Carbon booms..........GASP!!! (Accessories) | Windsurfing Forums, page 1

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Carbon booms..........GASP!!!

Created by

Stretchy > 9 months ago, 28 Apr 2014

Stretchy

1045 posts

28 Apr 2014 8:52pm

Broke my alloy Aeron on the weekend. It has lasted about 4 years with a lot of over powered speed sailing and I'm about 95kg. I reckon that's a pretty good run.
Anyhow, I thought I would go carbon and everyone is raving about another brand..... I was mentally preparing myself for a $1000 outlay, which is stretching my dedication. Then I saw the price!! $1500 Are they ???#ing joking!
I would need that to last 20years to be value for money.
Oh, but the performance will be better.... but I'm not a pro sailor, the performance advantage would be nice, but its not THAT important.
I see why the reviews are so positive too, you would be too embarrassed to bag it if you had paid that sort of money!!
Are you guys sure you're not getting sucked into technology oneupmanship? Is this sport THAT serious to you??

I'm only half serious, I'm sure it is a quality boom - boy this is becoming an elitist sport though.....
I'm just jealous because those prices are simply out of my league

So to get to the point, where can I buy Aeron booms in Aus?

Stretchy

1045 posts

28 Apr 2014 9:04pm

Well after that little dummy spit, I've just had some advice of experiences with people picking up 2nd hand booms around the $500 mark and lasting 10+ years. Thats good value. I suppose the initial gamble is as to whether you've scored a good one or not

Anyhow, give me a mouthful, I deserve it

JonesySail

QLD

1120 posts

29 Apr 2014 12:23am

I'm hearing you..., it's expensive...hard to justify why so..

but then I look at my carbon extension. Then look at how much carbon is it V's a boom and all the other bits, especially the head/clamp and all of a sudden the boom looks cheap!

seanhogan

QLD

3424 posts

29 Apr 2014 6:15am

It looks cheap when you're swimming for a few km..... :-)

you guys are really being hit hard by prices in Oz, top of range race carbon boom will not exceed 1000$ here and a wave one will be 700$ new

Stretchy

1045 posts

29 Apr 2014 7:30pm

Actually, I see I can get a 180-230 MauiSails carbon boom for just over $1k. I might come at that - anyone have experience with these?

Captain_Morg

TAS

737 posts

29 Apr 2014 9:33pm

$1500 retail!!!, really who pays that.Thats a starting price-- just work them down in hundreds

paddymac

941 posts

29 Apr 2014 7:57pm

2nd Wind Sailboards do RRD Carbon booms that are reasonably priced and I think that they are basically Aeron Booms with RRD branding. They are not importing Aerons because they would need to order too many for it to be viable. My Aeron carbon slalom boom is still going strong after 5 years and some big offs.

hardie

4129 posts

29 Apr 2014 8:01pm

In bigger boom sizes, I could never get an Alloy Boom to last even 1 season, and being a fat bastard 95kg plus & an ethical person I couldnt keep going back claiming warranty's from good people, so I bought a 190 to 240 carbon boom lasted me 5+ years so far, paid itself off many times over plus no long swims far from home

Gestalt

QLD

14722 posts

29 Apr 2014 10:25pm

I bought my carbon booms back when a 180-240 boom cost about $700. I replaced the clamp a few months ago. Bought the boom new about 12 years ago. Replace the arm clips every 5 or so years.

my wave boom i bought 13 or so years ago. Still going strong.

originally i was breaking carbon booms every 2-3 years. I swapped brands and not broken one since.

sausage

QLD

4873 posts

29 Apr 2014 11:38pm

Select to expand quote

Special said...
Actually, I see I can get a 180-230 MauiSails carbon boom for just over $1k. I might come at that - anyone have experience with these?

Special,
Do you mean the 170-230 or the 190-240? I have both so I'll start with the good. Have had the 240 for over 5 years and it's still going strong. Incredibly stiff and grip still relatively good. Personally think the ms boom head is the best around but others will beg to differ. Mainly use an 8.6 and 7.8 with this.

Now for the not so impressed (this from an earlier thread) www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/General/Carbon-boom-repairs/

Select to expand quote

sausage said..

Not wanting to brand bash (very unusual for me

) I recently got a smaller version 170-230 carbon boom of my larger 190-240 boom based on just how good the bigger one has performed - it's still going strong after 4 years.

