Paul Kelf said...

Monocoque construction came from carbon booms.
Alloy Monos came about as it reduced labour & components (read cheaper to manufacture)
The down side is the alloy is only 1.5mm thick through the front fitting.
A traditional 3 piece boom has a 3mm thick bend through the front & then an overlap in the connection with the arms making 4.5mm thick.
Mono booms are also a throw away when damaged, 3 piece can usually be repaired if the manufacturer suppluies spare parts.
It looks like the new NP construction is 3 piece, with a crimped? or glued? connection rather than bolted.
This may be a step forward but only time will tell.
The latest shapes in alloy booms, although it look stupid it comes about to try & make it more comfortable for the front hand but more inportantly to keep the bend radius through the front as big as possible so as not to weaken the alloy when bending.
Good to see they are going back to larger dia arms on bigger booms, this is why so many brands have had so many failures over the last few years & booms have been so flexy.
Common sense prevails, finally!
Marketing make up all sorts of reasons for changes, usually BS.

westozwind said...

Check out the pix from the PWA, even the non Pryde sponsored slalom guys use em in droves.
Many wave sailors too.

lordhowe said...

Just picked up a new NP 160-220 X9 from WSS. It is great NP added 10cm to the adjustment.

Very happy, have been having increasing problems with booms not adjusting correctly. i guess everybody knows what it's like when you're stinging to get on the water and you're having boom 'issues'. tested the new boom today and it is tres choice! It feels rock solid and it will do sails up to 8m, gotta love the new clue cut out thang.
If i had gone for one of these 10 years ago, I reckon I would have saved a bit when I look back and think how many booms I've bought over the years.

Haggar said...

Has anybody tried the Loft Carbon Booms ??

I want a carbon boom, thinking
- unifibre
- Loft
- NP

Gestalt said...

i've got KA carbon booms.

have the wide tail carbon boom in similar size to the one you are looking at plus a carbon wave.

like them. had them a long time now. only thing have had happen is a 2 pin arm clip needed replacing after a couple of years. i got some more no problems.

grab me next time i see you and i'll show you them.

evets said...

That is useful info Nebs, I generally am happy to pay more for a product when you get a better product by doing so rather than making a biger profit for the vendor. Any problems apparent with your non monocoque carbon booms?

Gestalt said...

hmm, i doubt the pwa guys use a particular boom because it does or doesn't break. they would use a boom which is the stiffest.

in my experience pros don't really care to much about breakage up until they break everything.

i looked into the wide tail thingo, you will find that most wide tail booms are mono. it's the narrow tail ones where the joints occur,

monocoque is usually wide tail and is stiffer.

typically that is.

sausage said...

Paul Kelf definately knows what he's talking about. Snapped a brand new monocoque aluminium boom this afternoon and it hadn't once been put under crash conditions. First and last mono ali I'll be purchasing.

Sorry, no brand name as I don't want to be seen as one of those brand bashers. Actually I'll try to upgrade to said brand's mono carbon. First the warranty issue though.