Please note: We are temporarily in maintenance mode, and some features, such as Buy&Sell, Forums and Messaging are temporarily offline. Back soon!

Forums > Windsurfing General

Which of 2 booms to use

Reply
Created by LongTimeAgo > 9 months ago, 11 Nov 2012
LongTimeAgo
NSW, 106 posts
11 Nov 2012 9:19AM
Thumbs Up

I just bought some used gear and am a bit confused (which doesn't take a lot )

Say the 5.0m sail spec 170cm boom and the 6.5m sail spec 193cm boom. I got 2 'X3' booms 160-210 and 180-230. Numbers wise, both booms can be adjusted to do the job but from the shape of them, what's the theory behind boom selection?



Also, with my old tie on boom, I didn't think much about how high I tied it on the mast in relation to the clew. With the newer clamp on boom, once clamped it has a range of movement for the clew. Have you ever clamped on and the clew wasn't within this boom range? (what I'm trying to say is clamp the boom too far down the mast so the boom cannot swing up to be in line with the clew). I'm just thinking ahead here since I have not actually rigged the sail yet.

cheers

FormulaNova
WA, 15090 posts
11 Nov 2012 6:47AM
Thumbs Up

It is refreshing to see someone buy used gear and see modern stuff and not tie-on booms

Usually you go with the boom that requires the smallest amount of extension, in order to reduce the amount of flex that the boom has.On the other hand, some people like to leave one boom adjusted for a certain sail, and just use a different boom for each sail.

Yeah, if you clamp it too low or too high, you just release the clamp and reposition it. If it is not tied to the clew, then there will be minimal pressure on the clamp, and you can easily slide it to the new position.

Once you are comfortable with doing this, it is usually possible for people to release the clamp and move it, even when the clew is tied off. I do this often when I sail if I find that I clamped the boom on too high for me, or I want to effectively lengthen my harness lines by raising the boom height.


Just out of interest, what is the other equipment? What sail, mast, and board are you using?

LongTimeAgo
NSW, 106 posts
11 Nov 2012 10:29AM
Thumbs Up

FormulaNova said...
It is refreshing to see someone buy used gear and see modern stuff and not tie-on booms

Usually you go with the boom that requires the smallest amount of extension, in order to reduce the amount of flex that the boom has.On the other hand, some people like to leave one boom adjusted for a certain sail, and just use a different boom for each sail.

Yeah, if you clamp it too low or too high, you just release the clamp and reposition it. If it is not tied to the clew, then there will be minimal pressure on the clamp, and you can easily slide it to the new position.

Once you are comfortable with doing this, it is usually possible for people to release the clamp and move it, even when the clew is tied off. I do this often when I sail if I find that I clamped the boom on too high for me, or I want to effectively lengthen my harness lines by raising the boom height.


Thanks for the info. I was thinking along the lines of the wider boom used for the larger sail area, all other things being equal. Also, with the wider boom, your body weight being further away from the sail gives you more control in gusts (along with sheeting out).

FormulaNova said...
Just out of interest, what is the other equipment? What sail, mast, and board are you using?


Sails: Ezzy 5.0, 5.8, 6.5
Masts: North Sail 430, 460
Booms: Neil Pryde X3 160-210, X3 180-230
Board: Pete Cabrinha Designs Hawaii (6', fiberglass, circa 1985)

LongTimeAgo
NSW, 106 posts
11 Nov 2012 10:30AM
Thumbs Up

Just got the rig yesterday so haven't sail it yet

FormulaNova
WA, 15090 posts
11 Nov 2012 8:08AM
Thumbs Up

LongTimeAgo said...


Sails: Ezzy 5.0, 5.8, 6.5
Masts: North Sail 430, 460
Booms: Neil Pryde X3 160-210, X3 180-230
Board: Pete Cabrinha Designs Hawaii (6', fiberglass, circa 1985)


What type of Ezzy sail are they? Any pictures?

I suspect the board might be your limiting factor, but it depends on what your other gear is like, and how much sailing you have done.

Have you sailed a lot?

One thing that I have noticed, is that older boards and newer sails, or even newer boards and older sails don't work that well together.

evlPanda
NSW, 9207 posts
11 Nov 2012 1:40PM
Thumbs Up

Numbers wise, both booms can be adjusted to do the job but from the shape of them, what's the theory behind boom selection?


