Boom slides down and mast protection

[Tipster1947]

No problem with comments about WH booms. I had several generation before they went out of business. Only last gen figured out sand issues. Previous ones were nightmares. Current ones are run with smaller sails, at minimal extension. I did have two sibling larger booms break the same day, in the same place on the bay using the same sail. Scavenging parts made a nice ghost rig.

On topic, it is interesting to hear different views on friction enhancement. I have some other shims to try and plenty of West System epoxy which I had already planned to use on older mast wear areas anyway (preceded by light sanding to facilitate adhesion).

My newer Chinook Pro-Alloy booms with convertible head seem fine and carbon boom with the wrap around clamp and shim also works fine. Maybe the one and only disadvantage of RDMs is smaller contact area. Never the less, it wouldn't surprise me to see SDMs go away as RDM prices come down. I'll never go back.

Too much friction can also be a problem since switching to Ezzys that like a lot of out-haul. Adjusting boom height intentionally can be tough.

[joethewindsufa]

sometimes these little "mast protectors" help
both to stop the slide while using the sail and to help slide when adjusting

[Tipster1947]

[isobars]

So get the thicker version specifically for RDMs.

[Ugly_Bird]