<div>After 7 years on carbon booms with loads less breakages decided to give an aluminium boom a go..after reading all blurb sounded like the 2014 North Silver line was as good as any...At first thought boom was fantastic...lighter than Carbons and very stiff for aluminium... however first time out on combination of said boom and a 100% carbon tushingham (460) I managed to break the mast...first gybe..seemed very little force on mast at time and never use this mast on rough water...(Mast is 3 years old with perhaps 25 usages;little to no wear) At first thought it just coincidence..fragile mast etc etc but then examined clamp/mast connection (Mast broke immediately under boom;exactly in line with base of boom clamp) Putting it simply the mast just does not go fully home into boom cup;it leaves probably a 5mm gap between mast and front of clamp;to me it looks as though any sideways force on mast would be onto a single point at the base of the hinge;other side seems fine..there is a rubber block.. Spoke with retailer and distributor...both sort of blamed mast...100% masts break; and distributor implied the North mast would fit better.. (are modern SDM`s now narrower ???)If this is the case surely boom should come with a warning...not compatible with any mast over 42 mm (a guess) at boom cut out... All my SDM`s (that I have left !!!) are 45 mm diameter at the boom cut out.... There is just no way a 45mm dia mast will go fully into my North clamp... Anybody using North booms I suggest you check your mast diameter. To be fair clamp is extremely well made;strong;easy to use but IMHO just does not fit normal (???) SDM`s. Any comments any body...(Besides stick to carbon booms...but the nort uses same clamp !)