you should be able to pick up an alloy monococque fou under 300,,,
try a pro limit or aeron.


in my experience they perform better and last a lot longer than their bolted brother.


all of my bolted booms ALWAYS snapped on the bolt, life would be anywhere from 7mths to 14 mths,,, the weakest spot for sure as seawater gets in down the bolt and corrodes the alloy into butter

monocoques snap too so far; only had only one go though,, that one lasted 2.5yrs

I've had a great run from 'North' alloy booms
where the arms are glued, instead of bolted, on to the much thicker tube which runs thru the head

A mate had a alloy monococque break right on the bend near the head after only a few months use.
The tube on the break was less than 1mm wall thickness were it was stretched at the bend

eckas said...


... but that was after 5 years of hard use by a 100kg plus sailor.

Cripes that's a good run. Buy another one, exactly the same!

My 200cm -250cm monocoque aluminium snapped only after 19 sessions (3 months old) at the head where the inner alum stiffener tube stops - manufacturer warrantied it immediately (much to the disappointment of the retailer - go figure that one) In fact the retailer commented that if he'd known how much I weighed (87kgs) and was going to use it with my big sail he wouldn't have sold it to me even though it was only at half it's max extension.

That said this boom was thinner diameter (29mm), very stiff and was the most comfortable boom I have sailed with. I have a carbon on order and bought a cheap ($150 on sale) 3 piece ali as a fill in until the carbon arrives. Sailing with it is really horrible as it flexes and twists like it's made out of rubber.

mkseven said...

Sausage that is crap regarding the comment about weight and intended use, personally i'd be off to find a new retailer.

Sausage, mkseven is on the mark with that, the retailer has to be a few roos short in the top paddock or smoking up a storm claiming that old chestnut.
Give him the flick and get a new retailer, otherwise he will do you again next time around..

I had heard that the one-peice booms alleviate the corrosion issue (no bolts, no crevice corrosion or bi-metallic influence from SS bolts) but at the expense of strength - the alloy has to be a lot softer to form it into the tighter bends around the mast clamp, resulting in thinning of the tube at the bend. Also, not all of the strength can be recovered through post-bending heat treatment.

mkseven said...

Sausage that is crap regarding the comment about weight and intended use, personally i'd be off to find a new retailer.

Mark,
This is part of original email I sent to (interstate) retailer and followed up with the manufacturer directly through their website when it appeared the retailer wasn't showing much interest.

As per our conversation please find attached photos of broken monocoque aluminium boom (220 -250cm) purchased from you in July this year. This boom has only been used 19 times (info gathered from my GPSTC sessions) without ever being catapulted &/or crashed. As discussed I am 87kgs and have only used this boom with my 8.8 Severne Code Red (boom length 233cm) in light to moderate wind conditions. I have a carbon boom with a max extension of 227cm which I use for my next sail down which is 7.7 CRed.

Also I am slightly bemused at your comment that you would not have sold me this boom if you knew my weight and sail size / type I intended to use with this boom. The Neil Pyrde X3 aluminium boom (200 – 250cm) which the [blank brand out] replaced was used in exactly the same conditions and lasted me 2 years (the tail piece split along seam, not the arm or head). So no, I find it difficult to understand how this boom is not suitable for the conditions that I sail in. Also apart from the NP X3, I must point out that I have never broken a boom like this one.


Davmen,
Yeah the monos are lovely to gybe and sail with the big rounded head diameter.

Paul Kelf said...

sausage said...

My 200cm -250cm monocoque aluminium snapped only after 19 sessions (3 months old) at the head where the inner alum stiffener tube stops - manufacturer warrantied it immediately (much to the disappointment of the retailer - go figure that one) In fact the retailer commented that if he'd known how much I weighed (87kgs) and was going to use it with my big sail he wouldn't have sold it to me even though it was only at half it's max extension.

That said this boom was thinner diameter (29mm), very stiff and was the most comfortable boom I have sailed with. I have a carbon on order and bought a cheap ($150 on sale) 3 piece ali as a fill in until the carbon arrives. Sailing with it is really horrible as it flexes and twists like it's made out of rubber.

I have to agree with the Retailer here but having said that he shouldn't stock Alloy booms that big because he is just asking for trouble.
That's exactly why we don't manufacture Alloys that big.

The inner tube in the Mono boom was probably causing a point loading on the outer tube causing it to break.

Paul,
Thanks for your honesty (and expert opinion) but as it (now) seems to be common knowledge in the sailboard industry that large ali booms are not suitable for large sails and/or large sailors, why do "reputable" brands still make them - at least they should come with a warning stating "not to be used by person weighing more than 70kg or with more than 2cm extension"

So fat guys like me can't get any of their gear covered by warranty anymore?
80kg recommended weight limit for a boom at only half extension is a bit rough Paul.

Not blaming you though, even the small print on my NP sails says "not to be used in more than 20kn" or 25kn or whatever (dependent upon size onbviously) and those are the wind strengths I'd start having fun with that size sail!!!!

As stated before I'd rather have the extra kilo in my sail and boom and have them last a few seasons not one or two.

Having said that I've never broken a boom? Trash them for 3 seasons and they're still fine, I only buy new ones cos I feel like something shiny.

lol ....... it is the reason I'll never buy carbon!!!!!

