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Looking for a Boom, and Boom advice....
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Derikthin



Joined: 22 Mar 2016
Posts: 141
Location: Highland Park NJ

PostPosted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 1:31 pm    Post subject: Looking for a Boom, and Boom advice.... Reply with quote

My current boom is a little small (for my sails) I think. I mentioned this in a previous post briefly. I have a 6.4 Obrien sail, and when tightened up right up to the boom doesn't seem to flex the mast enough and as a result the battens are bent and the sail probably does not function as it should. The 5.4 has a little slack in it but is way better off then the 6.4.

I'm positive I'm not using the right terms for some things.

I did a measurement of the boom and it is roughly 218 cm's fully extended. I've heard/read that the sails can get all stretched out so maybe this is a symptom of that. Again, I'm a clueless fool.

I've been looking online for some, but have no idea what is good and what is bad. I'm sure if I dropped $700 bones I could have a really amazing boom. And then I could keep it in my cardboard box that I'd share with my kids every other weekend after the divorce =(. haha.

http://www.curtissportconnection.com/windsurfing_booms.htm

Epic Monocoque stiff aluminum windsurfing boom seemed like a winner to me. 180-240 cm's sounds like a good range.

At any rate I always appreciate the input from people with more knowledge then me so thanks in advance.

I'm probably going to give Jim a call and see if he has any used ones kicking around and hit up a swap meet or two. I guess I'd really like to know what to look for and maybe what to avoid and such.
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Derikthin



Joined: 22 Mar 2016
Posts: 141
Location: Highland Park NJ

PostPosted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 1:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It's 82" so roughly 208cm's. And I'm not sure if I was measuring it right. I was going from tip to tip.


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isobars



Joined: 12 Dec 1999
Posts: 20935

PostPosted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 6:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Boom length is measured inside, not outside/overall, and it's not the outhaul but the downhaul that drives mast flex and thus overall boom length. Outhaul tension is a very minimal contributor. In the sail sizes you're addressing, a good quality aluminum boom is fine. The other $600 is better spent on sails, wetsuit, fin, a professional lesson for the wife, etc.

Mike \m/
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Derikthin



Joined: 22 Mar 2016
Posts: 141
Location: Highland Park NJ

PostPosted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 7:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Iso, thank you a bunch! I just learned like 3 or 4 new things right there =). Do you use one of those pulley hooks on your down haul?

Do you think getting the 180-240 cm boom is a good call?

I got a 5/3 suit from my brother in law who has gotten "plump" since marriage. So it'll last me a little while I hope.

I need to look into harnesse, aND getting a lesson for the wife is a good idea.

What's the next sail I should get? Go larger or smaller? I guess it would have a lot to do with my riding style?
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Derikthin



Joined: 22 Mar 2016
Posts: 141
Location: Highland Park NJ

PostPosted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 7:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.isthmussailboards.com/Triple-Pulley-Hook/productinfo/AED-360/
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cgoudie1



Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 2597
Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove

PostPosted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 7:31 pm    Post subject: Re: Looking for a Boom, and Boom advice.... Reply with quote

Greetings Derik. Are those sails the old pink and blue O'Brien sails.
I vaguely remember those sails 30 years ago. While I agree with
Isobars about downhaul being what puts the shape in or out of sails,
those old O'Brien sails are so old that outhaul had some dramatic impact.
I also remember those have about a 5 MPH wind range. They'll be fine
for your 1st learning experiences, but once you're past the uphaul and
turning around in displacement mode sailing, those sails will hold
your learning back. This is where it starts to get more expensive.

A serviceable boom used or new can be had for about $160 in the size
you want. These booms aren't great, but they'll get you going for $100
new

http://www.windance.com/Baja-Alum.-Boom-180-240cm-WSBM2230

You can cheap out now, and in a year or 2 be wanting another boom,
or you can look for a used major brand aluminum boom (I like Chinook for
alu booms, but they aren't cheap). At your stage it's all good, but some
stuff is better, and it depends on where you feel your commitment is.
I told my wife after my 1st day on a windsurfer, that I either had to stop,
or we were going to be committed life long. Fortunately for me, (actually
I don't think she really knew what she was in for) she supported it. We're
still married, and I'm still windsurfing. So there's my detour about
commitment. If you're not sure about your desire for this, start less
expensive, but if you feel the fire, it's less expensive in the long run to
start buying reasonably good used gear. (Sails in particular would be
a good choice)

.02

-Craig

Derikthin wrote:
My current boom is a little small (for my sails) I think. I mentioned this in a previous post briefly. I have a 6.4 Obrien sail, and when tightened up right up to the boom doesn't seem to flex the mast enough and as a result the battens are bent and the sail probably does not function as it should. The 5.4 has a little slack in it but is way better off then the 6.4.

I'm positive I'm not using the right terms for some things.

I did a measurement of the boom and it is roughly 218 cm's fully extended. I've heard/read that the sails can get all stretched out so maybe this is a symptom of that. Again, I'm a clueless fool.

I've been looking online for some, but have no idea what is good and what is bad. I'm sure if I dropped $700 bones I could have a really amazing boom. And then I could keep it in my cardboard box that I'd share with my kids every other weekend after the divorce =(. haha.

http://www.curtissportconnection.com/windsurfing_booms.htm

Epic Monocoque stiff aluminum windsurfing boom seemed like a winner to me. 180-240 cm's sounds like a good range.

At any rate I always appreciate the input from people with more knowledge then me so thanks in advance.

