Time to get a 200-250 boom for my larger sails. Been wondering if the hybrid carbons make any sense ? Are they an improvement over a monocoque alu boom and if so in what regard, durability, performance ? A full carbon is out of my price range

Think of full carbon as a 10 year investment.

Hybrid carbons are marketing products, no added value. Carbon all the way.

We've used hybrid carbon booms for a few years before going all black. I think they are stiffer than typical alu booms. However, none of the 3 or 4 we had survived more than maybe 3-4 years. Typically, the alu part would bend in a crash. There also is more corrosion on the alu part than in a pure alu boom. Carbon booms seem to hold up a lot better; only one of the six we have broke after a couple of years. Happen mid-sailing and might have been a warranty issue but was out of warranty. More likely, was the result of a crash that damaged, but not completely broke, the boom.

I agree with the above opinions. Just go for a good cheap alloy and only expect it to last a couple of years. By then, your ability to finance a Carbon boom may have improved.

For bigger sails what really matters is stiffness. You don't want the boom to flex during gusts and pumping, etc.

In general carbon is stiffer than anythig else.

+1 for carbon all the way. Used some of the better alloy booms for a year or so. Then had the opportunity to get a good 2nd hand carbon boom. Massive difference. Especially in larger sized sails. The stiffness really is noticable, when a gust hits or when you are pumping. The boom doesnt flex n open the leach,depowering the sail.
Yeah theyre more expensive. But you will never look back.

Few for sale in B & S. both alloy & carbon. Good prices too

buying a carbon naish boom 180-240 ,was the biggest and best move I have done in my windsurfing career

so responsive ,so strong and a pleasure to use ,that was 10 years ago and still going strong .

.it still is a treasured piece of equipment ..

some of the alloys are pretty stiff now a days ,but they get loose after a while ,where carbon stays strong .

I know the price hurts ,but its worth it .

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BSN101 said..
Few for sale in B & S. both alloy & carbon. Good prices too

+1 for the RSX carbon boom for $ 600

^+2 RSX Carbon boom. Great for the big sails n reasonably light.

agree with all the above, hybrid doesn't make sense

Given how well carbon lasts, buy 1 yo lightly used and lasts 10yrs = value

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John340 said..
Think of full carbon as a 10 year investment.

And also the improved safety! Much less chance of being left stranded in the middle of the bay with a broken boom.

An update on my situation - I've managed to haggle down an RRD Dynamic Hybrid 200-260 (link below) to 390 AUD, under these conditions - should I still look into the regular alu-mono ? (www.robertoriccidesigns.com/equipment/windsurf/rig-components/boom-collection/)

just me
but I would still buy a second hand carbon boom over a hybrid any day
but then again I was lucky if a ally boom would last a season.
so just plain economics for me.
still have the original severne enigma I bought many years ago.

There's an Enigma on here for $650. Save a bit more, and save a lot eventually...

In my experience, hybrid don't last any longer than ali booms
But then again, neither do carbon

^^^At least thats repairable, unlike ally