Anyhow I had initially used new boom about 4times and everything felt okay apart from it being a bit loose in the back end compared to other booms Ive had (and still do have). Then the next time I was sailing on starboard and the port side tail pins released at 206 and under load slipped and locked back in at 188 extension (making the boom look like a banana) . I initially thought the boom had cracked due to the noise it made and thought that maybe the clip wasn???t fully in but then it did it again the next session which confirmed that there was an issue with the tail end being too loose allowing the pins to slip under load.

So analysing the boom I found that the holes in the extension were oversized for the pins and the tail diameter is too small and gave it just enough play to slip. The retailer kindly sent me up another tail piece but it was only ever so slightly better and knew it would probably do exactly the same thing.

Taking matters into my own hands I decided on filling the pin holes with a epoxy / qcell mix and then wrapping the tail piece in carbon cloth. Taped it up, let it set and then gave it a light sand. Used the plastic clip housing as a guide (see photo) and redrilled holes smaller than original so pins are a tight fit. Used now about 5 times with no slipping and it feels so much stiffer.

Also questioned issue on MS forum FYI ~~http://www.mauisails.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=4715~~

Stretchy

1045 posts

30 Apr 2014 9:45pm

Thanks for the feedback and advice guys, very useful
Paddymac, I will follow up with the RRD option and see how big the gap between them and the MS boom is.
Sausage, I was thinking the 170-230, then it can fit my 5.8, 6.6 and 7.6. Agree the front end looks good - will certainly check if the pin holes are still an issue. Encouraging though that MS (Barry) seem to be listening

sausage

QLD

4873 posts

1 May 2014 12:49am

What's the boom length on your 7.6 as I wouldn't recommend fully extending as you are on the heavy side (same weight as me)

djl070

290 posts

1 May 2014 8:51am

Select to expand quote

Special said..

Actually, I see I can get a 180-230 MauiSails carbon boom for just over $1k. I might come at that - anyone have experience with these?

I have both the 190-240 and the 170 -230 and can recommend both,I have regripped the 190-240 using the new Maui Sails grip as the old grip style was renowned for peeling off and it looks like a new one.
In my opinion it was money well spent on them as they are great booms and I also agree they are the best heads going around,I put a new MS head on my HPL formula boom and it made a big difference to it.
I use the 170 on 5.6,6.2 and 7 mtr,the 190 on the 7.8and 8.6.
Just remenber that carbon booms feel great and are strong but they can also break given a nice stack so no boom is bullet proof

KevinD002

226 posts

1 May 2014 1:25pm

Select to expand quote

Special said..

Thanks for the feedback and advice guys, very useful
Paddymac, I will follow up with the RRD option and see how big the gap between them and the MS boom is.
Sausage, I was thinking the 170-230, then it can fit my 5.8, 6.6 and 7.6. Agree the front end looks good - will certainly check if the pin holes are still an issue. Encouraging though that MS (Barry) seem to be listening

I'm a lightweight at 64kg and use my 170-230 for a 5.4, 6,6, and 7.5. Works great! Had some minor issues with the tail piece holes (odd wear) after 2 uses but had excellent customer service from the Maui guys. Highly recommend the boom!

Stretchy

1045 posts

1 May 2014 10:04pm

Select to expand quote

sausage said..

What's the boom length on your 7.6 as I wouldn't recommend fully extending as you are on the heavy side (same weight as me)

My small and large sails are X15 (the 6.6 is a dead Koncept, yet to be replaced). The 5.8 is 187cm, the 7.6 is 211cm. Do you think that would be ok on the 230?

sausage

QLD

4873 posts

2 May 2014 12:24am

Select to expand quote

Special said...

sausage said..

What's the boom length on your 7.6 as I wouldn't recommend fully extending as you are on the heavy side (same weight as me)

My small and large sails are X15 (the 6.6 is a dead Koncept, yet to be replaced). The 5.8 is 187cm, the 7.6 is 211cm. Do you think that would be ok on the 230?

Yeah that shouldn't be an issue. It was just that it didn't feel too stiff with my 7.8 (218 boom) when I rigged it up once although I never sailed with it as I was still hadnt made modifications to tail. Don't get me wrong, I like the boom but think MS's quality control and/or design specs on the tail piece was wanting.

philn

1080 posts

4 May 2014 6:26am

I have the 170-230 and the 190-240 MS booms. I've sail the 170-230 with my 8.0 (224 boom) and it felt fine, a little flex when overpowered, but for cruising perfectly powered it is great. I've used the 190-240 with a 9.2 (240 boom) and there was zero flex even when stupidly overpowered.

Edit - I'm 85 kg.

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