Boom brake

[paul culver]

Here's something I've been experimenting with (attached pic) since reading about it on the internet. Its a low cost boom brake based on a climbing "8". It is not a jibe preventer but rather a jibe slower that comes in handy when my autohelm can't maintain course. The wraps through the 8 create friction, and the ends of the line are fed through turning blocks and back to secondary winches/cleats in the cockpit. The rate of boom swing is controlled by the tension on the line end: more tension = slower jibe. I rig it ahead of long down wind runs and adjust it as needed. I like the system.

Paul
E29 "Bear"

 

[Shelman]

I did the same thing two weeks ago! I ran the line from one aft lower shroud chain plate, up to the 8 and then threaded it through the opposite chain plate and then ran it back to the cockpit ending at a jam cleat so I can adjust it easily.
Its not perfect but it does help slow things down a bit, and it didn't cost me anything but the time it took to rummage through my climbing bag for spare parts.