Alloy booms for heavyweights (or hamfisted)?

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Alloy booms for heavyweights (or hamfisted)?

Created by

Stretchy > 9 months ago, 2 Jan 2010

Stretchy

1045 posts

2 Jan 2010 11:21pm

Hi
Broke another boom today, a hydro. Carbon booms are out of my market, so I was wondering what would be the most durable alloy boom available around the $300 mark. Im about 95kg and seem to be very adept at destroying booms and masts.
Im thinking about a Chinook or an Aeron at this stage, never liked the hydro.
Cheers
Rob

nebbian

6277 posts

2 Jan 2010 11:50pm

Were the booms you destroyed slimline?

At 95 kg you really have to use the normal diameter booms if you're going ally, slimlines are just too weak.

The other option is a secondhand carbon boom, you can get them from around $350 upwards.

drjukka

QLD

258 posts

3 Jan 2010 9:02am

Special,

I am also quite adept at breaking booms.

I have found the most reliable to be Pro Limit. I have broken them all - Maui, Chinook, North ...

That said - I buy a new boom each season.

- J

choco

4177 posts

3 Jan 2010 10:49am

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drjukka said...

Special,

I am also quite adept at breaking booms.

I have found the most reliable to be Pro Limit. I have broken them all - Maui, Chinook, North ...

That said - I buy a new boom each season.

- J

What are you guys doing? are you crashing to break the booms? or landing big jumps?

Stretchy

1045 posts

3 Jan 2010 9:23am

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Thanks Drjukka
I'll see if anyone sells them over here
Annual replacement would be the best idea, but life has a way of stopping that......

Stretchy

1045 posts

3 Jan 2010 9:45am

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choco said...

Usually bend arms through crashes
I have bent arms just sailing way overpowered
latest mishap was broken frontend clamp
What are you guys doing? are you crashing to break the booms? or landing big jumps?

Stretchy

1045 posts

3 Jan 2010 9:53am

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nebbian said...

Were the booms you destroyed slimline?

At 95 kg you really have to use the normal diameter booms if you're going ally, slimlines are just too weak.

The other option is a secondhand carbon boom, you can get them from around $350 upwards.

It was a 32mm hydro bought specifically for that reason
still managed to bend an arm before the frontend went
I'm a bit dubious about buying carbon stuff 2nd hand (knowing the harsh treatment my gear gets!)

WindWarrior

NSW

1019 posts

4 Jan 2010 10:10am

Do yourself a favour and get a carbon wave boom.
Yes they are more expensive BUT they will outlast any alloy boom everytime time.

When you work out what you are spending or have spent on replacing busted alloy booms you could have bought a carbon boom.
At 93kg and 194cm I have broken countless alloy booms... and just 1 carbon boom (got 3 seasons out of the carbon and it had been bounced across the country and some international destinations before it broke)

At the end of the day you pay for what you get !

As for a second hand carbon boom.. in my experience with carbon (booms and masts) if they don't break within the first 3 or 4 sessions they WILL go the distance.

Once you use a carbon boom you will wonder how you ever sailed without one and more importantly will be questioning why you spent hundreds on bendy, loose, sub-standard alloy booms for season after season.

My 2 cents

Power to weight (your weight vs the strength of alloy vs carbon) means you will simply keep snapping/bending/deforming alloy booms

Kev

drjukka

QLD

258 posts

4 Jan 2010 1:41pm

Choco,

I have had booms break in all sorts of ways.

1. Catapault over the handlebars is a common cause with me landing on the boom. (have broken ribs doing this)
2. Boom snaps at the head (Pins on older North Booms) - in the middle of speed run - J falls backward onto the bank and the rig and board keep going!
3. Extension fails (Carbon) (no apparent reason - just sailing along)
4. Hit a Dugong at 29+ knots - Dugong 1 - J 0 - Boom bent (similar to catapault)
5. Hit a Sand Bank (at ~ 30 knots) - entirely my fault - pushing too hard to catch that Vando character - LOL
6. Fatigue failure at Head (Chinook)
7. Boom buckled in between harness ropes (only a month or two old) - No stacks, no bingles - just failed.

- J

choco

4177 posts

4 Jan 2010 3:10pm

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drjukka said...

Choco,

I have had booms break in all sorts of ways.

1. Catapault over the handlebars is a common cause with me landing on the boom. (have broken ribs doing this)
2. Boom snaps at the head (Pins on older North Booms) - in the middle of speed run - J falls backward onto the bank and the rig and board keep going!
3. Extension fails (Carbon) (no apparent reason - just sailing along)
4. Hit a Dugong at 29+ knots - Dugong 1 - J 0 - Boom bent (similar to catapault)
5. Hit a Sand Bank (at ~ 30 knots) - entirely my fault - pushing too hard to catch that Vando character - LOL
6. Fatigue failure at Head (Chinook)
7. Boom buckled in between harness ropes (only a month or two old) - No stacks, no bingles - just failed.

