sboardcrazy said..

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I'd like to buy another but windsurfnsales has sold out and I don't know where else to get one?
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Whats wrong with the Gun booms from Windsurfnsales ?

I have one, it is exactly the same as the Aeron MCT26 I bent (except for grip colour, logo and extension clips) and it was cheaper.

Unfortunately I am not sure that you can have both 'good' and 'cheap'. But the Gun ones are certainly good enough, with a 26mm grip as well.

jh2703 said..

I had a North silver when I first started and it was really good, Nice diameter and tuff....I was learning so it took a pounding. I think it was around $200 brand new.

second that, im 115kgs fit, mines handled forwards, backies, freestyle not a problem, a bit bouncy but strong.

Yep - another vote for Gun as a 'good' cheapy.

I think lightness wins for me I don't know that at my weight I'd notice the extra stiffness. If the boom was for my smaller sails Id go for the extra stiffness but as I'm already struggling using all my strength to uphaul the 7.2m I don't want to make it any harder!

I think for me the stiffness is more about transmitting my effort when I try and pump the sail, into the rig more, instead of flexing as much as aluminium does. I do like the idea that the carbon boom should last longer for me, as I have broken an aluminium boom almost every season since I started, and at a lardy 100kgs, it becomes more of an issue.

I got a very short season (3 months) out of a well known brand and I think the reason was that at my weight I cause the boom to flex more, more often, and the aluminium fatigues at the head.

Ian K said..

Why is boom stiffness so important? It's been said that when the boom flexes in a gust it gets shorter, powering up the sail when you don't want it. When you do the boom flex test, do it with the head firmly on the floor and the the tail against a pencil mark on the wall. Note how little flex is transmitted to the tail end for quite a bit of flex between the arms. It's all simple geometry. Aluminium has a nice comfy feel and if you do get tangled with it in a big crash it's more likely to progressively crumple doing less damage to you.

I work on the pricipal that if I never try a stiff carbon boom I will never know the disadvantages of an aluminium one !

I think back to the days of tie on timber booms and think how fantastically good my cheap ali clamp boom is.

Ignorance is bliss.

Carantoc said..

I work on the pricipal that if I never try a stiff carbon boom I will never know the disadvantages of an aluminium one !

I think back to the days of tie on timber booms and think how fantastically good my cheap ali clamp boom is.

Ignorance is bliss.

yep that's why I haven't yet tried a you beaut slalom or freerace board..

I briefly owned an Aeron 160-210 V-grip last year. I replied to a review in the gear section for those interested. In summary, due to it's weight and profile (and my weight and style), I didn't find this boom suitable for either for B&J or slalom so sold it. However, I think the V-grip design concept is brilliant (and Aeron make really good stuff in my experience). These booms would make a wicked slalom boom if they had the width (to bag out the sail). If Aeron ever make an extra-extra wide version of this boom so that I could bag out my 6.5 race sail on it, then I would buy one for sure.

Ian K: Thanks for pointing out the flex/power up phenomenon of alu booms. That's an excellent point.

Just one other thing I do like about alu booms. Pumping on the plane. My last boom was a Sailworks slalom boom. It had quite a bit of flex. It was very easy to pump on the plane than any boom I have used, as the flexing of the boom allowed me to resonate the pumping motion of the rig (similar to pushing a child on a swing).

I used my new Gun boom for the first time today.5.8m KA Kult in c 12- 20kts mainly 15 -18kts. Very impressed by the rigidity and comfort of the narrow tubing.
Down side was as a woman I found it hard to have the strength to put it on and had to hold the clamp and use my feet/ legs to push the mast out to get it off. I'll have to make sure the boom is at the right height as I won't be able to adjust it on the water.
I may just need to learn a new technique for rigging / unrigging.. Love the solid feel to the rig! The old one must have a had a lot of play. This one doesn't creak either!