carbonfiber boom. any advantages?

My friend and I were looking at my boat the other day and he was thinking how cool it would look with a carbon boom. Since he makes carbonfiber aerospace parts he can do it with out a problem. But before I spend any money is it even worth it?

Lighter, less impact when it hits your head? Maybe more fragile. Other than weight, I see no performance advantage.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

You should get him to make you a carbon mast instead.

sm

+1 I like the idea of a CF mast! Now you are saving some weight!

In fact, if he can made a carbon fiber ME it will save the most weight and probably know more about sailing!

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Steve
2017 Hobie 16 "Cayman" sails 114795
1985 & 1973? Hobie 14 "Sea & Ski"

Ya but it would cost as much as a chevrolet and would not be class legal

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06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.

It would cost about a grand and there's no raceing that goes on in my area any ways

Less chance of a lightening strike when storm sailing with a carbon mast? I would not spend money on a carbon boom just for looks.

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Anderson, SC
1987 Hobie 16
Learning to sail.

There's a ton of Hobie 16 racing in the LA area. It's one of the most active areas of the country.

And a CF mast for a Hobie 16 would be a lot more than $1000. Just a 5' length of 3" round tube is ~$350.

Carbon fiber conducts electricity almost as well as aluminum.

Except that he said he's got a friend in the aerospace business = bro deal.

I hope your friend has a 30 foot long autoclave and a 26' long custom machined male mandrel, cause that's what it's going to take to build you a carbon Hobie mast...by the way, if he does, can you get him to hook me up with a CF mast for my 18 for $1k? That would be sweet. I'll take one for my 17 too.

sm

As cool as a carbon mast would be the problem that I would have landing it would be the channel for the sail. The mast would have to be made in 2 parts. But it would be as strong as a single. I have never heard of any racing in la I have never seen a hobie whenever I've been out. I have even posted on it in the past because I have never seen one. I know they race them in so cal and in nor cal. But between the sails that I just got and the jib car set up that I just finished I think my boat is no longer legal. I know that I can just use stock sails if I wanted to race but I cut the stock track off and installed a ronstan setup.

So much for my grand plan to build a lightening proof carbon fiber mast. Back to the question at hand, I think a carbon boom might be a little faster to tack in a breeze. I withdraw my earlier statement that I would not attempt using carbon for a boom. After more thought, I think it would be a very good way to learn more about carbon fiber composites. If I had a buddy in the biz, I think I would jump at the chance to learn.

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Anderson, SC
1987 Hobie 16
Learning to sail.

How bout a wood boom? Its non conductive, light, cheap and better looking and realistic.

Zero advantage, plus you would be wasting your time and money. One spectacular pitch pole snapping your custom mast will be the end of that dream. You would spend way too much effort getting a sail track in the boom to keep the main footed. If you made it a loose footed main (like most carbon booms), you would never get a good sail shape with a stock main. You'll spend more on the carbon than the boat is worth!!

If you want it to look cool, buy some carbon fiber tape and cover the mast and boom in that.

I hate to be negative about it, but the boom and mast are just fine for the boat.

However, if you want to make something cool out of carbon, make some racks.

Sorry, but West Marine doesn't have a West termite system.