So I go sailing yesterday for the first time in months, and everytime I lay my sail down in the water it sinks.
I'm like WTF, then I realise its the first time I have used my new X6 boom, and why the bloody hell is it so heavy!?
Is it just me, or is the X3 actually lighter than the X6?, and with the boom set to 194 (160-210), the end was flapping around!!

hey mate,

youll find the X6 a little heavier due to the use of a more solid alloy.
The clew end is carbon but i found the same thing.

If your looking for a lighter boom the X3 is the go, but it is no where near as strong and it feels alot less lively in the hand.

The X6 has been voted one of the best hybrid booms on the market.

Keep at it, you'll get used to it.
I did....

I only have X6 booms now, and quite frankly they are great. Never had a problem, never had a failure. I have never thought of them as heavy and never noticed the rig sinking excessively, except when I land on it then it sinks pretty quickly.... But I don't think that is related to the boom !

with a 2 year warranty. i dont care if its a little heavier!

I sort of agree with the comments on the X6. Having used 160-210 on 200ish extenstion it didn't feel particually stiff. Also probably not the lightest boom out there. That said it has a pretty thin grip so nice to hang onto when your powered up on the smaller size; the small diameter probably also being the reason for the lacking stiffness (and weight; from having to run a higher tube wall thickness).

If you want decent performance I would strongly reccomend a carbon boom for sizes over 180

What size? 2011? Or 2010? How much and where abouts?

Always happy to grab a bargain....

Dippa said...

and the extra weight is very noticable in marginal conditions, like this morning on the river...especially when I had to uphaul once, with a 7.5m

Sounds like that was a tough experience. Hopefully you made through the ordeal okay and can put it behind you.

Thanks for that, but I went and got a new X3 yesterday.

I'm the opposite, I would much rather a lighter, not quite as stiff boom, especially when water starting!

What is the weight difference between x3 and x6? My guess, very little. I doubt it would be noticeable when on the water let alone uphauling.
The x3 boom arms are packed with foam but the x6 is completly hollow. Maybe you are leaving it in the water too long and its filling up.

Mobydisc said...

petermac33 said...

i found a x6 boom on grass once,when i picked it up...shocked at the weight.

you only really notice the high weight of a boom when you fall in and need to

waterstart or uphaul.

I don't understand. You were shocked at the weight when you picked it up however you only really notice the weight when waterstarting or uphauling.

Please explain.

i used a heavy boom when i was learning,lifting sail out of the water on

waterstarting was hard work. when i bought a much lighter boom the difference in

ease of waterstarting was huge.

i now don't fall in as much.