Hey windsurfers.

can any one tell me what a Z Boom is I saw a pic of 1 the other day but was just like what there?

Cheers Pittsy.

Z-Booms have been around for longer than you have been alive sonny!

Some old guys just can't give em up.
Really super comfortable sailing position but hard to get used to after using a flat boom.

Paul

Well the hand position you have when using a Z boom isn't the optimum one for windsurfing. You need to be able to 'hang' off the boom which you cant with a vertical section of the boom. For example trying to exert mast foot pressure with your front hand in that position would be pretty hard. Gybing would be pretty awkward and also jumping. Maybe for flatwater it would be alright & might help with rsi, but really just a gimmick. The shape is not conducive to benefitting your sailing.

Nah never used one and I'm sure it's comfortable, but for windsurfing it's just not suitable. Maybe for straightline sailing, but anything else really you need a straight boom. Kitesurfing, waterskiing, wakeboarding all use a straight handle..

I think another selling point was that the head of the Z was high up on the mast giving you greater leaverage..

Hey GuyZ,
'Z's rule - I still use one and wouldn't go back to a straight boom - as far as gybing is concerned, it just takes a small adjustment of technique - it's all there in the promo video - which is old - but still funny... featuring Dave Sheen - he seems to have no issues using the Zed in the waves...
Hydrodynamix made mine with the new b oom ends - with the old 'lock-jaw' ends they were OK for flat water, but not strong enough at the attachment point for waves (I believe) - and as far as hanging off the front hand is concerned, I agree that doesn't sound right, there should be equal pressure exerted through the harness lines... anyway, with the new ends, they are rock solid - and the 'Z' section actually increases the the stiffness - not the opposite - and they certainly aren't any 'weaker' because of it... personally, I use mine mostly with a 6.3m Speed Slalom - and it works fine - but I'm a flat water speed freak - not into waves...
I think the only reason they nevva really took off, is that unfortunately the average sailboarder is like the average consumer - follows the pack in terms of what's popular, so Hydrodynamix always had an uphill battle promoting the benefits of the 'Zed' - however once used - u usually don't want to go back2 a conventional boom... at least that is the most often heard comment I got - I sold heaps of them... to both wavesailors and flat water sailors...
I say try b4 you make a judgement... they really are ee'Z'er on the forearms... and increase your power when hanging onto the boom when required...

yes the bend certainly doesn't seem to be a weak point in practise, over the 15 years my mate's had them, it's usually the rear extension that goes first. Making sure the holes are on top and not underneath, helps that problem.

I don't agree that the bend makes them stiffer though. A salesman tried that line on me once 15 or 20 years ago. Sure bends (as in corrugated iron and cardboard) make a sheet of material stiff in the direction of the bends but doesn't do anything at 90 deg to the bend. How it can make a tube stiffer is beyond me, all this misinformation around doesn't help anything!

Yes, holes in bottom are in tension, holes in top are in compression, the later lasts longer. The only downside is water drainage ot of the extensions, but I don't think this is much of a problem as the boom is raked backwards and most of the water will come out of the last hole. With your foam filles extension, there isn't going to be much water anyway.
Nov in Gero I had to buy a new boom, I chose the one with holes on top.

Hmmm... I don't think heat treatment will stiffen aluminium. As I understand it 'solution heat treatment' is done to reintegrate the aluminium after forming to relieve built in stresses and give it back its strength. Because the z booms are longer than standard they MUST be inherently less stiff. ie if you compared the stiffness of a z boom and a standard boom of the same length and tube diameter and thickness, the standard boom would be a bit stiffer. That is not to say that the z is not up to the job though. Small diameter booms are less stiff than standard diameter and yet they have a huge following and seem to work adequately, not for big sails though.