Windsurfing Booms

Booms are an integral part of a windsurfing rig that provides support to the sail. This symmetrical equipment that goes round the sail, acts as a handle for the sailor. Booms help in controlling the rig as the sailor turns the sail around to change directions.

Earlier ropes were used to secure the booms to the mast. However, the newer booms are clamped to the masts using a pin locking system. Carbon fiber and aluminum are commonly used materials for the boom. Windsurfing booms have to correspond to the sail size. Nowadays, booms are adjustable and can be used with 2-3 different sized sails.

Boom Brands

Neil Pryde Booms:
Neil Pryde has to offer booms for every type of windsurfing. The X7 boom has a dual-texture finish. Their abrasion-resistant surface and the waffle-texture on the inner side provide a better grip. The Twin-Pin Locking adjustment system secures the boom accurately to the mast.

The X5 booms are significantly lighter and smaller than most booms. X5 booms are heat treated T8 Alloy aluminum booms. They have an additional shock-absorbing quality that considerably reduces the vibrations from the mast.

The X3 booms like the X5 are made from high quality, heat treated aluminum and have a unique shock-absorbing quality. X3 booms have long adjustments which are compatible with different sail sizes.

Naish Booms:
The 2009 range of Naish booms have removable RDM Inlay that allows the sailor to adjust the boom height without releasing the outhaul tension. The five types of booms by Naish are Classic, Global, CT, CB and Ripper. The features of the CT, CB booms are developed in such a way that they can be ideally used for high wind, wave and slalom windsurfing.

Bic Booms:
Bic has introduced the Nova range - Nova 160, Nova 170 and Nova 190. They have a grip diameter from 28-30mm that ensures maximum comfort. Other than Nova, Bic also have booms in One Design, Speedster and Cruiser range.

Predator Booms:
Predator offers booms made of carbon as well as strong T8 alloy. Both of them have reduced diameter that makes it easier for a large sail and/or taller sailor to sail. The Twin-Pin locking system at the rear end clamps the boom securely to the mast.

Fiberspar Booms:
Fiberspar introduced carbon booms in 1991. Their PosiGrip booms have a stiff carbon front end and carbon tailpiece. It has a 30 mm grip diameter overall with equally distributed stiffness. They are light-weighted and can be used for freeride and wave windsurfing. PosiGrip boom are available in 135 cm, 150 cm and 170 cm lengths.

North Booms:
North Red Series, North Silver Series, North Gold Series and North Platinum Series are the four North boom series to look out for. The North Platinum Series has been recently introduced in the market. The Platinum series is available in short as well as long sizes. The designing of the bending curve of the short size is such that it prevents the sailor's arm from being outstretched. The large size booms have a length of 215-260 cm. The other three series also offer maximum comfort and are highly rigid. The basic difference is their individual grip diameter.

Booms have to be highly rigid as they have to resist the impact of the wind and the mast.