Guys,

Thanks to all for your previous advice but it now seems like I will spend this year at least on my usual rides, no bad thing I feel.

A new bigger sail purchase sees me needing a boom.

Carbon or not ??

Now in 12-13 years sailing I have never used let alone owned a carbon boom.

So my questions are:

should i bother? or has none carbon booms performance caught up?
which brands are worth a look?
and finally can a carbon boom go right to the end of its extension?

This final questions is because my non wave sail range could need a 228 max boom on a 180 - 230 boom length, would it work?

Many thanks

Mick

















many thanks

Mick

I went carbon on both my booms after continually breaking one every 3-6 months. I definately notice the difference in terms of flex and response time, however if I didn't break aluminium I probably couldn't justify the extra cost.

I extend my 160-210 almost to max when using my 7.2 and haven't hard any problems... yet.

Just my two cents.

I've been sailing for 22 years and haven't managed to ever break an aluminium boom. I can't justify the cost of carbon booms. I'd rather put the extra cash into a good fin. Makes heaps more difference in performance than boom construction.

All aluminium will break eventully, mine usually lasted 18 months.

I dont like extending booms to max but like leman says shouldnt be a problem with a carbon.

If you are happy to spend the extra go carbon, you will notice the difference.

Carbon booms are really good but for me there are more important things to spend money on such as a more specific board or set of fins and or sails that can widen the whole sailing window. But if you sail in the same conditions all the time an love it then why not get the best gear.

Hi northern monkey,

I have only recently (6 months or so) upgraded to a full carbon boom. I went from a full aluminium which I bent in the first six months, to a hybrid which I also bent in a similar time frame and now to a full carbon. Touch wood, so far it has been great. Everything feels better - a more direct feeling I guess. Personally I still wouldn't extend a carbon boom to it's max however.

Saying that however, much of the above time-frame was when I was experiencing quite a few catapults etc. which now seem to be behind me.... mostly. A lot of stress for any boom I would imagine.

The alluminium Aeron Vgrip booms look good.

cheers Guys,

Found a Naish Ali boom i liked which came in at a good price.

money i saved going towards a board.

Mick

I seem to break a boom every 4 years, but I normally have a couple on the go. I noticed boom breakage dropped with the arrival of children.

Which makes me wonder - is boom breakage a measurable unit of sailboarding activity? There is probably a formula here involving degree of recklessness, degree of clumsiness, sailor girth, obsessive compulsiveness (in washing aluminium gear after use) and a few other things. Anyone else have a theory on this?

Scotts got a good point as the only booms I have bent or broken have been from user error not manufactures error. 90 kgs of fat beer guts can be quite distructive at speed