Windsurfing 101 ... Booms

Booms:

The boom is made up of two wishbone shaped aluminium or carbon tubes connected by molded plastic or metal end fittings.

The front end fitting clamps to the mast at around chest/shoulder height. These are all samples of what boom front ends look like.

The sail is then attached to the boom's rear end with a length of rope. Below are samples of boom rear ends.

All booms today are adjustable in length so that they can be used with different sized sails. However, one boom won't fit all sizes of sail, so eventually you'll need a couple of different sizes in your quiver. Booms also come in a variety of construction strengths, allowing you to choose a more heavy-duty option for sailing in surf or stronger winds, etc.

As a general rule, aluminum booms are the best choices to start with, as they are the most cost effective for someone who is beginning.