Hi all
I am considering fitting a boom brake and wonder what other forum members think about them
Down here the wind direction can change frequently and sometimes the gusts can come from a different direction so you need to be alert to prevent accidental gybes
I was looking on a web site and the instruction said to remove the vang and fit the brake to the vang fitting on the boom
I can see how the brake will do the job of the vang in holding the boom down with the wind behind but are the any disadvantages in removing the vang
This is one of the brakes I am looking at http://www.mmproducts.southernseasmarine.com.au/index.php?route=product/product&path=68&product_id=95
Any thoughts would be appreciated
Regards Don
Donk,
If you go for a figure 8 descender , be sure to get one with hooks like the one Ramona linked to. Some just have round rings and if the rope for the brake becomes slack it can slip to the bottom of the ring and form a knot, you would then have a boom preventor
Hi Ramona,
I've got a descender as well, but in setting it up, found that the line is twisted by the descender as the boom is manually swung through its full gybing range.
The effect of the line twist is to change the friction offered by the descender on each pass, so the gybe control setting is not repeatable. Also, the friction offered is not constant over the range of the gybing boom.
Note I have not tried the system for real, but expect it will operate as is does in the manual tests.
I'd be interested in your thoughts on this.
From my research, I think the Wichard looks effective, although I've not seen it in action.
regards,
Allan
Select to expand quoteJolene said..
Donk,
If you go for a figure 8 descender , be sure to get one with hooks like the one Ramona linked to. Some just have round rings and if the rope for the brake becomes slack it can slip to the bottom of the ring and form a knot, you would then have a boom preventor
Thanks Jolene, hadn't noticed that as I have a figure 8, just brought one with horns for $13.29
Select to expand quoteDatawiz said..
Hi Ramona,
I've got a descender as well, but in setting it up, found that the line is twisted by the descender as the boom is manually swung through its full gybing range.
The effect of the line twist is to change the friction offered by the descender on each pass, so the gybe control setting is not repeatable. Also, the friction offered is not constant over the range of the gybing boom.
Note I have not tried the system for real, but expect it will operate as is does in the manual tests.
I'd be interested in your thoughts on this.
From my research, I think the Wichard looks effective, although I've not seen it in action.
regards,
Allan
The turning point for the rope needs to be on the toe rail each side abeam the gooseneck so that the tension set does not alter as the boom swings over. I have shifted mine further out on the boom now. I started with it just aft of the boom vang. By moving it further out on the boom I'm working on the theory that the descender will have to travel along the rope further so adding more friction.
I spent hours on the lathe making a copy of the wichard but after a couple of exciting gybes that involved an overriding turn I settled for simplicity.
I also think both sides of the descenders rope needs to be tensioned before that exciting gybe!