I'm probably going to give Jim a call and see if he has any used ones kicking around and hit up a swap meet or two. I guess I'd really like to know what to look for and maybe what to avoid and such.
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Derikthin



Joined: 22 Mar 2016
Posts: 141
Location: Highland Park NJ

PostPosted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 8:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm in it for the long haul. Would you say sails are probably the next best investment?
http://sailsportmarine.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=482&cPath=1_12&gclid=CjwKEAjw86e4BRCnzuWGlpjLoUcSJACaHG55prlHyKi8RrKDFrWTJgFLmpHf7rPvCoNJ3PKJkHuyAhoC0PXw_wcB&zenid=375d294ec9ffcd81f8a5c769d691753c

Is that a good boom?

If I had to buy one sail at this point which size/style/brand would you recommend? Or probably two. I'm trying to be economical. I spent close 1k on skis this season and my wife was pretty forgiving.

I appreciate the input alot.
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cgoudie1



Joined: 10 Apr 2006
Posts: 2597
Location: Killer Sturgeon Cove

PostPosted: Sun Apr 10, 2016 10:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi again Derik,

Your 1st rigs should be geared towards learning, and you start in
displacement mode, then move to planning mode (unless you're
a longboard type ;*) )

Chinook makes a quality product, and they stand behind it, but they also
get a premium for their quality. Yes that's a good boom, but you might look
for a lightly used one for less cash. Can you post a picture of your sails,
then you can get reasonable responses to whether to replace them or
augment your quiver. If they're the sails I'm thinking of, you should
get all your basic displacement maneuvers down, and then retire them for
other sails. The used sail market where I sail is pretty competitive.
http://www.windance.com/Used-Gear-Used-Windsurf-Sails

What type of sails you choose will depend on where you take yourself in the
sport, but roughly the disciplines are Wave, Slalom, Freestyle, and maybe
Freeride/Bump&Jump). Where and when you sail will determine what you want, but unless
you're on a coast, or in the Gorge, a more generic freeride sail is probably
not a bad choice. It depends on your venue also, but I prefer
non-cambered (like non-race oriented) sails. Ask around where you sail,
usually windsurfers will give you an earful about what works at the local
launch. Sizes will depend on how you share with your wife (if she's 30
lbs lighter than you, then she'll be a size down, which is perfect), what
is typical wind force where you sail, and the typical water conditions.
Best bet is to acquire the size sail that you will most often use in your
typical wind, and the go up and down from there, depending on how
much you want to sail, but almost any adult should start with a 5Mish
non-cambered sail for learning.

For reference my quiver in Hood River Runs 6.7, 5.7, 5.2, 4.7, 4.2, 3.7, 3.2
This is good for a 180 lb 6'3" guy from 15MPH to about 40MPH wind speed

My Utah quiver runs 9.5, 8.0, 6.5, 5.5, 4.7, 4.2 which is good from about
11MPH to about 35MPH.

Naturally this requires many masts, booms, and boards, and I'm not suggesting you run out and spend 10s of thousand dollars on rigs,
just giving you some perspective. The used market is your friend (after
you know what's garbage and what's not).

I am a high wind (if I can get it) bump and jump guy, but I'll take waves
if I can get'm and I'm also a cheap wind whore when I have to be.

.04

-Craig

Derikthin wrote:
I'm in it for the long haul. Would you say sails are probably the next best investment?
http://sailsportmarine.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=482&cPath=1_12&gclid=CjwKEAjw86e4BRCnzuWGlpjLoUcSJACaHG55prlHyKi8RrKDFrWTJgFLmpHf7rPvCoNJ3PKJkHuyAhoC0PXw_wcB&zenid=375d294ec9ffcd81f8a5c769d691753c

Is that a good boom?

If I had to buy one sail at this point which size/style/brand would you recommend? Or probably two. I'm trying to be economical. I spent close 1k on skis this season and my wife was pretty forgiving.

I appreciate the input alot.
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DelCarpenter



Joined: 06 Nov 2008
Posts: 499
Location: Cedar Falls, IA

PostPosted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 12:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If the mast, boom, 5.4 & 6.4 O'brien sails were part of a package which the original owner thought went together, then part of the problem might be not enough mast extension.

The ancient cloth, and cloth & mylar sails I have in the 6.0 to 6.6 range use luff lengths from 456 to 488 and boom lengths from 190 to 220. The three one piece masts I have from that era are 458, 465 and 485 in length.

I have a 1987 O'brien brochure which list a 5.4 & 6.0 sail both using a 15' mast (450 cm) with boom lengths of 6'6" and 7'6". I'm certain from that the 6.4 O'brien sail used a mast extension if paired with a 15' mast.

Before you buy a different boom shows us some pictures of the 6.4 rigged with different luff lengths. Mast of that era didn't bend as much as modern ones, but they weren't straight either.
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Derikthin



Joined: 22 Mar 2016
Posts: 141
Location: Highland Park NJ

PostPosted: Mon Apr 11, 2016 5:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The guy I bought this stuff from I don't believe really knew what he was doing, and neither did I, or else I would have either talked him down to $50 for everything or walked away. But I digress.

I'll take photos of everything on Wednesday, my next day off.

Del, I'm going to keep an eye out for sails.

I think ultimately after getting used to some basic skills I'd like to get into some waves a little bit, maybe a little "bump and jump" as you say. I don't see me attempting any freestyle stuff too soon. I'm also not going to be a snob about it (so I say now) but I'd rather get a tad smaller sails I guess to capitalize on the good winds.

I got a new mast extension the other day when I ended up getting a new chinook mast. I'll post pictures of all that Wednesday. I don't think I was down hauling right. The mast extension pulleys were kind of jacked on the old one and it was pretty rough pulling. I have a feeling there is so much I don't even know I don't know about this sport lol.

Thank you all so far for your patience and your time. I hope at some point to meet some of you in the water.
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