Bruce,

I few comments here.

100US$ for a A-cat/FX-one boom setup !

That sounds quite expensive; what costed the most the tube or the fittings ? I assume you used most of the fittings of the original boom ?

Masts :

Just a suggestion but vectorworks marine has a few 8.5 mtr Superwing masts (Taipan / Blade) in Titusville Florida. You may want to look into that :

I have some data on both masts :

FX-one : Source Steven bellavia in a post on this forum a while ago

FX-one mast With spreaders and main halyard 44 lbs = 19.93 kg = say 20 kg

Superwing of same length with spreaders ex halyard = 15.5 kg

Both are alumimium masts. I always thought that the FX-one mast for just a Tiger F18 section just as the I-17 mast is probably a Nacra F18 (Inter 18) section

I think the I-17 alu mast is a section of 1.85 kg to 2 kg per mtr. The superwind section is 1.6 kg / mtr and it is the lightest alu masts that I know off except the old alu A-cat masts.

Come to think of it. I know that Pieter Saarberg has a few old alu A-cat mast laying around at his carbon mast shop. You may even get one of those. I think they will come out fully fitted somewhere about 13,5 kg's

Good luck !

Wouter