Boom brakes

[DeeGee]

(Jimi-no, it hasn't...)

I have been looking at BB's, they seem pretty pricey. I would like to hear from anyone who has one:-

What type is it (incl. home-made or jury); size and weight of boat; how satisfactory is it, esp with regard to non-gybing events (stopping vertical 'jaggling' when sailing light winds in a slop, or a mobo goes by; stopping vertical boom jumping around when reefing).

Is it a really significant advance on simple preventers?

Has there been a review recy of these things?

 

[dulcibella]

My boat (Rustler 36, 7.5 Tons) came with a Scott boomlock. It certainly works as a gybe damper/stopper (depending on wind strength) but is no substiute for a properly rigged preventer. I can't comment on the non-gybe issues as the boat has a rod kicker so doesn't suffer from the problems that you mention. The control line (fixed to the toerails by karabiners) is a damn nuisance as I have to duck under it to avoid wrapping the lifeline round it when moving forward or aft. I certainly wouldn't buy one.

 

[jimi]

You called, sweetness?

FWIW I would'nt use a boomlock .. too much faff. I've got one that Claysie gave me cos he discovered it was too much trouble .. I've found the same!

 

[ccscott49]

I have a bronze boomlock thingie, never fitted it, use a preventer instead, keeps it all nice and tight. Mine is rigged almost like a kicker.

 

[davidfox]

I ve got a scotts I think, it has a series of metal loops which the line threads through, sort of ok, I wouldnt buy one, had an involuntary gybe outside SPPort, only time i had let off the line tightening thingy, lost the main sheet shackle, sods law really, used it to some effect coming up the raz de seine with wind up chuff and quite a rolly swell, apart from that, it:-
1. chaffs the spray hood.
2. caused crew member (who was trying to adjust it) to fall back on said spray hood and stick his arse through it.

Rig a preventer.

 

[DeeGee]

Hmm, not exactly what I expected. It was on the cards, of course, hence my question re preventer.

But they SHOULD be great. And I dont think they should be designed so that you have to effectively switch them on and off.

Getting the no-no from a fellow Rustler is v relevant, thanks Dulcibella /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

There must be some others with different experience and feelings about them? After all, they do sell a lot, and at an incredible price. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[dk]

Used one (Scott's) on the ARC - seemed okay. More of a brake than a preventer, but did stop damage when we gybed accidentily. Someone needs to invent an intertia engaging type - like seat belts, so that you can tack without thinking about it, but it locks on any sudden movement. Now where's my pencil...

 

[ColinHuggins]

Re: What\'s wrong with a kicker then?

Sailed a Rival with a traditional 3-part kicker tackle, NOT brought back to the cockpit, and the bottom end had a snap shackle so that it could be transferred to the gunnel, thus eliminating the need for a specific gybe preventer.

With a rod kicker I just resigned myself to rigging a line from boom-end forrard if an involuntary gybe was on the cards - nuisance when you did gybe tho'.

 

[dom]

I use a Dutchman boombrake. It works well and the plus side is if one sets it up properly an accidental gybe will not put so much shock loads on the anchor point as would a hard rigged preventer. On the minus side they are a bit fiddly to set up and are not suitable to be left rigged. I use it mostly for slightly longer legs especially with an inexperienced helmsman.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Re: What\'s wrong with a kicker then?

[ QUOTE ]
Sailed a Rival with a traditional 3-part kicker tackle, NOT brought back to the cockpit, and the bottom end had a snap shackle so that it could be transferred to the gunnel, thus eliminating the need for a specific gybe preventer.


[/ QUOTE ]this was suggested to me a couple of years ago and i posted about it on here. general consensus was that there is a risk of bending/breaking the boom if you do accidentally gybe.

i still do it but only in light airs, prefering a full preventer if its F4+

 

[dk]

Re: What\'s wrong with a kicker then?

A friend did that on his CS35, and when he crash gybed one day the snap-shackle broke and knocked his father unconscious. They had come to rely on it and had never considered it breaking! Thankfully he was okay, but he's banished snap shackles on his boat forever.
D