You've got 2 very different schools of thought here.
The people who still use them love them, wont give them up.
Other people have tried and don't like and will never use them.
I'm one of the later, and my main dislike for them is because they affect were the harness lines sit, I've wanted to move a harness line forward of the z but that doesn't really work, so I've either had to put up with increased front hand pressure, or lean forward on the rig.

A mate of mine is hooked on them, he says they are much more comfortable for his front hand, if he uses a straight boom either front hand up or down doesn't feel right. So all you can do is try it first, see how you feel about it.

Rusty,
Have a look at the web site www.hydrodynamix.com/z-boom.html and see if you have an early or late model.
There is a world of difference since the first Z booms were introduced 20 years ago.
If you have the later version or even one with the Enduro style Front Fitting give it a go you just might like it.
Some of these booms are 15 years old and still going! (not good for business just the reputation)
Gripping Z Booms is not as easy as flat booms but give that a go too, a couple of Grip Packs a lot of swearing, glue all over the place and you should be away.
Remember, all the parts for Hydro gear are still available.

Decrepit, there is no way you could put your harness lines in front of the Z bend and sail. There is plenty of room for your lines behind the Z and then your front hand should be in the Z bend nice and comfy.

thanks guys
paul it seems to be a late one,at least the head looks like the clamp on one in the photo though the outhaul is hard to see,but i cant really see what the new type looks like at the rear,it seems i have the ENDURO front and possibly the same back as its black i also have 2 of the old rear ends that have the white plastic ends,came with the stuff
so i think its the modern one or one maybe upgraded from the old???
either way its a clamp on front.
cant try it yet as oim recuperating from an opperation,so i thought i might regrip it in the mean time.
Does anyone know if there has been any regripping foam with a self sticking tape on one side,similar to double sided tape and waterproof,
should be a possibility as there are many foams and rubber so equiped for other applications,
carefully applied this would be an easier regrip??????

thanks ian
I will take that onboard.
Cant afford to send boom to hydro as its too far postage wise,
anyone know anyone in Sydney who offers the service,if I decide not to bother...
Although I dont mind trying myself when i get the right material,

"on the tape again"
although surely there must be a waterproof doulblesided tape,because they use double sided tape on badges and chrome trim on cars and thats waterproof,or it wouldnt work...still can dream cant I.
yes i know it doent take the abuse that boom material does,but I do know that the strongest double sided tape is that used for SERVO tape for Radio controlled vehicles...it takes a pounding because of the heavy loads placed upon it,and its so damn difficult to remove when you need to.{I think they might use the same tape on car trim anyway]
Surely this is waterproof as it takes acetone,thinners etc to remove it.Unfortunately its damn expensive when purchased for radio control,and would be uneconomical for boomm regripping.
Other regrip mentioned elsewhere is tennis and bat tape,although not padded enough.I better google further..........

yes i thought the same thing about the bend in the boom,but the boom i have does have two different colour grip which is joined at the bend...a perfect fit so i assume a factory job.
I know that some types of foam go slimey when used in water...infact one of my booms an old early one feels slimey,so i guess io dont want to use something that goes that way...but i still want to find out the alternative of using tape or sticky grip.if not ill go conventional....hey i got time at the moment....
the other way for a Z bend perhaps is an elastic type of foam in tube form pulled along the boom like fitting a sock...
hard to apply glue to it..but...when i use to make roadcases for the music industry i used to use the method of glueing where you coated both sides of the item....the boom and inside the foam tube....if thats possible...then you let those completely dry....next when dry you then put a wet layer on the boom and while still soaking whet you slide the foam tube over the boom and position and let dry
this i believe would work if you could coate the inside of the tube.

In the last 20 years at Hydro there has probably only been a handfull of people that have actually gripped a Z Boom.
An art in it self believe me.
The biggest problem for me is changing from left hand arms to right hand arms as you get into a groove doing large batches.
The grip is a straight piece the same as we use on any other boom and the arms are bent and heat treated before gripping.
Some of the imports are bent after gripping which would make it so much easier but the quality of the alloy is lost during bending and cannot be reinstated with heat treatment while gripped.
We try to keep the joins away from finger tips as people who sail with a death grip will roll the grip off starting at the join.
Use plain colour grip and if the join wanders a bit it won't matter.
Stripping and gripping can be a lot of work so before you try it Rusty take the boom out and try it, you might be wasting your time and energy.
Z Booms, you either love them or hate them!

Paul