I bought a Chinook Triple Clamp Carbon Fiber Formula boom a couple years
ago. "Expensive" I thought but worth it. My opinion may be changing.
I've broken the head and three boom arms. In Chinook's defense, they
did replace the head and two of the arms under warranty. But now that
the third arm just broke, I'm becoming increasingly hesitant to venture
out with it again.
My weight is approximately 190 lbs, and last Sunday I rigged an 11 sq
meter Retro. The wind had built to the point where I probably could have
sailed my 9.5 or even 8 but it was on the Niagara River, which sometimes
can be gusty, so I rigged for the lulls. Mildly overpowered, heading out
on a reach......SNAP!!!. Turned around & sailed the good side back in.
40 degree F air, 32 degree F water. Each time that the boom has broken,
it has been in colder temperatures.
Is this normal? Is this a design flaw of Chinook Carbon Formula Booms?
Their website says "The stuff you can trust". I'm no longer so sure.
The description for their Carbon Booms says "Very stiff strong and
dependable". I'm not so sure.
For the price of the Carbon Formula, I could buy FOUR Aluminum Formula
booms. I was told the Carbon was far stronger, stiffer, lighter, and
would lock the draft better in a large sail. After this experience, I
may have to rethink this and take my chances with Aluminum and it may
not be Chinook, even though my booms in the past were Chinook.
What are your experiences? Are other Carbon Booms as fragile? I thought
far better and stronger Formula sailors regularly sailed overpowered
on Carbon booms with no ill effects. What do you think?
Thanks for any feedback from other windsurfers.
Craig.
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