We've got bungee cord on board for this. It holds the boom in place but has a certain amount of "give" when needed. Tricky though, needs watching all the time if heading dead down wind. I prefer to to do a broad reach, the extra boat speed seems to make up for the longer distance traveled.

I'd never use one of these. Any time the wind was aft of the beam I had lines permanently set up that ran from the end of the boom to the side of the boat a bit forward of the mast and then back to some big mother jam creates. Called them preventers and they did.

When I brought my last boat it had one of these fang dangle devices on it and the rigger who inspected my boat said throw it in the bin, so I did.

As usual, it's your boat and you should do what you believe is best for you.

MorningBird said..

Trek said..
We've got bungee cord on board for this. It holds the boom in place but has a certain amount of "give" when needed. Tricky though, needs watching all the time if heading dead down wind. I prefer to to do a broad reach, the extra boat speed seems to make up for the longer distance traveled.

I do the same as Trek, I don't try to head dead downwind.
I have experienced an unintentional gybe in a stiff breeze on a Swarbrick S111 with a preventor on. One of the most dangerous out of control situations I have been in.
Unless you are racing with a crew I believe they are more trouble than they are worth. I acknowledge a lot of other opinions are out there, although some of them may not have experienced an uncontrolled gybe in a stiff breeze.

I run preventor as soon as the wind gets to about 115-120. It runs to the anchor/mooring cleat then back to the cockpit.
It wont stop the boat from gybing but it will stop the boom crashing across if you do gybe.
i fail to see what could be so dangerous and out of control by doing this.

BROWNSMTRACE said..

Jolene said..

MorningBird said..

Trek said..
We've got bungee cord on board for this. It holds the boom in place but has a certain amount of "give" when needed. Tricky though, needs watching all the time if heading dead down wind. I prefer to to do a broad reach, the extra boat speed seems to make up for the longer distance traveled.

I do the same as Trek, I don't try to head dead downwind.
I have experienced an unintentional gybe in a stiff breeze on a Swarbrick S111 with a preventor on. One of the most dangerous out of control situations I have been in.
Unless you are racing with a crew I believe they are more trouble than they are worth. I acknowledge a lot of other opinions are out there, although some of them may not have experienced an uncontrolled gybe in a stiff breeze.

I run preventor as soon as the wind gets to about 115-120. It runs to the anchor/mooring cleat then back to the cockpit.
It wont stop the boat from gybing but it will stop the boom crashing across if you do gybe.
i fail to see what could be so dangerous and out of control by doing this.

When the preventors snaps the boom fires across and has killed quite a few racing guys and flung people overboard

Has this been your experience ? how many do you actually know that have had this problem?

BROWNSMTRACE said..
This was the article I read about it
https://www.sail-world.com/news/208089/NZ-report-has-common-factors-with-other-incidents

Only two of those instances concerned a preventer breaking. Both whilst being pushed hard during gale conditions and the gybe was going to happen anyway. All the deaths in the article where the result of multiple system (equipment) and human errors.

It is your classic Swiss Cheese model.

I think it is a long bow to draw saying preventers a dangerous and people get killed by them based on this article alone.

For my opinion as a cruising boat and not a racer, I can't be bothered wiht a preventer. Like a few above I just bear off little. I might be more inclined to use a brake, but I've never tried one as yet.

nswsailor said..
We have discussed this in the past, do a search for Boom brakes topic over last 5 years.

Boom brakes are different to preventers. I use a boom brake but would never consider a preventer.

Ramona said..

nswsailor said..
We have discussed this in the past, do a search for Boom brakes topic over last 5 years.

Boom brakes are different to preventers. I use a boom brake but would never consider a preventer.

Ramona I have never used a boom brake but it sure makes more sense to me , What type do you use mate ?

I use a climbing Figure of 8 as a brake. A bit fidly to get just right in tension, but it does slow the boom quite a bit through gybes, accidental or planned. I run it down to the deck cleats midship. Also good for stopping the boom slapping in rolly seas downwind.

I like the idea of a bit of give specially after having a boom break in half from a preventor.
The old green young tree able to bend instead of the old strong tree not giving until to late.

BROWNSMTRACE said..

Jolene said..
The preventor also stops the boom slapping back and forth wreaking and wearing out gear in sloppy seas,,, more so in the light air.
I can't bare to watch that happening so I put a stop to it immediately

Thats a great idea Jolene what are they worth to buy ?

Its not an idea in terms of an "Idea" ,,, Its just a bit of sail boat kit that many sailors have used for many years.
A length of rope tied to the end of the boom with a big loop bowline (so it can be undone safely from the deck when the boom is on the shrouds) and a turning block to bring the rope back to the cockpit from the bow. You just pull the preventer rope tight in the cockpit to oppose tension from the mainsheet to lock the boom from moving.

I use a Walder boom brake - fixed to a 4 to 1 Purchase with cleat within arms length of the helm. I find it an essential bit of safety kit to control / prevent jibes & fix boom while sailing as described above. Having seen my wife break her wrist on the traveller As sheets flew across while jibing unexpectedly, I can now confidently say this won't happen again!

Boom preventor