Re: Accidental Gybe Prevention/Control - Boom Brake
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2025 7:25 am
That sounds like a great setup for a preventer. I've just added it to my ever-increasing list of mods.
Captain Don's boom brake seems like a solid choice for your needs, especially when it comes to managing accidental gybes and keeping things under control from the cockpit, even when you're single-handed or short-handed. The adjustable friction settings are definitely a plus for handling different wind conditions.TrailerTrash wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2024 3:55 pm I've been carefully researching my plans for the "new to me" Mac26D and one of the areas I've been carefully researching is safety for accidental gybes.
If you look at the statistics, even experienced sailors are caught by accidental gybes. I've looked at various preventer rigging options and the brakes. Since one of my big goals is the ability to control 99% of situations from within the cockpit, and ease of use is critical to me, I like the single-line control options where I can fix it from within the cockpit while single or short-handed.
Does anyone have experience using Captain Don's boom break? It is a deprivation of the simple climber's Figure 8 gear. It gives a further range of adjustment, offering more range of adjustment due to the different configurations to adjust friction. It costs more ($70 vs $20) but when you look at the overall cost of setting up one of these, the price seems insignificant.
What appeals to me is the single line of control and if you want to use it as a defacto preventer, you can snug up the control line from the cockpit.
The downside appears I'll probably have to add deck gear for attachment, and I'll have more clutter on the boat. The way I view it, I'd try to dial it in for < 20 knot winds so that it was a functional brake, and in really high wind situations I'd be much less likely to be running directly downwind anyway. I'd use it as a preventer by fully snugging it up in those conditions and moving more to broad reach to minimize the chance of an accidental gybe.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/292516226086
https://www.practical-sailor.com/sails- ... e-the-jibe
Your plan to use it as a preventer in moderate wind conditions and adjust for higher winds sounds smart. While adding deck gear could create some clutter, the added safety and control may make it worthwhile. Single-line systems like this are often praised for their ease of use, so it should work well for what you're aiming for.
Let us know how it works once you're set up!