Permanently rigged gybe preventer

[BlueSkyNick]

I know this has been discussed in the past, but I thought I would kick it off again, anyway.

What's the standard practice for the above?

I am thinking of a line permanently tied off at the end of the boom, running forward to just short of the gooseneck with a snap-shackle which is then moved down to the toe rail when required. The snag being the length of the tail - wouldn't it need a hank of line or similar, where the snap shackle is stowed, which is unnecessary hassle and renders the whole idea a waste of time!

Best to keep the line and shackle stowed together and just bring them out of hibernation when required, innit?

 

[bbg]

This set up is good until you get to the part about clipping the snap shackle to the rail. The snap shackle should be clipped to another length of line, that runs to the rail, through a block then back to the cockpit for tensioning / making fast.

In this way you can control the preventer from the cockpit. Although I wouldn't recommend it, it is possible to gybe with the preventer still connected (but fully eased), then unclip it and re-rig it on the other side. Or if you think you are going to have a series of gybes, you can rig the block / extra line both sides, so all you have to do is unclip on one side, then clip on the the other side. If that makes sense.

Edit - the advantage of having the line permanently rigged along the boom is (1) you don't have to fiddle around at the end of the boom to rig the preventer, and (2) because it is always there, you are more likely to use it.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

yeah, you're right - I didnt explain very well. I did mean that the preventer, when in use, would come back to the cockpit from the snap shackle, to provide tensioning and control.

I don't understand about rigging the block / extra line both sides .... do you mean two preventers, in effect? One port and one starboard.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

How about a block at the mast base, and then lead the line back.... and then you only need one line, which you shackle to either side depending upon how you want to use it..

 

[bbg]

Riggin either side - think of these as sheets, running from the cockpit, through a block on the toerail, with a loop in the end. Your permanent preventer is the length of the boom, with a shackle on the end. When on stbd tack, you shackle the (permanent) preventer to the port side tensioning line. Stbd side is still rigged (through the block) but not attached to the permanent preventer. It is just waiting for you to gybe, at which point you would clip it on (and unclip the port side).

Make sense?

 

[MoodySabre]

I have mine made up and stowed and just rig it if I'm anticipating down wind conditions.

I know I'm going to get flamed (don't care) but I run a line each side from a snapshackle attached to the kicker bracket down to swivel block on the toe rails (on my boat between the shrouds) and back down each gunnel. Lots of string but lots of relaxing downwind sailing.

Some say that this threatens the boom if you should dip the end of it in the water - I say that if it gets that rough then I'm dropping the main!

 

[dk]

Just one thing - a friend of mine was nearly killed using this setup with a snapshackle. Though obviously convenient, the latter is a weak point in the link - especially when a side-load is applied to it by clipping it directly to the toerail. Much safer to use a standard U-shackle.

D

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Thanks for the tip dk, system v0.3 now under consideration.