Hi All

Is there an aussie manufacturer and/or supplier (via mail order) of this style of boom bra:

www.board-worx.com/

Note: I'm after something that will protect the nose of my board when I catapult.

Thanks

A couple of thoughts..

If your boom is hitting the nose of your board, you're either riding a long board, are really short in stature, or your boom is too low. Most likely it's the mast hitting the board.

Learn to hold on to your boom when you catapult - especially with the back hand. Oversheet if you can. This will steer the mast over and past the nose. Usually you will hit the water before the mast hits the board, and this slows the impact down better than any 25mm piece of soft foam can ever hope for.

Another option is a nose protector on your board, but I've never been convinced that the positives outweigh the potential for a crack under the protector that you can't see.

If you're handy with a knife and contact adhesive and don't mind making something a bit ugly for the duration, you can buy one of those pool noodles and glue a section of that to the nose of your board for next to nothing.

Catapulting is one of those compulsory phases that everyone goes through. It will pass, and you'll be asking about avoiding spin out before you know it!

Hi, Jason,

Neil Pryde do a similar product, under the name of a "T-Boom Protector", see here:http://www.neilpryde.com/equipment-2009/accessories/t-boom-protector.html.

I've got one and am happy with it, although (IMHO) it could be a bit longer in the mast length protector (it's 27 cm long).

Before I obtained the NP, I was using a normal boom bra then fitting a ProLimit mast protector (its 37 cm long) upside down, just under the boom head.

The NP is used on my 400/370 masts for wave sails and the ProLimit on my 430/460 masts, for large wave and my slalom sails.

Don't know if there is a NP dealer in Adelaide, but you could send an e-mail to SHQ in Melbourne ([email protected]. Mark it for Paul) or one to Windsurfing Perth, to see if they've got any and what they cost.

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Windman

Ja go to Onboard they are the only dealers in NP gear in Adelaide.

Hi all

555: It's for my new board (custom jobie - expecting it in the next few months). I'm going from 150L to 115L . It's precautionary. Yeah, my mask's normally knock the nose. I have got around the problem on my current board by taping a squillion km's of gaffa tape around the nose. Thanks for the pool noodle tip - the beauty about this idea is, when the wind dies, you can have a pool noodle sword fight with the tea baggers right on the beach !

SurfConnect: still waiting for email :)

WindmanV: no worries. I'll shake some trees.

WindWarrior: Thanks :). This stuff ? - http://www.mcsurf.com.au/products/deck_grip_tail_block_creature_of_leisure/222/1

pittsy: Thanks. If i'm in the area (don't know when). You lucky bastards for living close to the surf shops and the sea. I envy you :)

PR & WM: I'll get G-cups

Ja

I use a mast protecter and just put it under the boom instead of at the base of the mast where it was originally made for.

http://www.surfsailaustralia.com.au/showProduct/Windsurfing/Windsurfing+Accessories/305234/Chinook+Medium+Mast+Base+Pad

I also have a boom bra but like someone else said the boom doesn't reach the nose.

RE: deviator. I also bought this but haven't used it. It takes longer to rig up and I also read an article that if the force in the catapult is strong enough the leverage of the mast on the deviator can potentially rip out the mast foot housing from your board, but this would be unlucky.

As you can probably guess I completely totalled the nose of one of my boards in a huge catapult (35knots), so I am taking all the precautions I can.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Simeon for web links :). Interesting reading.

I ordered a mast base protector from Padi (SurfConnect) and will go with that.

Thanks all :)

Ja

Guru said...

North sails make the best boom bra that i've ever seen, it has a removable mast pad that clips onto the mast.I"ve been using them on our hire gear for about 4 seasons with great results and they only cost about 30 bucks.

Have you got a link for where you can buy these?
Thanks.