I get 3 yrs from a $300 boom. All my mates with carbon get 3 yrs out of a $1000 boom and it needs a new head or has a crack somewhere. Thus I get 9 yrs of trouble free sailing with no worries about "is it maybe cracked somewhere I can't see" for the same $$$ as a carbon.

I'm with Mark on that one, I have not yet seen the justification for me to shell out $800 - $1000 for a boom when my $300 alu lasts 3 or so years.

I know I wont get 9 years out of a carbon, the grip alone will be trashed in half that time and I am the sort of person that would rather buy a new one than bugger around with glue and grip etc...

But there are many who swear by them.

Mark _australia said...

So fat guys like me can't get any of their gear covered by warranty anymore?
80kg recommended weight limit for a boom at only half extension is a bit rough Paul.

Mark,
I didn't say that at all.

We recommend 80kg for our slimline booms.
I am about 85kg and have been using a slimline for years although I can probably get warranty if it breaks

I use a 32mm boom on anything over a 7.0M sail, for performance as well as durability.
I always encourage the bigger guys to go for a 32mm boom, not that they usually listen, hey Sausage
We have at least 3 different models for that reason.

We reduced the extension even on the 32mm booms so you can use all of it (45cm) without the boom feeling like a piece of spaghetti.

One manufacturer had a 90cm extension trying to please the market.

Correct me if I'm wrong Mark but I believe you use Techno booms & they are also 32mm or used to be.
By the way they are the best alloy boom on the market but once again, you only get what you pay for.

Final note: They all break eventually

Mark _australia said...

lol ....... it is the reason I'll never buy carbon!!!!!

I get 3 yrs from a $300 boom. All my mates with carbon get 3 yrs out of a $1000 boom and it needs a new head or has a crack somewhere. Thus I get 9 yrs of trouble free sailing with no worries about "is it maybe cracked somewhere I can't see" for the same $$$ as a carbon.

not sure what booms they are using, plus they are probably sailing 3 times more than me and 4 times darder but i buy a carbon boom and just keep on using it. my previous brand carbon booms ALL broke at the head. simce changing 4 years or so to new brand have not had any issues other than replacing the extension clips once which was free.

should also mention the slimline carbon i had that i snapped the arm in 2 was a 170-240 or somehting like that. was told way back then slimline wasn't best for heavy guys even if in carbon. i htink it's because our tackle is bigger.

This is becoming a very interesting debate.
I have 3 booms (2 ali and 1 broken carbon...like you say Paul they all break)
One boom is ten plus years old (triple clamp Chinook) and use it up to 7.5mtr and I am currently using after breaking my carbon boom. Bought the carbon in March, broke it in October, and at 800-900 dollars that does become a tad hard to swallow as it would seem warranty is being dodged by the manufacturer, and suffice to say it did not have much use.
Yes it was a tail slide and resulting hard fall, but I have fallen just as hard or harder and have never broken a boom. Bent them and replaced arms yes, but never total destruction as has occured with carbon resulting in the need of full replacment.
What I did find in "my opinion" is that the 32mm diameter alluminum boom that I am now using does not feel that different to my carbon, given it is at 50% of max extension.

What I do find disturbing is the suggestion that larger sailors need to go carbon for extra strenght when it would seem the end result can be the same. From my observations, the average weight of the male sailing community would possibly be over 80kg (flame suit on here[}:)]), hence I would have thought the equipment would be pitched at this?
This is a report from the ABS
Over the four surveys conducted in the 15 years to 2004-05, the average self-reported weight of Australian men increased steadily from 77.4 kg in 1989-90 to 83.6 kg in 2004-05 (an overall increase of 6.2 kg). Across the age groups, the increases ranged from 3.5 kg (for 18-24 year olds) to 7.5 kg (for 35-44 year olds). The average height of men increased marginally over the same period, with the greatest increase (1.6 cm) occurring in the 25-34 years and 35-44 years age groups.
Given that this was 2005, it is fair to assume that this would have remained constant or that we may have followed the trend indicated and hence the "observation" I note.
Should not the equipment we use service the population in general?

My undersating of going to exotic material eg carbon was for increased performance from the product. Yes it could be argued that increased perfomance is longer life, I look a performance as result, not just in life span.

OK flame suit on zipped and ready

sausage,

mate that was the biggest stack i think i have witnessed!

Climber,

i am almost certain the boom you broke was the same brand that i use.

i am not saying that carbon booms don't break. i agree that any boom will break regardless of brand or construction and having a high speed hooked in crash will certainly accelerate that.

but it is a reality that some brands/shops/people recommend that heavy weights buy carbon. i myself haven't bought an aluminium boom in years so i am practicing what i preach.

there are other things to consider apart from sailor weight.
some of the other reasons i use carbon over ali.

1. you can run carbon booms on full extension without too much negative impact. an ali boom on full extension is waiting to explode. i have 2 booms that cover 4.7m to 8.5m and regularly run them on full extension. if i was using aluminium i would need 3 booms maybe even 4

2. no corrosion - i don't wash my gear

3. carbon booms are stiffer and stay stiffer longer. (that's the performance increase) especially in the bigger sizes which means a more stable sail. to me it is something i notice. that could be related to hanging 105 kg off the rig. if i use anything over 6.4m i would never consider aluminium.

that said i don't buy carbon booms that aren't mono construction or have thin arms. as i've broken them in the past. i also know lots of top sailers that use aluminium.