after breaking another X3 boom 4 months from brand new- four inches behind back harness line when landing a jump with a 4.2 - it popped when the gust filled the sail (replacement for the last x3 that broke after 10 months that also required a replacement shattered clear lever) I really want to know how long should a boom last is 4-10 months normal (alloy or carbon) or should they take a little more Pryde in the manufacture and sourcing of alloy - I have bought another one (different brand) but am seriously sick of this failure.

what does everyone rate as good long boom life - and does carbon make that much difference - signed pissed of boom breaker

Your boom looked like it had been cut it had snapped so clean, you should send it to Neil Pryde with a letter signed pissed off and see what response you get. Really they should send you a new boom, mast and quiver of new sails for your hardship IMO.

In my experience Neil Pryde is not that interested in hearing about a product that has failed before its time. My only advice would be to try a HPL boom, I wouldn't use anything else. When you hold a HPL boom in your hands it feels like one piece compared to a NP boom that just feels cheap.

If, like me you're over 80 kilos then I wouldn't bother with narrow diameter booms. Not sure if the X3 is narrow or not, but for what it's worth...

Also I've seen many, many X3's break. I've broken North, Loft, Chinook, etc cheapies, and am now on Hydrodynamix which I'm very happy with. It's definitely lasted the longest out of any aluminium boom I've owned. (Also got a carbon boom for slalom but at ~$800 they're not really in the same class)

If I pay under $180 then I expect it to last under 6 months.

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Orange Whip said...

In my experience Neil Pryde is not that interested in hearing about a product that has failed before its time. My only advice would be to try a HPL boom, I wouldn't use anything else. When you hold a HPL boom in your hands it feels like one piece compared to a NP boom that just feels cheap.

Unfortunately I tried a HPL and loved it till it broke (14 months) - through the bolt hole at the head piece - just popped while sailing along ended up being the longest walk of shame ever after managing to get back to shore - maybe it's just me - none of the lighter sailors seem to have a problem - and I thought getting down to 85kg would reduce breakage!!!!!!

I'm liking my Aeron one piece - at 95kgs I haven't broken it yet and it's seen a few reefs!

I broke an X3 recently too (about 5 months old) when sheeting in after a jybe . Wasn't even that windy. Clearly a material fault. Warranty policy of my local shop in Melbourne was great though, I immediatly got my money back. My first two X3 lasted a lot longer though (2 and 2.5 years, which I though is a decent lifetime for an alloy boom). My weight is only 80kg though.

Cause I was annoyed with the latest breakage I did a bit of research in the Internet and talking to people. All theory as I haven't actually tested lots booms. But it's difficult to try lots of them over longer time periods unless you buy them first .

As far as alloy is concerned I think the Technolimits King (full Ergal) is the best available alloy boom, but you pay for it (roughly as expensive as a hybrid boom). Other good alloy booms seem to be Technolimits (normal alloy), Chinook, Hydrodynamix and Aeron (in no particular order). However, usually the stronger alloy booms are either more expensive, are heavier, have a larger diameter or less extension (or a combination of the previous).

However, a number of people convinced me that alloy booms simply don't last very long if you sail in waves, do hooked in jumps etc. (even if they don't break they may bend) and in the long run may well cost more than a full carbon boom. Also I have small hands and therefore really like the smaller diameters. So I decided to go full carbon. Very expensive at first (I don't trust the cheap no-name ones) but it should last much longer (hopefully).

As far as stiffness is concerned I don't have much experience but I have used both a full carbon boom and a hybrid boom (alloy front, carbon back). The full carbon really made a big difference! The rig feels much better (more direct and doesn't flex as much) especially when it's gusty and pumping works better! The hybrid didn't feel much stiffer than an alloy boom (halfway extended). The weight difference (if there was one) didn't make much difference either, but a smaller diameters (<30mm) feel much better IMHO. I also think both the full carbon and hybrid boom have a lower swing weight (probably lighter extension piece).

That's my 0.02 cents. I'm not affiliated in any way with any of the brands mentioned nor the shops that sell them.

i would have to agree with you ddevil.

carbon all the way.

you have 2 choices:

1. buy Ali, then when you crash an burn you break your boom or bend it.

2. buy carbon and smash you ribs up when you eat it.

I have noticed that guys that weigh less than 75kg, can get away with Ali for ages no dramas (like i used to). Guys bigger than 80kgs i would always recomend carbon on principal.

Cheers for your thoughts -some good points there DDevil - just need to convince the treasurer about the long term savings that could be made by buying a carbon boom. (just bought a new freewave) might just have to make the effort to unhook when jumping from now on

I did forget to mention that the crew at the shop where I bought the original were great regarding the warranty while it lasted - they must cringe every time I walked in


Maybe save for one at Xmas (or if I break my new alloy one before then)

I've been told by some crew that the carbon booms can get a bit scetchy after 2 years and could and do snap.

For around $1200 for a carbon version and poentionaly only lasting a few years with no or very little weigth benifits I'll be buying the alloy ones and replace every 18 to 24 months.(if needed)

Both types of boomshave there problems, I think the boom needs a redesign.

For the record I use a chinook wave boom...its worked well.

Once you've tried a carbon boom you'll never go back to alloy or a hybrid.
The stiffness, strength and grip diameter of a good quality carbon boom is such a massive difference to anything else.
After landing really bad from a massive air and having both my wrist and thumb break from the impact, but my boom coming out unscathed, I'd have to doubt any weakness considerations. No alloy boom would have survived.

$1200 for a carbon wave boom??? The big race ones are, but I haven't heard of a wave boom being that much.

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Muzza12 said...

