Sport Today

by **paul** » Mon, 20 Feb 2006 17:52:14

Hi all,
there were posts on broken HPL carbon booms. So, I wonder if there is
some way to repair my HPL 200-260 carbon boom. There are hair-cracks
along the seam in the carbon tube under the boom head; it is still not
broken, but definitly will be soon if not somehow strengthened.
The boom is in 'new condition' so it's pity to through it away after
500+$ spent on it. The boom actually started to show those cracks after
about 2 years and about 20 times on the water (!). I contacted the HPL
and sent them the pics, but did not get any reply since (for about 2
months).

By the way, I will never buy HPL products again, given their breakage
history and, in particular, their customer serevice.

Thanks in advance,
Paul

by **clydepe..** » Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:50:52

Sure you can reinforce the "cracked area" but the problem is, how will
you fasten the boomhead once the diameter has changed? Has the damaged
area increased in size over time? Do the booms make "cracky noise" when
you really load them up, like when you pump? How much do you weigh?
Lightweights can get away with inferior situations better than
heavyweights. You probably will never have great confidence in the
booms even if you repair them. The real problem is figuring out how far
into the tube the cracks go.

by **paul** » Tue, 21 Feb 2006 01:12:01

I weigh 75kg. The damaged area did increase over time. The boom don't
make cracky noise (at least not too loud:), but it has quite a freedom,
moving (not sliding) up and down, when pumping.

by **Paul Braunbehren** » Tue, 21 Feb 2006 03:06:07

Paul, where did you buy the boom? If it's a local store, I highly
recommend taking it back there and talking to them about it. They have
an interest in keeping you happy, and they have a relationship with
HPL, so they'll at least listen to them. If it's mail order... I guess
you're stuck dealling with HPL. I hope you get some satisfaction, I
just bought a Chinook carbon boom, and I sure would be pissed if it
became unreliable after 20 sessions. It shouldn't cost 25 bucks every
time you take it out on the water.

Quote:

> Hi all,
> there were posts on broken HPL carbon booms. So, I wonder if there is
> some way to repair my HPL 200-260 carbon boom. There are hair-cracks
> along the seam in the carbon tube under the boom head; it is still not
> broken, but definitly will be soon if not somehow strengthened.
> The boom is in 'new condition' so it's pity to through it away after
> 500+$ spent on it. The boom actually started to show those cracks after
> about 2 years and about 20 times on the water (!). I contacted the HPL
> and sent them the pics, but did not get any reply since (for about 2
> months).

> By the way, I will never buy HPL products again, given their breakage
> history and, in particular, their customer serevice.

> Thanks in advance,
> Paul

by **quadzill..** » Tue, 21 Feb 2006 10:38:28

I use HPL carbon booms with good luck after breaking a bunch of
Fiberspar and NP booms. So I think HPL is a good boom. You might be
hard pressed to get a warantee after two + years of use. I am very
leary of trying to repair a cracked boom as surely it will fail and
leave you stuck and if there is current or ocean situation, it could
kill you. Get a new boom.

by **wtrplne** » Tue, 21 Feb 2006 12:49:55

Quote:

> I use HPL carbon booms with good luck after breaking a bunch of
> Fiberspar and NP booms. So I think HPL is a good boom. You might be
> hard pressed to get a warantee after two + years of use. I am very
> leary of trying to repair a cracked boom as surely it will fail and
> leave you stuck and if there is current or ocean situation, it could
> kill you. Get a new boom.

Paul, I attempted to email you at the address you have but it bounced. I
can put you in direct contact with HPL here in the US. I won't post the
email address here for spam reasons but if you let me know how to reach you
I will give them your contact info. Two years is out of warranty, but I bet
they will do everything possible to resolve your problems.

Alan

by **paul** » Tue, 21 Feb 2006 16:22:35

Thanks for your suggestions.
The problem is that the local store I bought the boom from is no longer
an HPL dealer. And, since the boom is out of warranty, they can not do
much.
I sent an email to HPL, they asked to take pictures, so I did and sent
them; and for 2 months had no reply from HPL (I did send an additional
email asking what's up). That's indeed very annoying - at least they
would say that they can do nothing.
I am not a racer, though I am pumping, but it seems to me that there
was some manufacturing defect, since those cracks are along the seam
connecting two halfs of the tube.

In the past, I had a breakage of North aluminum boom after warranty
time (broke over a bolt hole in the front end). The local dealer sent
it to them, and the North accepted it and replaced it with a new boom
(I had to pay less than half price of the new boom). Also, I had a
Chinook alu boom; the pin lock piece had broken (also after warranty).
They sent me 2 pieces for free. That's what I call service.

by **Luck** » Wed, 22 Feb 2006 00:08:39

I have worked with HPL on 3 occassions ordering parts (head clamp flaps
and pins, a head assembly, and the tail/extension clips) and they've
been really really good. If you contact me, I can give you the name
and number of the guy I have talked to. He's been super cool and
honest and has always helped me out. I would buy another HPL if I
needed a boom. Sorry your experience hasn't been the same.

Quote:

> Thanks for your suggestions.
> The problem is that the local store I bought the boom from is no longer
> an HPL dealer. And, since the boom is out of warranty, they can not do
> much.
> I sent an email to HPL, they asked to take pictures, so I did and sent
> them; and for 2 months had no reply from HPL (I did send an additional
> email asking what's up). That's indeed very annoying - at least they
> would say that they can do nothing.
> I am not a racer, though I am pumping, but it seems to me that there
> was some manufacturing defect, since those cracks are along the seam
> connecting two halfs of the tube.

> In the past, I had a breakage of North aluminum boom after warranty
> time (broke over a bolt hole in the front end). The local dealer sent
> it to them, and the North accepted it and replaced it with a new boom
> (I had to pay less than half price of the new boom). Also, I had a
> Chinook alu boom; the pin lock piece had broken (also after warranty).
> They sent me 2 pieces for free. That's what I call service.

by **paul** » Wed, 22 Feb 2006 15:52:42

Alan,
I tried to email you my email but it bounces back to.
My email is:

kpaulnsATnetscape.net

by **paul** » Sat, 04 Mar 2006 06:16:11

Just wanted to let everyone (whoever read this) to know:
I followed an advice and finally made a call to the guy at HPL. It
seems there was a broken connection - either my or his email untyspam
blocked the message - so I never received a reply.
Anyway, the HPL guy seemed to be concerned about the situation; and he
is willing to help me. So, I am taking back my words reg. the HPL - I
hope my case is an exeption, both on the product quality and on the
customer relationships.
Paul

Quote:

> Hi all,
> there were posts on broken HPL carbon booms. So, I wonder if there is
> some way to repair my HPL 200-260 carbon boom. There are hair-cracks
> along the seam in the carbon tube under the boom head; it is still not
> broken, but definitly will be soon if not somehow strengthened.
> The boom is in 'new condition' so it's pity to through it away after
> 500+$ spent on it. The boom actually started to show those cracks after
> about 2 years and about 20 times on the water (!). I contacted the HPL
> and sent them the pics, but did not get any reply since (for about 2
> months).

> By the way, I will never buy HPL products again, given their breakage
> history and, in particular, their customer serevice.

> Thanks in advance,
> Paul

Sport Today

HPL carbon boom cracked

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HPL carbon boom cracked

HPL carbon boom cracked

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HPL carbon boom cracked