The Capt. Don boom brake - SLOW your boom down, reduces your work load, stress on your rig and possibly save someone's head or life.
There is no doubt that it could prevent a serious injury, particularly to a novice onboard.
More info on boom brakes.
Boom safety concerns (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boom_%28sailing%29 )
The second leading cause of death on sailboats is directly attributed to the use of booms.[2] Booms can cause injuries directly, sweep people overboard, and their associated hardware and lines represent tripping hazards. On larger boats, sailors tend to stand on the boom to perform sail maintenance and install or take off sail covers. Falls from the boom onto the deck below occur. Even when stationary, booms represent a hazard since on most boats there is insufficient headroom to walk below them without ducking. According to a German study, "boom strikes were the most common cause of sailing injury overall".[3]
When boom injuries occur far from shore they can require expensive rescues. In 2010 the US Coast Guard and Air National Guard utilized a Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft to rescue a man from 1400 miles off the Mexican coast.[4] Deaths and injuries can occur on boats operating upon lakes and coastal waters.[5][6][7][8] Boom related accidents can also imperil the remainder of the passengers and crew aboard when a key member is lost as occurred in April 2011.[9]
As a precaution, any sailboat with a low boom should mandate use of life jackets, and ensure others know how to obtain assistance and operate the craft. In Boston a sailor knocked overboard by the boom died in full sight of the land and other boats and the person left aboard didn't know how to use the radio.[10]
Review by Ed Martin
As an avid Chesapeake Bay and offshore sailor, safety has always been my highest priority. We have flares, life jackets, EPIRB's, life rafts, etc. but why not a boom brake? Studies indicate that boom strikes were the most common cause of sailing injury overall and probably after drowning, the second leading cause of death.
There are a good selection of boom brakes to choose from that span most cruisers budget. These include The Automatic Safety Brake, The Walder Boom Brake, The Dutchman, The Wichard Gyb’Easy and a climbers 8 for smaller boats.
A friend asked me to test his design, the Capt. Don Boom Brake. Admittedly I have not used one before on my Bristol 32 but I knew I really wanted one as I sail a lot single handed and using a preventer is extra work. I square lashed the boom brake aft of the vang and ran the friction line (New England Rope 3/8”Sta-Set Polyester Double Braid works well) through the Brake to a Ronstan 2 11/16” S-Bail Snap Shackle to the Port lower aft stay turnbuckle. In order to adjust the tension of the friction line the other end was attached to a block and tackle between the brake and the Starboard lower aft stay. I used a Ronstan, Series 40, Fiddle block which has a cam so I did not have to have a line running back to the cockpit. This proved easy to adjust and forget. Here is a video of my setup. http://youtu.be/yCkFUGl12xw
The Capt. Don boom brake is inexpensive, made from highly polished ½ in or 14mm 316L stainless steel, not aluminum. It is also about 20 % bigger than a Climbers 8 being 6 ¾” long and 3 3/4” wide with a center pin for increased friction if required.
I am very pleased with my installation and ease of use. I recommend you consider installing a boom brake. You will wonder why you sailed without it.
Ed Martin
Retired Cartographer and current member USCG Auxiliary
More info on boom brakes.
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