Just selling off some gear with the thought of upgrading my mast and boom. I currently use the x3 NP mast and boom ,(All my sails are N.P wave sails under 2 y.o.)
Is the top of the range gear worth the $? You can spend 2 grand on a new boom and mast but will I appreciate the difference? Mainly sail on Port Phillip Bay chop.
Also is N.P the only choice I have in compatible masts or is there another brand that I can also investigate that works just as well with N.P sails?

If upgrading masts, I would consider skinnies as well.

Apparently lots of brands are compatible with NP, have heard good things about Powerex.

Hey there, for freesailing in choppy/gusty conditions I would steer clear of 100% carbon masts. There really expensive and you will get a more comfy ride out of a 75% freeride mast.
As for booms, CARBON! there luxury, they wont bend, and if they bust you can fix `em.

Spend the money on masts - save the money on booms.

Ezzy skinnies are brilliant and strong, but stupid expensive ($700 each I think at the moment).

However, you can buy the top and bottom halves separately, and they interchange... so if you're clever about it and buy the right sails you can get away with less masts.

I cannot come close to justify spending over a grand on a carbon boom when a $259 Prolimit one will do the same job just as well.

Powerex are no longer in production what left in shops is it .

If you've got the coin go for the X9 stuff, you do get what you pay for. I ran X3 last year and it was ok, Changed to 2010 X6 RDMs and 2010 X6 booms and there is a world of difference. I've sailed X9 stuff as well but I can tell little difference between the X6 and X9, If you run big race sails you may notice a difference but for a wave sail the X6 is perfect. I'm a heavy weight sailor and I notice a huge difference in the booms, If your light you could get away with a cheap boom but if your anywhere near 90kgs get a good boom, full carbon if you can...If not get a hybrid at least. I've broken a boom but I have never broken a mast and I've put my masts through hell...I'm new to wave sailing and have seen my X6 mast smashed many times into sand bars, reefs and countless other things with no problems. Every sailor has a brand they like, at the end of the day it's your coin...spend it however you like.

Buy Neil Pryde X6

I've got a NP X6 460 and it works well with both a North Warp 7.8m 2006 model and my Loft 02, 2009 models, of 7.4m, 6.6m. I have not tried it with the 5.9m as this summer there hasn't been enough wind for such a small sail, except one day a massive southerly came through and a 3.7m would have been a bit big

if it's any help, from my own experience, powerex 85% skinnys work fine in pryde wavesails. powerex skinny masts seem to have quite a good reputation

sorry to hear it if they are finished. I notice the website is still up?

a good stiff boom can extend your sails wind range almost as much as a top $ mast. A bendy boom will let the draft change and COE travel around at will, usually back in gusts. Not so good for riding over powered.
I use a carbon slalom boom from 4.4 to 7.5. Could use a little more outhaul range with the 7.5 and starts to feel hefty with the 4.4, but everything in the middle is sweet.
The triangular tubed booms coming out are worth a look.

windgeorge said...

Powerex are no longer in production what left in shops is it .

Yeah thats right. Contacted powerex and they have moved out of windsurfing and are concentrating on making other carbon products.
Can't get NP masts either as the new factory is still in the setting up stage.

Making it hard to spend money!

Just as well its autumn in Melbourne.

Thanks for all the advice. Will spend $ on mast but now need to decide between the x-combat rdm (approx 3 week wait) or 90% rdm Powerex wave as I found one still in stock and is about $200 cheaper than x-combat. Opinions appreciated
(sailing NP wave sails in bump& jump & looking at getting into ocean waves.)

I have just changed from having hot sails maui hot rod range masts( 92% carbon) and x3 masts for use in my severne blades,gators and ncx pro editions to using all severne blue line masts specified for them and notice the world of difference.. lent my rig to a mate for a blast the other day and watched closely how the sail/rig reacted to big wind gusts( i sail in wgtn nz) and compared to other rigs on the water that day it stayed steady and just kept accelerating...not a pro sailor by any imagination but the difference in sailing the rig and how it actually rigged up on the beach was immense..the leach loosens off gradually on a nice arc when rigged with correct mast as opposed to all or nothing with other brand mast. Am using x6 booms...They seem ok... i think the money should be spent on the correct mast and you should try to save on the boom...thats my 2cents worth..good luck !

waggles56 said...

Thanks for all the advice. Will spend $ on mast but now need to decide between the x-combat rdm (approx 3 week wait) or 90% rdm Powerex wave as I found one still in stock and is about $200 cheaper than x-combat. Opinions appreciated
(sailing NP wave sails in bump& jump & looking at getting into ocean waves.)

You going to spend good money on a decent mast so choose well. Ideally see if you can borrow one to test, or second best option - take your sail to the shop and try an X Combat RDM (one of the shop staff should have one). See how the sails looks on this rigged to spec and then compare (Take a pic if you have to) with your other options.

I bought some used X9's (for my wave sails) a few years ago from a sponsored sailor. They've had a lot of use / abuse and still going strong. And I did notice a good performance difference from the 30&60% carbon masts I was using previously.