Aeron V Grip Boom 160 - 210
Hi All,
Just some piccies of the Aeron V Grip I’ve been given to try. It's an alloy model, I can't run to carbon, too expensive for me!
I’ve only had the chance to test rig it atm, so hopefully I’ll be able to get it on the water in the next week or so when the planets align with lack of work and excess of wind.
First thoughts were:
Good strong boom clamp, triple hinge point, looks more solid than my now sad regular boom (the clamp of which stretched and broke twice). Fully articulating.
Excellent extension arms with proper absolute length marks
Super smooth and easy extension adjustment, double pin lock.
Sensible length range
Decent boom end fitting
Grip markings for harness lines.

All of that is pretty much expected, but the overall quality appears good with all components fitting and working together well. Obviously the selling point for this boom is the ovalised V grip arms. I think the claim is more strength, less diameter. That may be, but just setting it up in the yard it felt very comfortable in the hands; minimal flex across the width, nice slim feel about it all. Solid.
The V shape doesn’t show well in my piccies, but the importer (Windsurf Systems) will probs have better images and links.
I’m looking at using it for my mid range sails, so Revolution 4.6 to Retro 5.5. At a pinch I’ll use it on the Retro 6.5, but I don’t like using booms too close to full extension, I’d rather go to a larger boom.

A carbon boom is a must. You will save money in the end, alloy booms bend and break

^^ totally agree- carbon booms are completely worth the investment, even if 2nd hand.

even more return on investment if used
usually MUCH cheaper !!!

I bought a V-grip boom a few of years ago when another aluminum boom broke. Used it a few times, liked it just fine. Then needed to replace another boom, got a carbon one, and stopped using the V-grip completely. The carbon boom is a lot lighter and feels better. The v-grip boom ended up being almost a waste of money (except that I like to have extras around, in case something breaks or my lovely wife decides she wants to use a big sail).

But $1000 odd dollars for a carbon boom? I did that once, admittedly some years ago and broke it literally on the first outing. It really hurt, particularlythe hip pocket. No comeback either, no warranty claim not nothing. . My experience is that all booms end up breaking and for my level of sailing I just can't justify the cost I'd carbon.

Tricky, Have a look at the following topic posted on SB last year

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Review/Carbon-boomsGASP/

Nice write up and pics Tricky I had an aging corroded alloy boom, replaced it with an Aeron last year. Works fine, quite stiff for alloy and a good price. Then I picked up a mates 10 year old carbon boom. Mine felt like it was full of cement. Hunted down a second hand carbon boom (x9 for $400) the Aeron is now reserved as a back up. Certainly nothing wrong with the Aeron booms- top shelf for alloy. But geeeeeeeez carbon is nice- even a battered up older model...

+1
grabbed a 2nd hand AL 360 for 200$, had it re gripped for 90$ : got a new carbon boom !

+2
I picked up a second hand MS 190 - 240 race boom for $400. A friend repaired the grip. I rig my 5.7, 6.4, 7.0 & 7.9 sails on it. The boom is bomb proof.

Your friend must have good grip then .

Don't be a tight arse and fork out the dosh for the carbon. It's the only thing your holding onto your whole session.
It's like buying cheap shoes, they do the job, but....
And if ya do break it, you can fix it.

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Spocktek said..
Don't be a tight arse and fork out the dosh for the carbon. It's the only thing your holding onto your whole session.
It's like buying cheap shoes, they do the job, but....
And if ya do break it, you can fix it.

chuckle chuckle. Nice point, and yep, I can be a tight arse. And my thongs are dead set comfy. Just like my tracky dacks. It's just so hard to part with the cash after such a bad initial experience. I'll see how this boom goes for the summer . See you at Lancelin in January!

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Tricky Dicky said..

I think the Aeron V-grips would make an awesome slalom/freeride boom since they are heavy. For a wave boom, they are not that good IMO. I found the V-grip's weight made the rig handling very sluggish. I ended up selling it after 2 sessions.

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Tricky Dicky said..

Spocktek said..
Don't be a tight arse and fork out the dosh for the carbon. It's the only thing your holding onto your whole session.
It's like buying cheap shoes, they do the job, but....
And if ya do break it, you can fix it.

chuckle chuckle. Nice point, and yep, I can be a tight arse. And my thongs are dead set comfy. Just like my tracky dacks. It's just so hard to part with the cash after such a bad initial experience. I'll see how this boom goes for the summer . See you at Lancelin in January!

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Spocktek said..
Don't be a tight arse and fork out the dosh for the carbon. It's the only thing your holding onto your whole session.
It's like buying cheap shoes, they do the job, but....
And if ya do break it, you can fix it.

So now you've got me thinking.........personally I wouldn't go for a second hand carbon boom because you just can't be sure of its history and when they let go they really let go, no bending a bit first, just bang and it's over. So the point is, what does a reasonable carbon boom actually cost? What is a reasonable price to pay? I mentioned $1000 previously, but that was a random figure, what are people actually paying and/ or what is a reasonable figure?

Tricky, I sympathise with you as I'm a tightarse too. I didn't want to pay $1000 for a boom, but was very nervous about having your experience with a second hand one. In the end I picked up a carbon Chinook for $600 (I think - I suppose that's the point....) and have had it for a couple of seasons now with no problems. You were unlucky - take the plunge.

and regardless of carbon, thanks for posting your review

I believe a 180-230 Maui sails 100% carbon is close to $1000 in WA. I just recently picked up a 2nd hand 180-230 severne enigma that is about 4+ seasons old for $500 in good nic, had it regripped.... Boom looks new now and ready for another 4+ seasons for half the price of a new one

V-grips still bend, this one was 6mths old.

