Having destroyed 2 (new)alli booms this year I got a touch dispondant.

As the replacement boom I was after wasn't in i borrowed a second hand carbon boom which I took up to cervantes for the recent event.

Did a rather stylish prang in front of the van (big big ouchs)as I collected and landed on the boom rather bloody hard it would have killed another alli boom.

I now have a brand new carbon boom, I'm sold.

yes you can also notice the difference in rigidity as well.

Hope this helps

Alby

Ps any one else need some destructive impact testing of gear, I'm your crash test dummy

I bought 2 carbon booms second hand about 3 years ago. i have used and abused them and they are still going strong. A guy that sails with me has been thinking of going carbon as well. After breaking his second or third alloy one in the same time i've had the carbons....i finally convinced him to go carbon.


GO CARBON OR GO HOME....with a broken boom.

Yo Jules
I got a carbon about 4 years back and it definately is good if you can afford it. Saying that, get a good carbon as I seen some alu that are better than crap carbons. My carbon stays stiff over the entire range of sails so even with loads of extension, it still is stiff. I reckon thats the main adavantage, just one boom that is pucker for a good range. Would be lying if i said i think i can tell the difference though. The only think you notice is that its stiff. I got a carbon HPL. A big investment up front, but its still going strong. The only thing that is going is the clamp. The pin that works as the hinge. the hinges are plastic holes with the pin going through and the top 2 bend out of shape. Still works fine, but i not getting a bit sceptical when out the back on decent days. So i got another one, but HPL again. Thats how much i still rated it. I had a fiberspar carbon, with the twist lock and that sucked. It could collapse. And i seen other ones with a single pin lock that can still open up. The locking system on HPL is good, with 2 pins each side and the clamp good. Narrow diameter and takes a 6.2 without flexing. If you are gonna get one, definately definately spend the extra coin to get a real good one from a top brand. otherwise just get a good alu one. I have used a cheaper carbon from someone before and it was heavier than a north progression alu i used.
Take it easy.

Try both, a good Ali and good Carbon and then compare the cost and decide.
It gets down to how well you sail, how well you jump, how often you crash and what you deem important.
Wave booms do not change in length enough to affect sail performance due to flexing as they are very short anyway, race booms do!
If you see me at the river or arrange a time I will loan you next seasons prototype that I have been using up at Cervantes recently, this is the RD Wave Pro Monocoque construction but very similar to the current RD Wave Pro.
Alternatively if see Gazza around he has a current model on loan and I'm sure he would give you a demo.

Paul
Hydrodynamix

Stay away from the cheap alli booms waist of money.
I had a Neilpryde X3 didnt last a year, I now use chinook and never looked back.As for carbon booms I can still buy 2.5 chinooks for 1 good carbon boom.

Jules, I seen the booms Alberto is talking about. For sure I would get one of those if you are thinking of a new boom. They kick butt.

when we are talking carbon, are we talking tail or whole boom?..also is the it 100%?
cheers

Being an old school wavesailor I like the give of an alu boom. i use hydro booms and being under 70 kgs they tend to last forever. Also repairs are easy and replacement parts cheap.
I also use a NP carbon wave boom and as someone else mentioned they are crapola.
No doubt carbon is better for a race setup just buy a decent brand.

whatever u buy, keep away from North Progressive Comp model booms (including wave model) Most people who have owned these seem to agree that they are very poor (including myself), and I believe they are still available in shops.

Cheers