Here is the latest thing in booms – the carbon equivalent of the “Park Avenue” boom pioneered by the J Class mega-cutters in the 1930s. This is a healthy, performance oriented trend, something we like a lot better than in the mast and in boom furlers. They are simple, reliable, and making a neat, svelte package with the sail furled and cover in place. You can even make a case for a slight end plate effect from the platform, increasing effective aspect ration and reducing induced drag.

Perhaps half or more of the large yachts here have this form of boom.

There are many variations in design, but the essential ingredients are the wings and a cavity into which the furled sail partially flakes.

Some of the booms have flared tops rather than wings. Which is more efficient given the aforementioned end plate affect, windage, and weight, is debatable.

Of course these custom carbon shapes are not going to be cheap. But we are willing to bet there will be change left from an in boom or in mast system, and these are so much cooler looking.

Several of the booms have awnings integrated.

This is an excellent idea – which we will cover in more detail in a later post.

Yet more flare on a wingless version from the boys at Hall Spars.

The cover can be integrated into a conventional extruded aluminum boom, but this is not nearly as cool visually. Still, on a smaller boat it is functional.

Old timer – in the boom. Better than in the mast, but not easy to furl off the wind in a gale, and complex, with a propensity to damage in the event of operator error.

Then there are conventional booms with lazy jacks, in this case with a somewhat sloppy harbor furl. It works, it is light, and cost efficient. Might be the best answer if you are not after the coolest boom in the anchorage (a highly desirable status symbol to us – we would have loved a pair of the winged booms on Beowulf).