I'm 80-85kg sailor, and mind you this was a bit of an exceptional catapult. Got cut off by a boat at 30-32 kts ish, lost it in the wake and over i went. Had to pull my eye lids back out from in my head




Get a carbon if you can

Mines better than yours Dan!...did the same to the Blue one just a few weeks after, just to make sure!....that was after putting my foot in mouth with a rave review , far too early!
I tend to only run into things flat water sailing, so I'd still consider a Ali boom for wave sailing/B&J...Nice Clamps on the Aeron, quite liked the 'V' shape on the hands, think it is less fatiguing and less on blisters..
Don't take it as issue with Aeron...any Ali boom would have done these same I'm sure, if I was to get another Ali boom I'd consider them again, but having forked out for a Carbon boom over a year ago I'm already cash flow positive on bent booms!...I have tried to break the Streamline Carbon boom, no luck yet.

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JonesySail said..

Mines better than yours Dan!...did the same to the Blue one just a few weeks after, just to make sure!....that was after putting my foot in mouth with a rave review , far too early!
I tend to only run into things flat water sailing, so I'd still consider a Ali boom for wave sailing/B&J...Nice Clamps on the Aeron, quite liked the 'V' shape on the hands, think it is less fatiguing and less on blisters..
Don't take it as issue with Aeron...any Ali boom would have done these same I'm sure, if I was to get another Ali boom I'd consider them again, but having forked out for a Carbon boom over a year ago I'm already cash flow positive on bent booms!...I have tried to break the Streamline Carbon boom, no luck yet.

So do you think a carbon boom would have survived the stress that bent your alu boom? That's really where I'm getting to.......Let's face it, we've all bent booms..... Less so these days ( he say's, tempting the wrath of the wind gods) but it happens, so would do you think a carbon boom would have taken the force and survived??

Yep, the carbon boom has already survived far worse! I smacked a rocky part of green island doing 30knts! busted me nicely, and rearranged a fin, surprisingly no board damaged and boom was fine. Not saying you couldn't break one, but must take a lot to do it. I think they come into their own when using bigger sails.

Ditto above.... except i didnt crash at green island - never been ther

Thanks for that feedback Gents! I'll save some $$$ and look into a carbon boom for the sail range above 6.5m. Especially now it's coming to that time of the year

Cant wait for your next review on the V-Grip Tricky.

Here's what Mike Fischer at Windsport had to say about the V-Grip:

It is quite simple: if you have never been a fan on splashing out $900+ on carbon but have been tempted by the V-grip's extra inherent stiffness, these might be for you. I've always ridden alloy (aluminium) booms and have maybe, at most, bent or broken one on average every couple of years. I'm 75-80 kg and I play fairly hard on the gear... land on them, loop them, etc...

What about the V-Grip shape? Well, I found it neither irritating, nor beneficial in terms of hand/forearm stress/strain and palm and finger blistering (something us less-frequent sailors have to deal with when we go on intensive windsurf holidays). I would not say I rate the v-grip cross-sectional shape any better or worse over plain round (i.e. it's pretty neutral).

What about stiffness? They are definitely stiff. Not sure how they compare to carbon, but if all you have ridden prior to these is typical two-piece arm alloy booms, then stepping to continuous (one-piece tube) V-grip shape is definitely a large improvement.
From what I can tell, by feel only (not having weighed them), they seem a touch heavier than most other standard booms out there. This is to be expected as there is some additional material in the tube cross-section, so the stiffness may come at a small price. BUT, the weight never bothered me at all (if indeed they are really any heavier) as stiffness is the critical attribute of any good boom. Maybe one day I can actually weigh them side by side with others to do a factual comparison.

Aeron Boom Front End
Oh, did I mention the boom head? I really like it! Since switching to RDMs nearly seven-years-ago now, a problem has always been the need for a shim. I did ride a couple of older booms without shims and crushed two RDMs trying to get them to grip enough without dropping while riding. So, since then, I have always used shims in fear of repeating the same mistake. But, the Aeron's have such an excellent RDM adaptor included in the boom head, that there is no more need for after-market shims! YEAH!

In the end, yes, I definitely like them and look forward to putting on lots of mileage.

- See more at: http://www.windsport.com/features_article?news_id=952

I have had the v-grip for a few years now and love them. I was getting major forearm cramping but as soon as I switched to the v-grip the problem went away. I recently got a second hand Pryde X9 Carbon boom and not really getting on with it as prefer the v-grip shape. I reckon the v-grip shape opens your hands up a bit and that really does reduce tension and fatigue in the forearms.

I liked how my aeron boom rigged and felt solid. But I got really sore joints in my fingers from the vee. This is what made me sell mine in the end.Maybe i don't hold the boom how everyone else does. I decided to go atandard round carbon grip and straight away noticed the weight difference. And don't get sore joints.

On breakages from my experience i have never bent any ali boom, it let go at the head, no warning. And now i have also broken a carbon boom after going over the front and my speed was way below 30 knots. So both types have let go on me no warning, so i don't trust either materials.

Square is stiffer and stronger than round or oval. Someone should make a boom from square tube

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Tricky Dicky said..

Looks narrow.

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DanP said..
V-grips still bend, this one was 6mths old.

I'm 80-85kg sailor, and mind you this was a bit of an exceptional catapult. Got cut off by a boat at 30-32 kts ish, lost it in the wake and over i went. Had to pull my eye lids back out from in my head




Get a carbon if you can

You got a girl's one. That's why it broke. Next time buy a feminist approved one.

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Beaglebuddy said..
Square is stiffer and stronger than round or oval. Someone should make a boom from square tube

All you red thumbs, what's wrong with my idea?