Actually no. If your 5.0 rigs with 170cm then the 180-230 is too big. Follow?

The 160-210cm boom will be all you need. While some may prefer using minimum boom extension others prefer the lighter weight, and swing weight, of a smaller boom. The smaller boom will be easier to handle and much better suited to your sails. Probably. The 180-230 is really for large slalom or race sails.

You'll see the bigger boom is wider because it accommodates much larger sails that have more draft/shape to them. Basically bigger sails are taller, longer and wider. I'll hazard a guess that the 230cm boom will take up to 8.5m.

Trade in the big boom for a 2nd hand board.

barn
WA, 2960 posts
11 Nov 2012 12:00PM
Thumbs Up

FormulaNova said...
LongTimeAgo said...


Sails: Ezzy 5.0, 5.8, 6.5
Masts: North Sail 430, 460
Booms: Neil Pryde X3 160-210, X3 180-230
Board: Pete Cabrinha Designs Hawaii (6', fiberglass, circa 1985)


What type of Ezzy sail are they? Any pictures?

I suspect the board might be your limiting factor, but it depends on what your other gear is like, and how much sailing you have done.

Have you sailed a lot?

One thing that I have noticed, is that older boards and newer sails, or even newer boards and older sails don't work that well together.



Shouldn't be an issue. Anything from 1985 will complement an ezzy nicely!



FormulaNova
WA, 15090 posts
11 Nov 2012 3:16PM
Thumbs Up

barn said...
FormulaNova said...
LongTimeAgo said...


Sails: Ezzy 5.0, 5.8, 6.5
Masts: North Sail 430, 460
Booms: Neil Pryde X3 160-210, X3 180-230
Board: Pete Cabrinha Designs Hawaii (6', fiberglass, circa 1985)


What type of Ezzy sail are they? Any pictures?

I suspect the board might be your limiting factor, but it depends on what your other gear is like, and how much sailing you have done.

Have you sailed a lot?

One thing that I have noticed, is that older boards and newer sails, or even newer boards and older sails don't work that well together.



Shouldn't be an issue. Anything from 1985 will complement an ezzy nicely!




I was worried that the board might be too advanced for the sails

Robby could handle it, but not most of us mortals.

LongTimeAgo
NSW, 106 posts
11 Nov 2012 9:06PM
Thumbs Up

evlPanda said...
Numbers wise, both booms can be adjusted to do the job but from the shape of them, what's the theory behind boom selection?


Actually no. If your 5.0 rigs with 170cm then the 180-230 is too big. Follow?


My bad, I stuffed up the numbers. I intended to have the required boom length satisfied by both boom ranges.



LongTimeAgo
NSW, 106 posts
11 Nov 2012 9:24PM
Thumbs Up

FormulaNova said...
LongTimeAgo said...


Sails: Ezzy 5.0, 5.8, 6.5
Masts: North Sail 430, 460
Booms: Neil Pryde X3 160-210, X3 180-230
Board: Pete Cabrinha Designs Hawaii (6', fiberglass, circa 1985)


What type of Ezzy sail are they? Any pictures?


Pic of the sail rigged in the back yard



I'm still trying to figure HOW to set it up It is a bit hard to see but the batten above the boom is on the windward side of the mast. If I stand it up and pump the sail, the batten still does not flick over to the other side of the mast. Does this mean I need more outhaul? I can still tension the outhaul further but I'd rather get some advice first

Also, the sail is a 472cm luff and wants a 460cm mast, this means the mast extension should be at 12cm?

Using the 160-210 boom






Beaglebuddy
1595 posts
11 Nov 2012 6:25PM
Thumbs Up

Referencing the boom height on the mast and not reaching the clew, on these new booms the clamp can articulate up and down so you can clamp it anywhere and pivot the boom to meet the clew, not like those old tie on booms.
For proper boom height when the rig is not attached to the board you should just be able to put your arm over it and it will be tucked up to your armpit or about chin height when attached to the board.

Beaglebuddy
1595 posts
11 Nov 2012 6:32PM
Thumbs Up

Those lines need to be pulled all the way tight so the pulley just almost touches the extension on the downhaul and the sail just almost touches the clew on the outhaul and you will have it.

FormulaNova
WA, 15090 posts
11 Nov 2012 6:38PM
Thumbs Up

LongTimeAgo said...

