Gybe Tamer

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Robert B

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April's PBO has an article on page 54 about a Gybe Tamer made by JDP Marine

Does anyone have any experience of using one? i.e. are they worth having?
 
I confess I haven't seen the article but one assumes a Gybe Tamer is something that stops the boom crashing across when th wind gets behind the main - a Gybe Preventer?

On my Benny Oceanis 323, I setup two lines from one of the main sheet block fittings on the boom. These are lead, one to port, one to starboard under the for'wd horn of the mid ships cleat on each side then back to the stern quarter cleat with a figure of eight at the bitter end. When gybing, ease the working preventer (a la jib sheet), Gybe, re-secure the new working preventer sheet. Simples! Just remember to ease/tighten to preventer when tuning.

Cost? Good sized snap shackle for the boom end, some 8-10mm braid on braid (depending on the size of your boat) and.....that's it!
 
No, your assumption is wrong. What you are describing is a boom brake, of which there are many variants, the Walder being the only one that has really stood the test of time and many sea miles on (mostly) French cruising boats.

The Gybe Tamer is something different altogether. Having googled it, I am totally mystified as to what it is hoping to achieve. It appears to be a spring/damper which is installed in series with the main sheet. A completely crazy idea in my opinion, but maybe I am misunderstanding the manufacturers website.
 
I can see that it would make unseamanlike crash gybes a little less destructive of mainsheet cars, by damping the energy of the boom as the sheet goes tight.
Far better to learn to sail your boat.
You might get a similar effect by replacing your mainsheet with cheap rope from the pound shop?
If you want to spend money on your mainsheet, a ratchet block would be a better investment.
 
I can see some point in having a shock absorber in the main sheet, but Gybe Tamer will surely not achieve much because it only works once the gybe has happened, and the boom has already struck several unsuspecting heads.
 
If you crash-gybe, dinghy-style, then it's a good idea to have some arrangement to brake the travel of the boom across the cockpit, and you must remember never have the boom sheeted out far enough as to hit the shrouds.
However if you gybe in a controlled manner, by centring the sail while on a dead run (when you see the jib collapsing behind the mainsail), then bearing away slightly to induce the gybe and then immediately allowing the mainsheet to run out unimpeded on the new gybe (as soon as the top of the leech flicks over), the energy will be absorbed by the friction in the mainsheet system and no expensive gadget will be required. Unintended gybes can be avoided by, first of all, wind awareness, and as a "worst-case" back-up, a gybe preventer.
Using the gybing technique I have described, it is possible, with a little practice, in a boat under 25ft, in moderate winds, to single-handedly gybe the sail four times, while sailing in a (relatively) straight line between two marks 100metres apart.
 
Taken from Your First Atlantic Crossing, 4th edition, by Les Weatheritt published by Adlard Coles. A cheap and cheerful DIY gybe preventer.

I live in fear of the accidental gybe. I mean, think what it tells the watching world about my competence on the helm. This latest design is the culmination of many previous ones. It does away with searching in lockers for lines when it is urgent to have them; or of balancing on tiptoe to reeve through the end of a sheeted-out boom. I am surely not alone among sailors in finding so many operations that involve leaning precariously over the side of the boat while trying to tie a knot with one hand.

One preventer line runs from the kicking strap plate on the boom to a point at the outer edge of the deckhouse level with the mast, then round a block and back to a cleat within easy reach of the cockpit. A similar line runs on the other side of the deckhouse. These are permanently rigged and left slack until needed. Then the line is taken to a sheet winch and cranked in. Simplicity itself. These lines do more than prevent a gybe. They help keep the crew on board when reefing or furling the main. They keep the boom in position when it is holding up an awning in port. I have even seen underwear hung out to dry on the lines, although I should tell you that this is not common. Best of all they are effective gybe preventers able to be engaged quickly but also to be disengaged even more quickly without anyone leaving the cockpit.

Make damn sure that the preventer blocks and fittings are strong. We blew apart two 12 mm blocks from carelessness during the Trade Wind crossing when a single line cannot always hold a gybe. We learnt the tell-tale signs of a half completed gybe. The block groaning audibly; the line stretching thinner before our very eyes. This usually gave our lightning reflexes enough time to push the tiller over or to uncleat the preventer. And then, of course, even if the gybe was unstoppable, the preventer saved us from tearing muscles and getting rope burns across our palms.
 
Hello all.
I have a gybe tamer and I am very happy with it.
I have read the comments below and it is always the same, someone always knows better..... That's sailing I suppose.
Speaking only from personal experience using my gybe tamer, it simply takes the sting and snap out of a gybe, it's great, it makes a real difference at the last moment (if it's asked to). I didn't expect it to cook me breakfast or sail the boat for me, but it really does take the edge and snap out of the gybe if I don't do it perfectly and that's what I hoped it would do. So im happy with it.
I'm sure even the most experienced sailors get caught out once in a while, or the crew does. Well I do.....I'm only human.....(I'm sure I'll be told by someone now that I'm a bad sailor with a terrible technique, but I don't think I am).
Anyhow, I'm often on the water with people less experienced and it has come in very handy. I'd recommend it. It looks very neat and I installed it in minutes.
I have an old Vindö 30 and she's a bit demanding on the helm. I also don't have a lot of room to fit anything larger.
If it helps anyone then it gets my vote.
 
Is it just a spring/damper? If so, how do you control the mainsail with the sheet? Will it no prevent sheeting in the mainsail hard when sailing close-hauled?
 
You just use the mainsheet as usual.
If the force on the sail is very strong the Tamer extends possibly to maximum but then you can still sheet in further if required. On a reach it has the advantage of absorbing gusts, again you have complete control.
 
just as a completely different approach to problem gybes I replaced my boom with a section of broken dinghy mast in carbon fibre. The weight of the boom was halved to something less than 3 kg and this makes the crash gybe no real crash at all. Further through testing I have found that it is far gently on heads. I did fit soft attachments on the boom so no ss fittings sticking out to impale a head. olewill
 
I've sailed a few dinghies with carbon booms, the difference is remarkable.
Probably quite a pricey option for bigger boats.
DIY might be an option.
 
Just come across this topic.
For what its worth I have had 2 of these Gybe Tamers, the first one came apart whilst close-hauled, the welding on the shackle lug was faulty. This was replaced FOC & now the 2nd one has failed, this time a loss of pressure which resulted in the thing suddenly releasing. The main body was also showing signs of worrying corrosion where the powder coating had peeled off.
The bottom block of the mainsheet on my Hunter 272 is attached to a fixing on the cockpit floor, & the idea of some form of shock absorber to lessen the risk of a gybe ripping out the fitting is a good one, but it has to be reliable. My experience suggests the Gybe Tamer is not up to the job.
Needless to say the company that sells these is not interested.
 
.
The guy who made them is retiring and selling off his entire stock at less than half price, so I guess none of the big boys were interested. Not only does it look as though it would take the most damaging sting out of an accidental gybe, it also should reduce heel in gusts.

Bit disturbing to read the report by MikeK about construction quality, but I am slightly suspicious as it is his first ever post.

I have purchased one to try out as they seem to be very good value for money at the fire sale price. I will report back in due course.

- W
 
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