A boom is not an absolute necessity. I have a boomless Marconi
rig and a self tacking
jib. This is a lazy man's pilot house cruiser. Getting hit with a boom is not a concern. However if I were stupid enough to be on the cabin roof and an accidental Gybe happened I would find myself in the water. LOL A lot of power in that big sail. Even the
jib would toss a person in the water. All my controls come back to one electric
winch insude the pilot house. And six clutches.