Wing with boom & strut vs. wing with boom but no centre strut

[deja vu]

Personally I prefer a boom and I'm currently using 4 and 6 metre Wasps with a carbon boom and prefer it to the Wasps with just handles.  I also have a 5 metre Duotone Echo.  At the moment I prefer the Wasps with boom to the Echo but this may change.

Here's a comparison of the Hot Wings Maui wing (centre strut + boom) and the V1 Duotone (boom with no centre strut).  The V2 Duotone was a definite upgrade so the comparison isn't 100% fair but it does show just how well wings with centre struts + boom do work.

I have to say if the Hot Wings Maui wings were sold locally where I am I'd definitely take a close look.

[jondrums]

I'm interested to hear how you refit your wasps with boom.  you got me looking online and I only found a couple references to retrofits - this guy selling a kit on ebay looks the most interesting

[deja vu]

Your link would not work for me.  Here's the setup:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ozone-WASP-carbon-boom-for-4M-wing/143646840922?_trkparms=aid%3D1110001%26algo%3DSPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225074%26meid%3Db6d50a8ca05f422fa8dc3f4cfba98f34%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D133454132435%26itm%3D143646840922%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1

I replaced the strap that wraps around the strut with the one that comes with the Wasp (used to tie it together for packing, which is much longer) since the 6 metre Wasp has a much bigger middle strut.  I also replaced the boom (pole) with a 48" one for the 6 metre Wasp (it'll also work for the 5 metre Wasp).  The boom (pole) that came with it will work for both the 3 and 4 metre Wasps.

The centre strut of the Wasp seems to tame the wing when pulling it to you after a breach (it is easier to control).  My 5 metre Echo is all over the place (flipping over etc.) until I actually get my hands on it.

[jondrums]

nice - same link I tried to put on there!

I'm planning on making my own version of this with an old paddle shaft I have lying around.  It really seems like a boom makes so much more sense.

[Hilly]

As an old windsurfer I love being liberated from carrying crap around. Handles rock - small pack up and easy setup. I walk a couple of hundred metres with my gear to the beach so less is more.

[deja vu]

So mini booms or two long stiff handles that pack right up may be for you -- innovation keeps right on trucking -- out with the old and in with the new:

[deja vu]

Here's a "how to" video with the rider using a wing that has been retrofitted with what looks like one-half of a windsurfing boom -- you end up with a wing with a centre strut and a control handle (boom).  I believe there will be more wings like the Hot Wings Maui ones that have both the centre strut and a control handle/boom.

[deja vu]

Another how to replace handles with a boom video -- looks simple and effective.  At the end of his video he shows how he turned his hat into a semi-helmet -- great idea. Necessity is the mother of invention!  BTW I know of one winger and one kite foiler who have died in the last 10 days doing what they loved -- a helmet and an impact/flotation device is something to think about wearing.

youtube.com/watch?v=l11PZ2ChdAg

[Wetstuff]

D-V... Could you add a little light on the two fatalities?  Woah...

And, there is a ballcap liner that would not likely help much with heavy concussive impact but looks like it would stop penetration.

https://www.amazon.com/Ergodyne-Universal-Lightweight-Baseball-8945/dp/B07RXVVTL1/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1TAISZPD3TCAV&dchild=1&keywords=ball+cap+liner+protection&qid=1606330223&sprefix=ball+cap+liner%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-2

Jim

[deja vu]

One was an Australian who apparently died while out winging a few days ago.  I have no idea what the circumstances were.  The other was a kite foiler who was out near Toronto on Lake Ontario a week ago last Sunday in really big winds.  He apparently was an expert but got hit with an exceptionally big gust and got literally flattened by his kite -- the paramedics got a heart beat back but he died shortly thereafter -- he was in his fifties.  I saw a video on Youtube of what Lake Ontario looked like that day and it was scary -- I've windsurfed Lake Ontario in pretty big winds but no way would I go out when it looked the way it did in that video.