I'm still trying to figure HOW to set it up It is a bit hard to see but the batten above the boom is on the windward side of the mast. If I stand it up and pump the sail, the batten still does not flick over to the other side of the mast. Does this mean I need more outhaul? I can still tension the outhaul further but I'd rather get some advice first

Also, the sail is a 472cm luff and wants a 460cm mast, this means the mast extension should be at 12cm?



Yes, you need 12cm of extension, and downhaul it until the pulley blocks touch.

Once you do this, then play with the outhaul. I think you are meant to use the bits of string on the clew to set the outhaul, but you should set it to spec initially to figure out how the sail should look.


LongTimeAgo
NSW, 106 posts
11 Nov 2012 9:58PM
Thumbs Up

Thanks for the info so far guys, invaluable

moondo
VIC, 134 posts
13 Nov 2012 12:28AM
Thumbs Up

Definatly on the ball FormulaNova. More Downhaul.
LongTimeAgo, Keep pulling downhaul on the Ezzy sail until the Top of the sail becomes floppy. There is a red spot on the "mini batten" between the top and second batten. Correct setting is to keep downhauling until that red spot becomes loose. I have an ezzy Infinity which rigs very similar

Beaglebuddy
1595 posts
13 Nov 2012 5:36AM
Thumbs Up

You will need to twist the line around a stick or an object to get a good enough grip to pull the downhaul tight enough.

LongTimeAgo
NSW, 106 posts
13 Nov 2012 10:37AM
Thumbs Up

moondo said...
Definatly on the ball FormulaNova. More Downhaul.
LongTimeAgo, Keep pulling downhaul on the Ezzy sail until the Top of the sail becomes floppy. There is a red spot on the "mini batten" between the top and second batten. Correct setting is to keep downhauling until that red spot becomes loose. I have an ezzy Infinity which rigs very similar

cheers, I'll do that

Beaglebuddy said...
You will need to twist the line around a stick or an object to get a good enough grip to pull the downhaul tight enough.

I started off with a screwdriver and moved onto using a cold chisel Though I don't think it is very chic


cheers GREAT VIDEOS !!!

LongTimeAgo
NSW, 106 posts
13 Nov 2012 10:51AM
Thumbs Up

Watchin these videos, especially the first one - Inserting your mast (www.ezzy.com/allyearsezzys/2010/videos/panther_rigging.htm and even

) David just slides the mast in in one go. It takes me maybe 4 minutes to get mine in (I'm talking mast here - no dirty thoughts). The battens will not allow the mast tip a smooth journey in the luff. Is this normal

Beaglebuddy
1595 posts
13 Nov 2012 4:20PM
Thumbs Up

He has a skinny mast perhaps you have a standard diameter mast?
There is some sort of drylube people spray to make it slide smooth.
Also there is a trick I do with the line where I make a loop the fold it back over itself and then slide an object into it, downhaul, then pull the object out and when you pull on the line the knot disappears, someone will have the link to the video.

Beaglebuddy
1595 posts
13 Nov 2012 4:23PM
Thumbs Up

Here's the knot;

moondo
VIC, 134 posts
13 Nov 2012 7:51PM
Thumbs Up

Hey LongTime Ago. Started downhaul first with a screwdriver, Then a cold chisel? The best downhaul tool is often overlooked in a windsurf kit. I always use the spreader bar of my harness. just wrap the downhaul 4 or 5 times around hook, hang on with both hands and heave ho!

LongTimeAgo
NSW, 106 posts
14 Nov 2012 12:05PM
Thumbs Up

moondo said...
Hey LongTime Ago. Started downhaul first with a screwdriver, Then a cold chisel? The best downhaul tool is often overlooked in a windsurf kit. I always use the spreader bar of my harness. just wrap the downhaul 4 or 5 times around hook, hang on with both hands and heave ho!


alright!!!

I used the cold chisel when the downhaul rope wasn't long enough to go through the sail pulley 3 times. I've gotten used to it now and take it with me all the time.

It's starting to get a bit heaving when I'm sailing with it in my backpack, but I can get used to it I find it useful for fine tuning the sail when I'm on the water.



