Wichard boom brake, not

[Twister_Ken]

At LIBS I was much taken by the Wichard Boom Brake, or at least I was until I checked the price. £216 was the cheapest I found at ExCel.

In attempt to find it more cheaply (I'll buy one from the US if all else fails, where $1 still = approx £1 in chandlery terms) I found a thread suggesting using a climbers 'descender' to do the same job.

OK, what's a descender, and what descender?

 

[Blue5]

At LIBS I was much taken by the Wichard Boom Brake, or at least I was until I checked the price. £216 was the cheapest I found at ExCel.

In attempt to find it more cheaply (I'll buy one from the US if all else fails, where $1 still = approx £1 in chandlery terms) I found a thread suggesting using a climbers 'descender' to do the same job.

OK, what's a descender, and what descender?

Likewise I am impressed but not with the price. Following a similar recommendation on another forum I tried a climbing figure of eight. It may be OK on a smaller yacht but my experience on our 40' boat suggested it was not really much good.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Any one else wondering about US purchase... ($199)

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|118|319697|311639|199&id=911760

I've used Deefender before. Service was as prompt as a good UK supplier.

 

[rotrax]

At LIBS I was much taken by the Wichard Boom Brake, or at least I was until I checked the price. £216 was the cheapest I found at ExCel.

In attempt to find it more cheaply (I'll buy one from the US if all else fails, where $1 still = approx £1 in chandlery terms) I found a thread suggesting using a climbers 'descender' to do the same job.

OK, what's a descender, and what descender?

Hi, thought about one myself and the price put me off too. Got a similar device made for serious climbing for about twenty quid-think it is called a "figure of eight". Not so many friction options but woth a punt at the price. From EBAY.

 

[Vara]

http://www.rutlandoutdoor.com/13941/Petzl-Figure-Of--8--Descender.html

Jimi's the man for this sort of thing.

 

[Whiskey Bravo]

At LIBS I was much taken by the Wichard Boom Brake, or at least I was until I checked the price. £216 was the cheapest I found at ExCel.

In attempt to find it more cheaply (I'll buy one from the US if all else fails, where $1 still = approx £1 in chandlery terms) I found a thread suggesting using a climbers 'descender' to do the same job.

OK, what's a descender, and what descender?

See here http://www.amazon.co.uk/figure-8-de...ender&rh=i:aps,k:figure of 8 descender&page=1

I have an old version of the first one, used for abseiling over many years whilst climbing. Works very well and I assume would do the job as a boom brake, although never tried it. May give it a whirl next time just for fun.

 

[webcraft]

.
Can someone explain how this boom brake is rigged and what the advantages are over a preventer?

- W

 

[tudorsailor]

Quick Google found video here

It is not a preventer but a device to control the speed of the boom travel during a gybe

Why not bring the boom closer to the midline before gybing?

Tudorsailor

 

[Twister_Ken]

Line from block somewhere near the shroud base, up to the gizmo, down to similar on t'other side. Lines back to cockpit. How hard you pull in the lines sets the inherent friction. Really hard will lock the boom. Softer will allow the boom to gybe, but slowly.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Why not bring the boom closer to the midline before gybing?

Tudorsailor

Good for crash gybes or unintentional ones.

Also, presumably, useful for shorthanded sailing on boats where the mainsheet and traveller are on the coach roof and out of the cockpit, so difficult to handle the sheet while doing the business.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Quote
"In attempt to find it more cheaply (I'll buy one from the US if all else fails, where $1 still = approx £1 in chandlery terms) I found a thread suggesting using a climbers 'descender' to do the same job."



The last piece of kit I bought from U.S. I had to pay sales tax from that state in the U.S. .... also import duty this end.

Is there a way of not paying so much tax?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Quote
"In attempt to find it more cheaply (I'll buy one from the US if all else fails, where $1 still = approx £1 in chandlery terms) I found a thread suggesting using a climbers 'descender' to do the same job."



The last piece of kit I bought from U.S. I had to pay sales tax from that state in the U.S. .... also import duty this end.

Is there a way of not paying so much tax?

I paid no State sales tax last time I bought from Defender, but I did get a VAT bill on import. Even so, it was much cheaper than UK price. I now have a son studying in the US, so ...

 

[Boo2]

At LIBS I was much taken by the Wichard Boom Brake, or at least I was until I checked the price. £216 was the cheapest I found at ExCel.

Mailspeed Marine have it at £210 inclusive of shipping. Rather than mess about risking VAT and duty on a US import I'd get one there iiwy.

Boo2

 

[rotrax]

Good for crash gybes or unintentional ones.

Also, presumably, useful for shorthanded sailing on boats where the mainsheet and traveller are on the coach roof and out of the cockpit, so difficult to handle the sheet while doing the business.

Yup- thats why I got the "figure of eight". Just getting the blocks together now along with some extra boom bales. I needed to fit a couple more anyway as the mainsheet blocks use only one. The other boats I have seen using the same mainsheet layout as our boat separate the mainsheet blocks to give an easier run with less chance of tangling if it goes slack.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Mailspeed Marine have it at £210 inclusive of shipping. Rather than mess about risking VAT and duty on a US import I'd get one there iiwy.

Boo2

$199 = £128 approx. Plus $54 shipping = £35. Plus VAT on both = £32. Total £195. Mmm. But son changes equation.

 

[westernman]

$199 = £128 approx. Plus $54 shipping = £35. Plus VAT on both = £32. Total £195. Mmm. But son changes equation.

You might get done by the courrier/delivery firm for a customs processing charge as well. That will ruin your day.

 

[jimi]

This device, seems to me to have two advantages over a Fig 8 , 1) It can be released easily and quickly by unhooking the rope 2) there's a lot more inbuilt friction.

Personally If I were to try this (which I would'nt cos it seems more hassle than its worth) I'd give an ATC a try first cos the angle of the rope would generate more friction. You'l also need a screw gate krab (might also be useful for mast ascent/descent).

http://www.needlesports.com/Catalog...elay-Abseil-Ascent/Belay/ATC---SPORT-BDI-ATCS

 

[Boo2]

...son changes equation.

Good point. Sunrunner has now-surplus jib cleats which means I can just rig a pair of preventers to them full time, makes even the US price seem a bit steep but it looks like a nice bit of kit if you need it.

Boo2

 

[Sybarite]

At LIBS I was much taken by the Wichard Boom Brake, or at least I was until I checked the price. £216 was the cheapest I found at ExCel.

In attempt to find it more cheaply (I'll buy one from the US if all else fails, where $1 still = approx £1 in chandlery terms) I found a thread suggesting using a climbers 'descender' to do the same job.

OK, what's a descender, and what descender?

When I first saw the idea they were using a simple pear-shaped descender. The trick is keeping the right amount of tension on the line. Probably a simple metal ring would serve the same purpose. All you need to do is create friction on the line. I'm sure though that I wouldn't spend over £200 on it.

 

[ianabc]

descender stainless heavy duty

http://www.shopwiki.co.uk/Rescue-Eight--descenders/products/Rescue