So i bought a Severne Enigma the other day and i've had a chance to try it out. I had 2 rigs set up and so i ran both my booms back to back.
My X9 is a 2012 160-210 wave and the Enigma is a 2013 150-200 wave.
First thing is i weighed both of them with NP 24 harness lines and an uphaul attached.
The X9 had obviously been used before so may or may not of had some water in it but it hadn't been used for a week or so.
The X9 weighed 2.7 kg and the Enigma weighed 2.3 kg unused. Substantial i thought since it was comparing carbon to carbon.
The Enigma feels very thin in your hands and has a nice bend to it. The Enigma also feels stiffer than the X9 when sailing it.
The X9 i think has an awesome tail on it and the markings along the boom arms give you a rough guide to where to run the lines and will only need fine adjustments on the water. Eg is on a 5.0 sail you set the back line on "roughly" the 5th mark back from the front, i'm still trying to work out how the Severne markings relate to sail size.
The head on the Enigma is RDM only and fits really nicely and just feels good when you do it up, not that the head on the X9 is bad it's just that the Enigma one is smooth and has a lot of contact area on the mast, it's hard to explain you just need to put one on to see what i mean. It's buttery smooth
I was using a 2013 4.2 Blade with the Enigma and a 370 Gorilla with a carbon Wave Grenade. There was really enough wind but i had to get it wet the Blade being new as well. I was planning most of the time but needed more wind. To say this set was light would be an understatement. Feather light.
The X9 was rigged with a 2012 5.3 Firefly and an X9 RDM with a carbon NP extension. Not exactly a heavy rig either but not as light as the Severne.
The Enigma is one very trick piece of kit and i'm really happy with it but it by no means makes my X9 feel like crap it is still a very nice boom but the Enigma is just a bit nicer. It's also a little cheaper to sweeten the deal just that little bit more. Highly recommended.

Great write up, Ive had a look a mates new Enigma boom and it looks the goods, not a criticism but can you really feel the difference in stiffness between them on small wave sails?

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Jman said...
Great write up, Ive had a look a mates new Enigma boom and it looks the goods, not a criticism but can you really feel the difference in stiffness between them on small wave sails?

Yeah you can or maybe that's just my subconscious justifying outlay but seriously they are different feeling to sail to each other. They are both very good but the Severne does feel a little bit nicer. It is lighter for sure very skinny to hold and feels like there is no give whatsoever but like i said there wasn't really enough wind so the load on the boom wasn't that high.
Would i replace a late model X9 with one just for the sake of it? Probably not even though i thought about it, it would depend on the change over price but i did replace my 140 X6 with it and the difference is night and day between those two.
You wouldn't get off a late X9 and think wow and be blown away by the Enigma even though it is nicer because you were already on something pretty good but if you're upgrading from something of lesser quality hell yeah. If i were to own just one from scratch i would buy the Enigma over the X9 but only just. There really isn't any reason that i can think of why somebody wouldn't like an Enigma so long as they prove to last and only time will tell on that one they even look nice. I just thought of one thing the X9 clips for tail adjustment are easier to undo and do up. You can close the clip and pull or push the tail on the X9 and they will clip in by themselves when the holes line up with the Enigma the holes have to be lined up perfectly already. That's nit picking

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qldnacra said...


I was using a 2013 4.2 Blade with the Enigma and a 370 Gorilla with a carbon Wave Grenade. There was really enough wind but i had to get it wet the Blade being new as well. I was planning most of the time but needed more wind. To say this set was light would be an understatement. Feather light.

The X9 was rigged with a 2012 5.3 Firefly and an X9 RDM with a carbon NP extension. Not exactly a heavy rig either but not as light as the Severne.

Sorry but wouldn't a 4.2 on a 370 mast be somewhat lighter than a 5.3 on a 400 mast based on increased sail area and mast length regardless ?