- J

Wow lucky you don't race prestige cars

I think a Chinook Carbon boom would probably be the best on the market for 1 reason! if you break a boom arm you can replace it because of the clamp stlye head holding it together,the X9,Maui Carbons are great booms but break a boom arm and it' becomes a throw away.
At over 100kg i've only broken a Maui alloy in recent memory it snapped while sailing along in choppy water right where the bolt holes are in the head.
I've got 2 Autima mono carbons which have taken a beating a few high speed crashes being catapulted at speed hooked in and they have come away unscathed.
With today's technology how hard would it be to extrude one piece alloy booms this way it eliminates the need to bend them which weakens the alloy.

drjukka

QLD

258 posts

4 Jan 2010 9:22pm

Choco,

Actually, the Maui boom is the one I have been most unhappy with - failed for no reason. Also the "square head" I found gybing a bit harder during hand transition.

The Pro Limits are a single piece section - which I think makes them reasonably strong. If I trash one hitting a dugong or a sandbar - MY BAD.

Anyway I hear in the Grape Vine you are headed our way - Welcome in advance.

- J

djl070

290 posts

5 Jan 2010 9:40pm

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Special said...

Hi
Broke another boom today, a hydro. Carbon booms are out of my market, so I was wondering what would be the most durable alloy boom available around the $300 mark. Im about 95kg and seem to be very adept at destroying booms and masts.
Im thinking about a Chinook or an Aeron at this stage, never liked the hydro.
Cheers
Rob

I have a Severne Alu race and am impressed with the construction and stiffness.
I think from memory they are around the $350 mark

choco

4177 posts

23 Jan 2010 3:48pm

New from aeron
Aeron is the inventer of Monocoque booms, and Europe's top boom manufaturer. The Aeron V-Grip is the latest technology in aluminum booms. The only one of its kind. This boom is AS stiff as carbon without the price tag, FINALLY! Single forged process makes this boom the best in the world, and in a price range that makes it very much available to any sailor looking for an ultimate performance boom without getting ripped off

Gestalt

QLD

14722 posts

23 Jan 2010 8:45pm

looks like a great idea!

would love to try one.

Paul Kelf

678 posts

24 Jan 2010 11:40am

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choco said...

New from aeron
Aeron is the inventer of Monocoque booms, and Europe's top boom manufaturer. The Aeron V-Grip is the latest technology in aluminum booms. The only one of its kind. This boom is AS stiff as carbon without the price tag, FINALLY! Single forged process makes this boom the best in the world, and in a price range that makes it very much available to any sailor looking for an ultimate performance boom without getting ripped off

I can only see 5 mistakes there!
Obviously stretching the truth a bit, that's advertising though

On the positive side it is a good idea, but not new.

choco

4177 posts

24 Jan 2010 3:24pm

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Paul Kelf said...

I can only see 5 mistakes there!
Obviously stretching the truth a bit, that's advertising though

On the positive side it is a good idea, but not new.

Hey Paul looking at that cross section are the tubes made as one piece or is the V bit welded to the tube?

Paul Kelf

678 posts

24 Jan 2010 1:53pm

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choco said...

Paul Kelf said...

I can only see 5 mistakes there!
Obviously stretching the truth a bit, that's advertising though

On the positive side it is a good idea, but not new.

Hey Paul looking at that cross section are the tubes made as one piece or is the V bit welded to the tube?

Choco,
The blurb says "forged"

In reallity, no it wouldn't be welded it would be extruded in that shape.
The down side would be the weight, about 30 - 40% more than plain round tube.

Down to 4 now

WindWarrior

NSW

1019 posts

25 Jan 2010 9:48am

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choco said...

This boom is AS stiff as carbon without the price tag, FINALLY!

Sorry Choco but if you think the only benefit of carbon over an alloy boom is stiffness... you really do need to get hold of a decent carbon boom and take it for a spin.
It's the response rate and memory of carbon that helps make them so much better... this all adds up to greater strength and durability, and that's before you throw the actual weight of the boom into the equation.

As mentioned earlier, at his (Rob/Special's) weight (95kg) IMO he will continue to snap alloy booms.
The response rate/memory of the carbon pulls it back into shape when extreme forces are applied to it. Alloy simply does not have this characteristic which results in deformation and weakening followed by catastrophic malfunction.

