Dutchman boom brake for an X

[Jane]

Picked up a Dutchman boom brake for a steal. Would like to try it but have no experience with boom brakes of any kind. Thinking of a single line installation running the line to the base of the forward stanchions and beefing up the integrity of the base with larger washers. Any thoughts anybody?

[Russ]

I had to google this. After reading a bit and looking at photos, I'm still confused. Looks too complicated for my boat.

Would love to know if it is beneficial. Our boats sail like barges, so I guess it couldn't hurt.

--Russ

[Kevin]

I went from my 26M to my current 43 cat ketch, effectively 2 mains. I singlehand and the boom brake is great to deal with jibes of both booms at once wheni can't get to both sheets at the same time.

My fore mast brake is run to fair leads at the stanchions so big washers should work for you.

The one hint is that the brake works as a Vang keeping the boom down. Sometimes the sail lifts which adds more tension than you realized to the brake and keeps the boom from moving. Pull down on the boom or use a Vang if it's rigged to free it.

[Jane]

Kevin, good point about the boom brake behaving like a vang. I have a Garhauer vang already mounted. I wonder if releasing some tension on the brake would be more effective than tightening the vang on those occasions that the boom resists moving.

[Kevin]

I have a rigid Vang and no topping lift on both my booms. The issue I was trying to describe is where you set the tension on the boom brake so there is the right friction, then conditions change so the sail lifts the boom and so tightens the boom brake control in my can cleat so that I can't release or ease the brake without prying it loose with a fid.

In that situation tightening the Vang takes the pressure off the brake and allows me to adjust the tension.

[mastreb]

Seems really complicated for our boats. Were I worried about a preventer, I'd just use a dual-mainsheet configuration going from the boom hound to the port and starboard stanchions, which replaces the traveler as well.

[Paul S]

installed a dutchman on our M (and our o-38). Would never own a boat without one. Setup isnt bad, having controlled gybes is priceless.

[Jane]

Paul, would you be able to share some pics or maybe description of your install? I have the brake but ran out of time to get it on this season, but plan to get to it first thing when the weather turns favorable.

[Paul S]

pretty simple. attached at the base of a stanchion through the brake, to a block on another stanchion, to a deck mounted clutch (in line with the winch in order to tighten it if needed). it is attached to a boom vang.

On the M, you need to pin the mast (not pinned in this picture) or it won't work properly.

[DaveC426913]

Does anyone simply switch the mainsheet block to the armpits* as a quick, painless preventer?

*pulpit at bow, pushpit at stern, so the midship rails must be armpits, right?

[Tomfoolery]

Does anyone simply switch the mainsheet block to the armpits* as a quick, painless preventer?

I use a length of line with a boat snap at one end, and a loop through another boat snap with a rolling hitch on the other. Clips onto the bail and onto the lifeline stanchion, and snugged a little with the rolling hitch. I don't use it often, but it's nice to have when it's needed.

[Neo]

I'd just use a dual-mainsheet configuration going from the boom hound to the port and starboard stanchions, which replaces the traveler as well.

Just reading this old threat ...... Surely the above puts a lot of stress on some this was not designed to hold down the boom (the stanchions)?

I stumbled across this on ebay and wondered what you guys think of it?.... https://goo.gl/PUI64a

[Dutch01527]

I use a climbing figure of eight like the picture. Works well and cost $10.

Line from the stantion base to the boom to stantion base block and back to spare locking cleat by the winch.

[Neo]

Does that look like this device (also called a Descender)?....

[sailboatmike]

Makes you wonder how some manufacturers justify charging $300 plus for basicly the same thing.

Ohh thats right, they are for boats, so we can gouge the hull out of people