Hey guys wondering if there is any difference in width towards the tail between each boom arms (X3 and X6).I currently have a NP X3 and i think it's too narrow and makes my NP evo's rig too flat with the sail touching the boom all the way to the luff pocket.Can someone please let me know if the X6 boom is wider towards the tail.

Thanks in advance.

your correct it will rig too flat. You should have an X9 boom.
Most people who can afford an Evo will also have a X9.

X6 is the same width. Sorry.

Yes thats what i thought. I was thinking on a X9 but after breaking so many booms,costs add up. i will look at getting a X9.

x9 booms are cheap. they last way too long.
Most people on Ali upgrade every year (2max).
Most X9s ive seen been regripped 2 times and still no dramas!
only problem with carbon booms is they break ya ribs when you fall on it! Ali breaks when you fall on it.

make sure you get the 180 X9 boom, the new smaller booms X9 booms are too narrow for the race sails.

How much smaller.... as my 4.7 evo rigs at 167cm

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izaak said...

How much smaller.... as my 4.7 evo rigs at 167cm

the 160 booms don't suite the race sails they are a wave boom, ask Hamma he'll tell you

Sorry to disagree Alex but I'd rather buy booms from a boom manufacturer and my sails from a sail manufacturer. I've got
4 seasons trashing a Chinook ally - it's still good and relegated to spare by choice only.
3 seasons goiung hard on a Tecnolimitz ergal ally- it's still good.

Isaak, if you keep breaking NP booms, why buy another NP?
Especially considering the numerous threads on here in the last 2 yrs or so regarding NP booms breaking

i have been breaking quite alot of north booms and talking to a fair few big guys they have got plenty of seasons out of a X9

I rig a 160-210 X9 on my 7.0 Overdrive ie in the 42 extension. My gopro boom shots show how much the extension of the boom flexes up and down. Not good, so I'm looking for a 180-230 race boom to stiffen things up. Won't enjoy the bigger dia though.
Gonna leave the X9 for smaller race sails and wave sails.
Anyone use the KA carbon race boom?

i've got a KA carbon race boom,

i used it with my 8.5m formula sail. i can't say it's any stiffer or not than other booms, you'd need to load one up with some weights and measure deflection to compare the 2. stiffness also depends on how much extension your using. buying a longer boom and running it short will stiffen things up. on my 8.5m with 3/4 extension it had a little bit of flex and on the 6.4m with 10cm of extension it's very stiff.

i've had no issues with my KA and it's still going strong after countless years. i currently use it with my 6.4m in bump and jump/small surf lightwinds.

i did try both a standard tail and race tail in the shops and the race tail was significantly stiffer. my understanding is that this is the norm with most boom brands.

KA Carbon Booms also break ya ribs when you slam into them
I have discovered that treatment in a Public Hospital emergency department is cheaper than a new boom though
There is an upside!!!

Don't buy an X6. I broke the head on mine after only 3 months. I wasn't even powered up when it broke and I only sail flat water no waves.
I went to geralton to get a replacement and when I spoke to a few people up there I found its common knowledge, X6 booms break the head.

Anyone interested in a near new X6 Slight damage but its very localised and only on one side. Works best on a port tack.

Ian, same with the X3's

I know the X9 is different blah blah but that is why I'd not trust them.... if the 2 bottom models bust I still would not buy to top model.

And as I've said ad nauseum, if I can get 4 or 5 years on a $500 ally boom when really kooking it up in the waves, I really don't see why ppl spend $1000 ona carbon one. They don't last 10 years..........

(unless on sails bigger than 7.5 or so where you need the stiffness)

Get a Tecnolimitz, Hydrodynamix or Chinook and save the cash.

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Mark _australia said...

Ian, same with the X3's

I know the X9 is different blah blah but that is why I'd not trust them.... if the 2 bottom models bust I still would not buy to top model.

And as I've said ad nauseum, if I can get 4 or 5 years on a $500 ally boom when really kooking it up in the waves, I really don't see why ppl spend $1000 ona carbon one. They don't last 10 years..........

(unless on sails bigger than 7.5 or so where you need the stiffness)

Get a Tecnolimitz, Hydrodynamix or Chinook and save the cash.

While I agree with you that the old X3 and X6 were prone to breaking (and had a horrible shape).. I must say that the new X3 looks like the best ally boom on the market, and at least deserves a fresh reputation.. I am yet to see one break.. I also think sail manufactures make nice booms, It's not as if they make them outta monofilm!! I used the new Severnre Enigma at the mambo and that was fully sick.

Agreed that things do change Barn

However once bitten twice shy, and there are other stories about NP accessories in general such as mast bases (can't cite that one though, fuzzy recollection) and also my NP spreader bar that snapped in a catapault - on oother brands they've lasted me years not a season like the NP.

So as I said I am forever wary now.

