molested' that screw with!

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big-gazza said...

Ive had one or two break - took it back to Reg in Perth and got another one - I believe its a well known fact that they do break - in fact it seems that the lever is the weak spot on the booms. The plastic moulded lever has a metal insert that grips the rope - you can exert a high leverage with the lever and this causes the metal insert to spread, cracking/ and or breaking the plastic lever. Its a Neil Pryde design problem that needs resolving.

First time, exchange.
Second time I would have asked for a full refund so you can go buy a different boom, and not have to endure NP quality

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Sailhack said...

I dunno about the clamp, but you should try using a screwdriver next time instead of a knife -- or key -- or stubby lid -- or whatever you 'molested' that screw with!

That screw was bent a few degrees and was a nightmare to get out - the old one had a allen key head.

Must admit it was the rusty old phillips head that lives in the shed - all my sailin gear was still in the car as it was 20+ knots and i just wanted to go sailin

The old black plastic one from a6 year old boom is on in it's place - same design as well.

I've broken HPL booms, bent Pryde booms and gor rid of a chinook boom cause it was a slalom - too wide and heavy.

90kgs and I think I might be a bit tough on booms

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russh said...


90kgs and I think I might be a bit tough on booms

Pfft, 90kgs.....try hangin' an extra 20kgs off them like I do!

I was rigging up for a sail a couple of weeks back....a gusty offshore with a nasty, lumpy chop to boot....as I was rigging I decided to show a mate the broken plastic sleeve ('cosmetic' damage) near my clamp, just noticed that the aluminium was cracked halfway across the tubing!!!

Veeery lucky! (Even luckier I had access to another mate's gear, borrowed his boom for the day and had a great sail!)

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Sailhack said...

russh said...


90kgs and I think I might be a bit tough on booms

Pfft, 90kgs.....try hangin' an extra 20kgs off them like I do!

Point taken oh heavy one!

Too much more Coopers Stout, casserole, lamb roast and chocolate self saucing pudding with ice cream this winter and not enough sailing and I'll be joining you at the 100+ mark!

Nebbian - dont quite know what youre getting at re. quoting my comment. Care to elaborate?

I think he is having a shot a Pryde. He doesn't share the spirit of gay Pryde.

I bought a carbon Pryde boom as part of a rig off eBay and it rules, though I am a puny 72kger. Hey I've lost 4kgs this year! Thats either very good or very bad.

Haven't had that one but I broke a couple of NP clamps. The 2 part flexy plastic bit that snaps around the mast. The clamp on my HPL broke. That was a failure at the hinge. Nothing else has broken that shouldn't have.

Just picked up a new clamp arm from onboard at glenelg (onya Brett)- they're black plastice now not the clear stuff.

Glad they could sort it out quickly cause its gonna be windy all weekend with a few waves - gotta love this nnw-sw-nnw-sw winter weather!

In response to this topic I checked out my X3 Boom to find cracks developing in the same spot as russh's breakage:



Photo shows cracked lever and new one. You can clearly see the cracks forming around the cleat.

The other thing to note was that the bolt which secures the lever was bent. I suspect this to be from the force exerted to one side of the lever (at the cleat) rather than both sides like my old Hydro boom (R.I.P ).

Cheers to SHQ for replacing both lever and bolt no worries.

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Mark _australia said...



First time, exchange.
Second time I would have asked for a full refund so you can go buy a different boom, and not have to endure NP quality

OOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!!!!