Hi All,I have an older Unifiber carbon boom with the standard head. I recently updated my NP SDM masts and the new masts are significantly lower diameter (but not RDM) than the older ones. I am OK to use the boom and nothing slips, but it seems to be adjusted quite small and only contacts the mast at the front and back. I would prefer to spread the load around and use the boom in a more normal adjustment.I see that some companies sell RDM mast protectors that are a shim to protect the mast from damage from the boom. I would like to get one, but have been unable to find any in Australia. Just wondering if anyone here knows where I could purchase one. I can find them overseas with substantial postage for a cheap part.Also any other ideas to solve the issue appreciated. Just after something to save boom and mast from damage and be quick to use for rig/derigging.

Cheers!

Hello,

Search for 'rdm mast shim' at Surf Sail Australia in WA. They have a couple from different boom makers.

However, I doubt that any will fit your Unifiber boom as all of the ones I've used have been custom made for the boom head, so you may have to get a Unifiber one from UK or Europe,

Hope this helps.

Update: Apologies, meant to include that the RDM adapter needs to be trimmed on its "ears" to fit the SDM mast.

I have an RDM shim that came with my boom from Unifiber but it is way smaller than my NP SDM. I could try modifying it but I think it may be difficult to get it right. It seems my mast is much smaller than the standard SDM diameter, but still much bigger than RDM. Probably about 1/3 the way from the SDM to RDM... closer to SDM. I actually got the new masts because my older NP masts were not working well with newer NP sails because the cams were not rotating well because the old mast was too large. The cams rotate great now.... but the boom clamp adjusted to fit makes an oval shape that only touchs the mast at front and back which seems to work OK, but I am concerned for long term damage of the mast.

Did you purchase an MDM mast (not RDM or SDM) ? if so, then you may need a thinner shim than the RDM-shim

The mast is a Neil Pryde TPX100 430cm mast. Just the recommended mast for a late model NP slalom sail. I don't know if it is MDM or not. It is thinner than an older NP mast... but much thicker than a RDM.

Can you get MDM shims? If so where? I see theare SDM mast protector shims from Unifiber and Prolimit when I do a search but I can't find anywhere I can buy one.

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vosadrian said..
The mast is a Neil Pryde TPX100 430cm mast. Just the recommended mast for a late model NP slalom sail. I don't know if it is MDM or not. It is thinner than an older NP mast... but much thicker than a RDM.

Can you get MDM shims? If so where? I see theare SDM mast protector shims from Unifiber and Prolimit when I do a search but I can't find anywhere I can buy one.

Something is not right because TPX100 and NP standard SDM boom head are made to pair, and they do on my gear and others I sail with.

It works as is. The issue is that with the older NP mast, the dimater was larger and the old Unifiber boom clamp sustem has a hinged flap that goes around the back of the mast. When the rope is adjusted to a nice clamp pressure with the old mast, the flap makes a nice circle that spreads the load on the mast. With the new narrower diamter mast, the sides of the clamp do no touch the mast and the clamp just contacts the mast at two points (front and back). No slippage is occuring. It works fine. I am just concerned about the way it clamps the mast causing damaage to the mast and was looking for a way to improve this

There are some boom-shims that aren't thick-rubber, they are much thinner. They used to exist simply to protect the mast due to rubbing of the boom (and they were call "boom protector").

Something like this, from Unifibre: www.unifiber.net/products/sdm-mast-protector

Yep... that is what I am after. I just can't find anywhere to buy one locally, and shipping from Europe is three times the cost of the part.