I've got a KA wide tail carbon boom that I bought off Seabreeze, something like 182 to 222/232. Whilst its does the job, its not as stiff as my smaller 160 - 210 X9. I have had a few problems with the X9, but were covered under warranty. I would seriously look at the Maui Carbons next time I need a boom.

Had my NP rig with X6 RDM and X3 boom go through a serious rinse cycle at Palmy today, with the mast tip jammed in the sand at one stage and the board sticking up in the air. I watched a few decent waves smash down on that unfortunate scene, fully expecting major breakage, but it all came through OK.

Had a similar experience with my SUP last weekend and it survived that too.
YA think I'd learn to stay away.

my vote for the Maui sails boom.

one of the best clamp / heads on the market, cheaper than NP and hard pressed to find any stiffer.

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barn said...
While I agree with you that the old X3 and X6 were prone to breaking (and had a horrible shape).. I must say that the new X3 looks like the best ally boom on the market, and at least deserves a fresh reputation.. I am yet to see one break.. I also think sail manufactures make nice booms, It's not as if they make them outta monofilm!! I used the new Severnre Enigma at the mambo and that was fully sick.

This was the new X6 and it has the same head as the X3. Like I said it was 3 months old.
I'm with Mark, once bitten twice shy.

Its still going cheap?? No one snapped it up yet. C'mon half price!! The port tack is yet to break still fine.

If this helps, I broke 2 X3's and 2 X6's on warranty thank goodness and finally upgraded to X9 2 years ago and never a problem. During this time I also broke a north and hydro boom (aluminium).

So last two years I've been using a X9 225-275 (brand new) and an old second hand X9 160-210. No problems.

I'm 90kg. From talking to others, if you're over 80kg and you sail fairly aggressively, in most cases aluminium just won't cut it. Even if it is cost effective using aluminium, it just isn't worth it if you fear a boom break every jump.

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Mark _australia said...

Ian, same with the X3's

I know the X9 is different blah blah but that is why I'd not trust them.... if the 2 bottom models bust I still would not buy to top model.

And as I've said ad nauseum, if I can get 4 or 5 years on a $500 ally boom when really kooking it up in the waves, I really don't see why ppl spend $1000 ona carbon one. They don't last 10 years..........

(unless on sails bigger than 7.5 or so where you need the stiffness)

Get a Tecnolimitz, Hydrodynamix or Chinook and save the cash.

+1, and would also add Prolimit. I'm 80kg and have given a $250 Prolimit ally an absolute kicking for three very hard years and only upgraded because the grip was coming off and figured that for another $250 was worth the peace of mind for a new one (and not having to regrip). Of course, my comment is limited to wave / freestyle sailing and not race at all.

Very impressed with the Prolimit booms.

for what it's worth... went through about 30 odd booms in the 90s speed sailing... finally ended up with Sunshine Products and had no breakage for about 4 years. After that I switched to Chinook Aluminium Booms and again several seasons of use.

Finally tried an x7 Neil Pryde full carbon boom and was amazed be the stiffness and light weight... after that I just couldn't go back to the Chinooks. It's still going strong 5 years down the track. Added an X9 to the mix and that one is going strong as well (3 years and counting). I have had some minor complaints with the X9 (end piece holes where to big) but that got fixed as it was identified as a manufacturing problem.

As far as breaking spreader bars after a catapult... How many tons of force do you think a spreader bar should withstand? Enough to rip you body in half?

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stehsegler said...

As far as breaking spreader bars after a catapult... How many tons of force do you think a spreader bar should withstand? Enough to rip you body in half?

Yes, you want the gear to go before the body. But I've had countless trashings on other spreaders over many seasons (per harness), but it only took ONE trashing with an NP bar.....

I'm not sure where I saw this but don't eh NP booms come with 2 yr warranty now?

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Waiting4wind said...

I'm not sure where I saw this but don't eh NP booms come with 2 yr warranty now?

Yep the new generation NP X3 and X6 have a 2 year warranty

the X6 have changed. they heads have been remoddeled and they have removed the plastic head and replaced it wih a full Alloy head at the front. They also now come with a 2 year warranty.

I replaced mine during the week and the the new model looks pretty good.
The X6 come in both normal width or a Wide version which has curvier arms to cater for Race sails.

Check out
http://www.neilpryde.com/boom/x6.html

i will look into a buying a boom once i get some money.

thanks for some of the advice.

Slightly off-topic...walked into a Geelong shop on the weekend (that used to sell ws gear) & asked if they had any footstrap screws (mine are stuffed from using all sorts of tools to tighten them).

Anyways, walked out the door with 3 'new' (ex-'07'ish stock, still in plastic) booms...an Aeron, & 2 sunshines - $300 the lot! You should've heard me trying to convince the wife that it was a good investment!

...since offloaded the Sunshine booms @cost (<$70ea)...the Aeron's mine!