Once you've tried a carbon boom you'll never go back to alloy or a hybrid.
The stiffness, strength and grip diameter of a good quality carbon boom is such a massive difference to anything else.
After landing really bad from a massive air and having both my wrist and thumb break from the impact, but my boom coming out unscathed, I'd have to doubt any weakness considerations. No alloy boom would have survived.

$1200 for a carbon wave boom??? The big race ones are, but I haven't heard of a wave boom being that much.

I'd rather break a boom than my wrist.....ouch

Hmmm.... I've never thought of it that way!

currently have a chinook wave carbon boom (2005) which is very close to being replaced, the boom has had one arm replaced (broke near mast clamp) a year ago, having said that the boom has had an absolute flogging and there is no way an alloy boom could handle some of the poor landings that have occurred. Probably will notbuy chinook again due to the narrow nature of the boom which does not allow a 5.5m sail to rig without touching when powered and think that the neil pryde x9 looks like a good option as wider near harness lines

Just as a guess looking at the products out there, I would reccomend

>severne carbon boom: reduced diametre, yet stiff. a bit heavy; so probably very durable

>Maui sails carbon: nice design and great reviews...

>Aeron alli . cheap, and have heard that replacement parts are also inexpensive.
>Aeron carbon may also be good value/durable.

At this stage I cannot recomend Pro-limit (older) and Neilpryde carbon booms (X9), as ive seen far too many breakages/Design flaws.

some carbon booms do break.

i broke 2 carbon booms, first one i sheared the boom arm in 2 the other one let go at the head after a big crash. both booms same brand. and they were not NP.

i changed to KA carbon booms and have not broken a boom since. (having had lots of big crashes )

Get a monocoque Aeron ali. Great value for money, strong, stiff and they feel gooood!

Very happy with my Chinook Alloy. I see some of you have broken Chinooks. I am 87kg on a 145lt board for three years it it still going strong. Everything from 7.4m in the bay to 4.8m in 40 knts at Sandy Pt and many hard and heavy crashes along the way.

Cripes I dont know what type I have but its late 80's - early 90,s & hasnt looked like breaking.Its probably pretty crap by todays standards with movement & weight ( rope clamp inhaul).Mind you Im a lightweight & havent had that many bad stacks.

Have 2 Aeron full alloy after breaking my hybrid, love the shape and value for money. All good thus far.

I have an x9 that is about 6 years old,it should last at least another 10...
If you're using alloy booms then my guess is you are just trying to stab your self with a sharp alloy pipe
If you don't like Pryde carbon booms then get a Maui Sails carbon boom.IMHO everything else is a false economy!

I've got a couple pryde x6 hybrid's at the moment but after breaking 2 in the last couple years i cant really recomend them, The 2 i've got at the moment dont feel as stiff as when they were new and i predict will most probably fail by the end of the year, the first x6 i had exploded in 3 peices while bearing away in a gust at lake george 2 years ago a nice reward for the $500+ price tag

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I'm in the market too - have found the carbons dont seem to break and I am hard on my gear. Used Chinook last 2 years and the adjustable system at the back finally wore out. My fin stuffs up the grip a bit too.

Got Pryde X6 boom and stuffed after 6 months. Bought an x9 but the grip was damaged when I unwrapped it.

I am now thinking of either going back to Chinook carbon or looking at Gaastra carbon boom. Has anyone ever tried the Gaastra?

In terms of cost they seem to be expensive (around $1000 per boom) - for most full carbon booms - but at least they don't seem to break or flex then break where the head joins the arms or in the arms.

This comes from someone who lands one handed forwards hooked in with one arm off the boom - so I cane them a fair bit!

Hi Geoff,
I've got a demo MauiSails carbon boom you can try out.
They retail at under a grand, but I can look after you price wise anyway!
They are widely rated as one of, if not the best carbon boom available.

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Muzza12 said...

Hi Geoff,
I've got a demo MauiSails carbon boom you can try out.
They retail at under a grand, but I can look after you price wise anyway!
They are widely rated as one of, if not the best carbon boom available.

by far the best boom, maui sails

solid, stiff, durable, hughe range (140-200), smallest diameter (smaler as X9)

Had x5, x6, x9 booms before, sailing now for 2+ years with maui sails boom ( 1 boom for 3.8-6.3) and still no problems

best windsurf product i bought in 20 years

I currently use an X7 full carbon (which I guess was a custom boom build for team riders or something)... anyway, I have had it for about 5 years now and it's still going strong. I had to place the front last season because it was finally worn out.

Also using an X9, I have had an initial problem with the outhaul extension part as well as the closing mechanism but both were identified by Neil Pryde as production issues and I got those parts replaced at no cost. It's been going strong ever since.

If you don't want to spend the money on a carbon boom take a look at the Chinook Aluminium wave booms. With proper care they will last an eternity as they are almost bomb proof.

However, I learnt many years ago that if you are trying to save money buy buying a cheap boom it will cost you more in the long run. I remember going through 6 "el cheapo" booms in one season before finally biting the bullet and paying the extra for a Chinook... this was back in the mid 90s when $400 was a lot of money for a boom...

I thought you were all full of sh!t - until today. first use of a carbon boom absolutely crappy sailing day with all the rain but yes ,now I understand.

Ahh crusier as I said. Nothing I ever bought in windsurfing made the difference to my sailing experience that my two X9 carbons did. After a few sails on the carbon, go back to a alloy and you will wonder how you ever sailed it.

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qldsalty said...

Ahh crusier as I said. Nothing I ever bought in windsurfing made the difference to my sailing experience that my two X9 carbons did. After a few sails on the carbon, go back to a alloy and you will wonder how you ever sailed it.

yes,

any carbon boom brand will give that same feeling.