Yes it would, what i was trying to get across is that i'm not comparing crap to high quality carbon stuff. I was using the best of NP and other than using a Gorilla instead of a Redline RDM the best of Severne.
I also used to use the X6 140 boom on a very similar set up before i bought the Blade. 2012 4.2 Gator plus a 2012 4.7 S1. So i recon i've got a pretty good basis for direct comparison. How else would you have preferred i say that the Severne rig is light. It is what it is light. The Pryde rig is light too but each component isn't quite as light as the Severne. I have no allegiance one way or the other i own both will continue to own both and i love using both in there intended wind ranges. I stated sail sizes for a reason i wasn't claiming that i was comparing apples to apples except for the booms themselves. So if i decided to rig my X9 on my S1 instead of the Enigma guess what the rig would be around 400g heavier. There's some apples with apples. Sorry IF i have offended you due to your brand choice or allegiance in some way. As the heading states it was a boom comparison and rest is just an insight into how i came up with the review and what i was using.

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WindWarrior said...

qldnacra said...


I was using a 2013 4.2 Blade with the Enigma and a 370 Gorilla with a carbon Wave Grenade. There was really enough wind but i had to get it wet the Blade being new as well. I was planning most of the time but needed more wind. To say this set was light would be an understatement. Feather light.

The X9 was rigged with a 2012 5.3 Firefly and an X9 RDM with a carbon NP extension. Not exactly a heavy rig either but not as light as the Severne.

Sorry but wouldn't a 4.2 on a 370 mast be somewhat lighter than a 5.3 on a 400 mast based on increased sail area and mast length regardless ?

That is total true. I have 5m hot sails firelight. That I can use a 370 or 400. Just having the smaller mast in the same size sail makes a huge difference to the weight feeling.

Put the enigma on the the 5.2 and np on the 4.2. I think you may find the 5.2 is still a much heavier rig.

I have three carbon booms.

The Chinnok and North are the same weight.

My smaller Aeron boom is approx 1 pound lighter or 400g.

I notice the difference in weight when gybing hugely!

Other than gybing,i notice very little difference.

In regards to the weight... Wouldn't it make more sense to compare a 4.2 Atlas + x100 + 2013 X9 boom?

Eg I have a 2012 5.4 Atlas which I run a 400 x6 mast. I also have a 2012 4.7 Atlas which I run on an x9 370. The 4.7 feels super light compared to the 5.4 regardless of what boom I run.

It started off as a boom comparison with information about how they were both used. Sail size and weight and which mast was used as keeps being brought up is irrelevant it's not opinion I WEIGHED the booms and one was lighter than the other as I pointed out I also pointed out some pros of each in my opinion, the bottom line is no matter what sail mast or extension you use if you put the lighter boom on the rig will be lighter. Whether you like the brand or bend or not is up to the purchaser to decide but like it or not the Enigma is lighter and a little stiffer but they are both good or I wouldn't own them.

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stehsegler said...
In regards to the weight... Wouldn't it make more sense to compare a 4.2 Atlas + x100 + 2013 X9 boom?

Eg I have a 2012 5.4 Atlas which I run a 400 x6 mast. I also have a 2012 4.7 Atlas which I run on an x9 370. The 4.7 feels super light compared to the 5.4 regardless of what boom I run.

I don't know, I reckon if it was all reversed the Severne rig would still be lighter, if not mighty close. That is; 5.3 Blade, Grenade carbon ext, Enigma, gorilla, Compared to a 4.2 Atlas and Np's best. Pryde don't publish their weights, but they aren't close to Severne with exception of maybe the mast. I reckon there is a +600g in the boom and extension alone. Just saying.

I own a 2013 Enigma, as I said in another thread, imo it's the best wave boom you can currently buy. Given that it's cheaper than an X9 it's a no brainer unless you are a NP devotee.

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CJW said...

stehsegler said...
In regards to the weight... Wouldn't it make more sense to compare a 4.2 Atlas + x100 + 2013 X9 boom?

Eg I have a 2012 5.4 Atlas which I run a 400 x6 mast. I also have a 2012 4.7 Atlas which I run on an x9 370. The 4.7 feels super light compared to the 5.4 regardless of what boom I run.

I don't know, I reckon if it was all reversed the Severne rig would still be lighter, if not mighty close. That is; 5.3 Blade, Grenade carbon ext, Enigma, gorilla, Compared to a 4.2 Atlas and Np's best. Pryde don't publish their weights, but they aren't close to Severne with exception of maybe the mast. I reckon there is a +600g in the boom and extension alone. Just saying.

I own a 2013 Enigma, as I said in another thread, imo it's the best wave boom you can currently buy. Given that it's cheaper than an X9 it's a no brainer unless you are a NP devotee.