I'm joking ok [}:)] (the bit about taking it on the water with me, but I do use it to downhaul)


sboardcrazy
NSW, 8292 posts
14 Nov 2012 12:41PM
Thumbs Up

LongTimeAgo said...
moondo said...
Hey LongTime Ago. Started downhaul first with a screwdriver, Then a cold chisel? The best downhaul tool is often overlooked in a windsurf kit. I always use the spreader bar of my harness. just wrap the downhaul 4 or 5 times around hook, hang on with both hands and heave ho!


alright!!!

I used the cold chisel when the downhaul rope wasn't long enough to go through the sail pulley 3 times. I've gotten used to it now and take it with me all the time.

It's starting to get a bit heaving when I'm sailing with it in my backpack, but I can get used to it I find it useful for fine tuning the sail when I'm on the water.



I'm joking ok [}:)] (the bit about taking it on the water with me, but I do use it to downhaul)





I was wondering what Cold Chisel the band had to do with rigging.. Thought you might need some suitable music to set the mood..

evlPanda
NSW, 9207 posts
14 Nov 2012 12:48PM
Thumbs Up

Thumbs up for the best beginner rigging photos perhaps ever.

Relax: You won't break anything. It's all made for a lot more force than you're going to be able to exert.

As a general rule of thumb:

- The second panel from the top should be floppy to the middle (down-haul)
- The batten above the boom should be just touching or slightly over the mast (out-haul).

There are finer points but that's the gist of rigging a sail.

In classic beginner form you've not down-hauled or out-hauled enough. We all did that (except for Barn). You have the settings exactly right, as per the specs. Now you just need to down-haul all the way to the bottom, and out-haul all the way to the end. Yes really. Try using your harness line hook. Push with your leg instead of pulling with your back.

Once you've done that your sail will be in a good initial rigging stage. Now you'll probably notice the specs are wrong by 2cm or so because of a lot of reasons. Curse everything and then adjust accordingly until you get the sail as per the general rule of thumb above.

That's it.


Here's one quite similar to yours that is rigged correctly:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/Ezzy-Cheetah-2012/

LongTimeAgo
NSW, 106 posts
14 Nov 2012 1:44PM
Thumbs Up

sboardcrazy said...
I was wondering what Cold Chisel the band had to do with rigging.. Thought you might need some suitable music to set the mood..


x 3 or in modern lingo LOL

evlPanda said...
In classic beginner form you've not down-hauled or out-hauled enough.


I wouldn't call myself a beginner, I sailed for about 4 years in the mid eighties. Back then with my rig you just wack the mast in, downhauled, tie on the boom, out hauled depending on the wind strength, longest baten was about 2.5' and short boards were either called sinkers of floaters.

These days I'm learning to setup more modern gear - where 2.5cm can be the downhaul adjustment range, batens running the sail width and sails using CAMS (gotta find out about that next). Nearly got me planing carve gybe working after about 5 days out on the water. Next thing will probably be a GoPro to record it all

I Love It



LongTimeAgo
NSW, 106 posts
14 Nov 2012 1:45PM
Thumbs Up

evlPanda said...
Here's one quite similar to yours that is rigged correctly:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/Ezzy-Cheetah-2012/


thanks for the link

Beaglebuddy
1595 posts
14 Nov 2012 2:23PM
Thumbs Up

I've heard that Ezzy sails need a lot of outhaul, some sails like the superfreaks I use are basically neutral outhaul.

evlPanda
NSW, 9207 posts
14 Nov 2012 5:32PM
Thumbs Up

^ That's true. They always have a lot of out-haul. +5cm even. Gives them shape.

BTW beginners; neutral out-haul means none. You down-haul and then just tie the out-haul rope as is. No tension.

evlPanda
NSW, 9207 posts
14 Nov 2012 5:35PM
Thumbs Up

LongTimeAgo said...
I wouldn't call myself a beginner... Nearly got me planing carve gybe working after about 5 days out on the water. Next thing will probably be a GoPro to record it all


Definitely not a beginner.

LongTimeAgo
NSW, 106 posts
17 Nov 2012 10:53AM
Thumbs Up

LongTimeAgo said...
I started off with a screwdriver and moved onto using a cold chisel Though I don't think it is very chic


or maybe I'll get myself one of those 'Rig Winch' thingies See 8:20 in at







Subscribe
Reply

Forums > Windsurfing General


"Which of 2 booms to use" started by LongTimeAgo