Why Are Custom Booms So Expensive?

[jviss]

A few years ago (2019?) I asked for a quote from Offshore Spars for a V-Boom. $35k!

Today I spoke with Leisure Furl about a boom for in-boom furling. His "top" ballpark estimate, including a sail and installation is $30k.

Wow.

Is there any more economical alternative for in-boom furling?

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Can’t answer about alternatives but from my experience, it might be worth the cost to you given the ease with which it can be handled and depending on how long you plan to keep the boat. Whether it adds to resale value is debatable as, in my experience, not that many know enough to appreciate it.

 

[jviss]

Thanks Don, but it's beyond my budget at this point. I actually think I would prefer the V-boom, but that's out of reach.

 

[Rich Stidger]

In 2015 I had a Schaefer furling boom installed and it was 2-3K more expensive than LeisureFurl. But I thought it was a better design.
These booms are expensive because everyone doesn't buy one. So the economy of scale isn't there.

 

[JRacer]

B.O.A.T.

 

[Foswick]

These booms are expensive because everyone doesn't buy one. So the economy of scale isn't there.

I think that is exactly right.

 

[duck21]

Although in this case it's B.O.A.T.T. (Bring Out Another Thirty Thousand).

B.O.A.T.

 

[Rich Stidger]

What I don't understand, is why manufacturers don't install furling booms instead of furling masts. The advantages of boom furling over mast furling are great.

 

[dlochner]

What I don't understand, is why manufacturers don't install furling booms instead of furling masts. The advantages of boom furling over mast furling are great.

The same reason they don't build small boats anymore, profit margin. 10% of 100K is more than 10% of 30K

Essentially each boom is a one-off design. While some engineering costs can be amortized over the the total production, a good portion of the engineering and design costs can't be. Engineers aren't cheap, the firms i've been paying lately are getting $200 an hour. Then there is the tooling costs, the advertising and management overhead. The cheap part is probably the aluminum and the actual labor to extrude and fit out the boom.

Get a good stack-pack for less than a couple of grand. Most of the benefits, less of the cost.

 

[BarryL]

Hey,

IMHO $30K for a furling boom AND new sail isn't that bad. A new main sail can easily be $15K.

I'd really like a furling boom, but for that price I will stick with my Dutchman system.

Barry

 

[jviss]

Essentially each boom is a one-off design.

I have found several boats use the same exact boom as my boat, an Offshore Spars aluminum boom, including not only Tartan, but Morris, a very high end boat (now owned by Hinckley).

BTW, Offshore Spars has quit making aluminum anything, AFAIK, and only doing carbon fiber.