Dutchman Boom Brake

[Jack]

Hello,I'm considering adding a Dutchman Boom Brake to my Catalina 350. Is it easyto rig? Easy to use? Effective in controlling accidental jibes? Any infoyou can share would be appreciated.Thanks,Jack"Friendship"C350, #80

 

[Bob1933]

We purchased one for $500 for our Hunter 380. It took another $500 of sheets and equipment to get it installed. The company was unhelpful, and I quit calling them when they said the owner was out cruising. We used it once in coastal cruising type situations. It now sits in a storage locker. It may work great in off shore cruising, but I am unimpressed with it for local conditions. I would suggest a rope with appropriate ends that you can tie to the main and a cleat. this method isn't cockpit usable, but it only costs about $50 and works great. Try the simple method first. You can always go to the $1,000 solution later!

 

[Tom S]

Here is another alternative - cheaper

and effectivley the same.Listed @ $175http://www.svhotwire.com/boombrake.html

 

[Mark Millham]

another alternative..even cheaper

Some books suggest that using preventers at mid boom is a bad idea, as it loads the boom and is a huge stress on the deck hardware.Try running a 3/8 sheet from the end of the boom through a block at the bow and back to the cockpit. This will limit any undue stresses for either your deck or the boom, and significantly cheaper than the other options

 

[Jack]

Thanks for the ideas!

I appreciate all the input. I think we'll start with running a line from the boom end to a block at the bow. If that proves to be cumbersome or ineffective, we can always try one of the brake devices. Besides, the new block won't go to waste... there's always a use for an extra block or two.Sincerely,Jack"Friendship"C350, #80

 

[Jack Tyler]

Rigging a conventional preventer properly...

...is what will make it functional enough to be used. Bill Seifert's excellent Offshore Sailing describes how to set up a two-part preventer that can be controlled from the cockpit and doesn't need to be rerouted from one side-deck to the other when one jibes/tacks onto the other side, downwind.You might want to take a look at what he says, as Bill's got a wealth of experience plus has run the production shops at Tartan and Alden, and had a serious role at TPI too, as I recall. I appreciate his book because it actually illustrates quite practical ways of accomplishing the many things that we all read about countless times but aren't sure how to best do them.Jack