Horses for courses but given Rob/Special is a 'Clydesdale' as opposed to a lighter 'race horse' the strength and durability of carbon would be better suited to his weight.

my 2 cents

Kev - a fellow Clydesdale

Ben Severne

194 posts

25 Jan 2010 12:44pm

Hi Special - I've got a reference sample of our 190-240 Alu-Race boom you can test for the rest of the season. We build them for the Formula Experience class so they're regularly used with 11.0's and 10.0's and hold up.

It uses an oversized (33mm) tube that's reduced to 29mm in the grip section, and a thicker wall to get the strength required for big sails on alu booms. The Formula Experience class rules prohibits the use of carbon booms, so we needed to develop this product.

Get in touch, and we'll hook you up with a boom.

Ben.

choco

4177 posts

25 Jan 2010 4:02pm

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WindWarrior said...

choco said...

This boom is AS stiff as carbon without the price tag, FINALLY!

Kev, i only use carbon booms

WindWarrior

NSW

1019 posts

26 Jan 2010 12:28pm

Just re-read the spiel on the aeron and now see that its the marketing hype *edit - from the manufacturer - that was included in Chocos post

A thousand pardons !

Paul Kelf

678 posts

26 Jan 2010 1:09pm

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WindWarrior said...

Just re-read the speel on the aeron and now see that its the marketing hype that was included in Chocos post

A thousand pardons !

So did I and realised that marketing can be a double edged sword.

"ultimate performance boom without getting ripped off"

I think they are saying that if you buy a carbon boom, you are "getting ripped off"

Luckily Aeron don't make carbon booms

Stretchy

1045 posts

27 Jan 2010 8:05pm

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WindWarrior said...

choco said...

This boom is AS stiff as carbon without the price tag, FINALLY!

Sorry Choco but if you think the only benefit of carbon over an alloy boom is stiffness... you really do need to get hold of a decent carbon boom and take it for a spin.
It's the response rate and memory of carbon that helps make them so much better... this all adds up to greater strength and durability, and that's before you throw the actual weight of the boom into the equation.

As mentioned earlier, at his (Rob/Special's) weight (95kg) IMO he will continue to snap alloy booms.

Nice comment Kev
Well at least Im not a donkey!
I agree with all comments on carbon being best, unfortunately I'm a tightarse with 3 young kids to feed so it just comes down to cash
one day............
Cheers Clydey
The response rate/memory of the carbon pulls it back into shape when extreme forces are applied to it. Alloy simply does not have this characteristic which results in deformation and weakening followed by catastrophic malfunction.

Horses for courses but given Rob/Special is a 'Clydesdale' as opposed to a lighter 'race horse' the strength and durability of carbon would be better suited to his weight.

my 2 cents

Kev - a fellow Clydesdale

Stretchy

1045 posts

27 Jan 2010 8:23pm

Well I blew my last reply. Itouch not so good for this sort of thing.
Here it is again:

Nice comment Kev
Well at least Im not a donkey!
I agree with all comments on carbon being best, unfortunately I'm a tightarse with 3 young kids to feed so it just comes down to cash
one day............
Cheers Clydey

Select to expand quote

Special said...

WindWarrior said...

choco said...

This boom is AS stiff as carbon without the price tag, FINALLY!

Sorry Choco but if you think the only benefit of carbon over an alloy boom is stiffness... you really do need to get hold of a decent carbon boom and take it for a spin.
It's the response rate and memory of carbon that helps make them so much better... this all adds up to greater strength and durability, and that's before you throw the actual weight of the boom into the equation.

As mentioned earlier, at his (Rob/Special's) weight (95kg) IMO he will continue to snap alloy booms.

The response rate/memory of the carbon pulls it back into shape when extreme forces are applied to it. Alloy simply does not have this characteristic which results in deformation and weakening followed by catastrophic malfunction.

Horses for courses but given Rob/Special is a 'Clydesdale' as opposed to a lighter 'race horse' the strength and durability of carbon would be better suited to his weight.

my 2 cents

Kev - a fellow Clydesdale

Stretchy

1045 posts

27 Jan 2010 8:27pm

Hi Ben
Thanks for the offer, very decent of you.
Unfortunately I just bought an Aeron monocoque, so Im ok now.
Good concept for the future though
Cheers
Rob

Select to expand quote

Ben Severne said...

Hi Special - I've got a reference sample of our 190-240 Alu-Race boom you can test for the rest of the season. We build them for the Formula Experience class so they're regularly used with 11.0's and 10.0's and hold up.

It uses an oversized (33mm) tube that's reduced to 29mm in the grip section, and a thicker wall to get the strength required for big sails on alu booms. The Formula Experience class rules prohibits the use of carbon booms, so we needed to develop this product.

Get in touch, and we'll hook you up with a boom.

Ben.

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