Agreed, although i recon the X9 tail is a work of art and so is the MXT carbon extension. Both VERY nice

pm33 the enigma wave may not be ideal for race sails due to the narrower profile.

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qldnacra said...
Agreed, although i recon the X9 tail is a work of art and so is the MXT carbon extension. Both VERY nice

Yeah agree too, as I also said in that other thread, the tail on an X9, as you say, is a work of art, no one makes anything close to as nice as that. Not that sold on the MXT carbon extension, it looks quite nice I guess, but it's significantly heavier than the Wave Grenade carbon from Severne.

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CJW said...

qldnacra said...
Agreed, although i recon the X9 tail is a work of art and so is the MXT carbon extension. Both VERY nice

Yeah agree too, as I also said in that other thread, the tail on an X9, as you say, is a work of art, no one makes anything close to as nice as that. Not that sold on the MXT carbon extension, it looks quite nice I guess, but it's significantly heavier than the Wave Grenade carbon from Severne.

Yeah picked my carbon wave grenade and my mxt up at the same time and the mxt is heavier for sure but it is very pretty but that doesn't really matter because its one of the few things you can't see while your sailing its one of those function over form items. Like a mast

And it even makes weird noises like the boom

Wave Grenade kinda reminds me of the German stick grenade. Takes me back to Medal of Honour: underground on the PS1.. (That bonus level, Panzaknacker)



Stick grenade irl, better run chaps, this guy looks like he has a strong arm!


Anyway good review qldnacra, never mind the fusspots nitpicking your scientific method.

If your weight comparisons are accurate that's a pretty big difference, and when you continue knocking a few hundred grams off each rig component the end result can be light years ahead...

Why do NP make such light masts, yet build sails that weigh a tonne? funny buggers.

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dan berry said...
And it even makes weird noises like the boom

That's a feature not weird.

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dan berry said...
And it even makes weird noises like the boom

never heard it go boom

Have to agree with the overall summary of the enigma.

Picked up my Enigma 140-190 last week

sailed 15-25+ knt head shoulder - high cross off waves saturday arvo - 104 Fanatic freewave quad (home reno quad) and then the 5.5 on 87 Starby quad 2012

it works so well with the both the S1 6.3 and blade 5.5. Instant power and feels light and just feels unreal - my last boom was good but this is really a step up.

The boom head connection is a dream even compared to the previous Severne (140-190 wave - a very stiff non carbon non alloy - its a long story) was the easiest connection I've had compared last 3 of varying brands alloy booms I've broken or had the grip peel off after 2 weeks - enough said about that one

The tail markings were spot on - they're definitely worth a look if your in the market.

I Have no affiliations other than I like stuff that works - its been along wait to get my hands on this but its certainly been worth it.

Just picked up a 140-190 Enigma, and gave it a flogging yesterday. I have come off a 4 year old X9 which has been a great boom with the exception of the clips which break occasionally.

Sailed very over powered with a 4.3 S1 in 35 knots and am gobsmacked at how good this boom is. On dry land the weight difference is not really noticeable but the Enigma feels slightly stiffer. On the water the difference is chalk and cheese! The small grip diameter makes handling the boom way easier and 'feel' lighter in gybes. I managed to have a longer than usual session because my arms didn't fade. Construction just oozes quality.

Its definitely a big investment but worth every penny in my opinion.

So while on the subject, how much are people paying for the Enigma and do shops stock them or do you have to order them in?

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stehsegler said...
So while on the subject, how much are people paying for the Enigma and do shops stock them or do you have to order them in?

Surf FX has a couple left i think in the 150-200 wave how much you pay depends on how much other stuff you buy and how regularly and how loyal a customer you are. Retail is $1085 for the 150 from memory

Great Boom, try one if you can. The difference is significant on the water. We still have a few left !

I just picked up a severne Enigma boom 150 from wind surf n snow. I can off a alu naish boom which was a great boom but it broke only after 1 season on it. Which was a shame. The severne is absalutly sweet. On my 6.2 naish I could tell it was only a little stiffer then naish boom but when i rigged my 5.3 I was blown away by how stiff and light it was. A huge step up.

One other thing the small grip if so good. I didn't think I would like it so much. Never go back now.

Great boom. I hope it lasts more then one season.