BF Boom Safety

No. Lane Bowers has a real nice sales pitch youtube on boom safety (BI sales) but there is really nothing complex about a boom.

Tighten the clamp to the pylon securely. No need to protect the pylon with a sleeve or tape or anything, go metal to metal. You don't need to torque it on there, snug it up tight as much as you can by hand that will allow you to get it back off again with the same tool (not cheater bars or anything). No matter how tight you wrench it on, if the cable brakes or you ram a dock and the clip breaks, it will slip and turn backwards. This is better than breaking anything else anyway.
Most safety clips of that size range will fail around 200-500 lbs, a BFN in idle hitting a dock post will turn one ito a noodle quite easily, I hear. If you've got some crazy strong clip on there I would imagine the boat would turn and slam your whole crew into whatever it is you snagged. I don't think even 3 or 4 skiers could cause enough drag to break your boom if it's in normal condition before turning the boat in a circle or snapping your steering cable.

Inspect cables for damage or fraying. Cables can be replaced, contact boom MFG if needed. Today the big names in booms are BI, ECI, Skyjac and Bemmans. There have been several copies in the past 10-20 years, most of them are nearly identical to BIs (Casad (usually white cables), Straightline (usually yellow cables)).

BI, ECI and Skyjac (I think, not 100% sure) are solid aluminum and usually have 2 cables. They yield quite a bit in use. The turnbuckles on the older ones are fine, the clamp block is really nice.

The Bemman boom is hollow and uses 1 cable, larger in diameter than the others with 2. Careful though factory they don't come with any length adjustments, you're supposed to cut it to fit your application. I don't see why you can't make a "leader" clipped in line if you need a longer cable. It doesn't bend nearly as much but will spring and bounce on you in a fall. Tim says some ECIs have been hollow, really the difference here is weight savings but more spring and bounce off the gunnel.

Keep clear of the gunnels near any boom.

In the past 5 years of being on all the barefoot sites I can find, I've only heard 1 or 2 stories of a commercial boom failing in use, and no serious injury caused to the skier. I think they were both ECI, apparently they used a weak clip or cable crimp over a short period of time?

You should be able to find a used boom for $200-$300 fairly easily.

Thanks for the info Hollywood and SN206. My main concern is if there is something inherently dagerous about a boom, and if there is, what to look out for. He's found a used one with the help of one of our members. I just thought I'd put it out there in case there was something to watch out for.

I've always been a fan of a solid boom, I feel they have less bounce than a hollow. I've skied on a few that bounce like crazy when someone takes a fall, I also use my coast guard approved throwable floatation device as a gunwale cushion on my boat. Guess I've always been partial to the BI booms, back in the Glory days I was taught to back foot on a boom and we literally sat on the boom facing backwards with a flip turn ski on, accelerate, stand up, step off. Yikes, I haven't seen that technique in 20 years but the boom held us up there well.


The one in this picture has the turnbuckles HW mentioned and I never had a problem with them but my newer boom has the clamp blocks and I do think they are better

A cup is not a bad idea, either.


See if Lane is doing a clinic near you this summer. He is a great instructor. I have taken a couple clinics from him. Never left one without accomplishing my goals, and maintaining what I learned afterwards. Money well spent, no matter your skill level.

The BI's are very strong. Altho I would not recomend it we once put 2 booms out (one each side) on a friends new C/C in Tennessee. Then 8 guys "walked" out..4 per side. No pictures that I know of but I think HW saw an old video of the trick that my brother put on a cd for me.

john

Thanks for the info. He's buying a BI universal for the Sportster.

Remove 2 guys from each side and all wetsuits and that's jbear and his buddies. The boat was an 82 SN with the 454 in it. Then at the end Randy Filter is the last guy out there doing front to backs right on the boom.

Riley could you post up some pictures of your boom. I have never had the urge before to learn to barefoot.
(I seen a young fellow get axed big time when I first got involved in water sports and that had always turned me off trying to learn.)

But after seeing Lakeboy's videos and Kapla's recent efforts I may give it a go. It looks much easier to learn from the boom as it appears to save you a lot from the painful errors. May even get some pointers from the experts at GL.

Anyway when my boat arrived from the US it had a part of a boom setup in the boat. I am just trying to identify what brand it is and if I can source the other parts or get some specifications on them so I can manufacture them.

Thanks Riley. I think I need to see one setup on a boat to work out what is required. Should get that chance at GL hopefully.

Riley

Did an extension come with your son's boom? I love the extension, gets you out away from the boats spray.

This one is going on an 03 Malibu Sportster. I don't think spray will be an issue, but I do wonder about the height as it has low gunnels.

Tim can you buy just parts for the boom. BI list accessories separate but the boom complete. I did some browsing on their site and got a potential malware software warning so I hightailed out of there.

Would a straight boom suit the 89 2001 better??

I run a BI highpole all the time so I will need to either attach the clamp low or add the SDBM. I noticed they also have a gunnel mount what are the advantages and disadvantages of this mounting system.

Do you have any pictures of your 90 setup with the high pole and boom?

lewy2001 wrote: Do you have any pictures of your 90 setup with the high pole and boom?

Not the greatest pics, but these should give you the idea. I mounted the boom clamp low enough on the pylon so that it doesnt interfere with the Fly High. The height adjuster brings the mount point back high enough so the boom isnt too high- the top 3 holes get the most use.

Lewy,

If you do need BI parts if I remember correctly they are in Milwaukee, perhaps you could just pick them up while there if possible, or have them shipped to one of us in the states and we can hand them off in Green Lake.

Once again thanks Tim your explanation of the contour booms clears it up perfectly. Would love to check that sweet looking 90 of yours out sure you won't bring it to Green Lake.

Quinner thanks for the offer of parts shipping will let you know if I need to take your offer up.