Crash jibe buffer

[arvicola-amphibius]

I made a boom brake out of some rope and one of those belaying cleats you can buy in a shop that sell gear for abseiling and mountaineering. It is alloy and shaped like a figure 8 and a good one here in Oz sells for about 30 bucks.
I ditched the boom down haul, ran a line from one chain plate through the belaying device ( sorry I dunno what they are called) which was attached to the boom at the old mounting point for the down haul about 4 feet back from the gooseneck. From there the line runs to a block on the opposite chain plate and back to a cleat on the outboard side of the cockpit coaming.
Simply tension it as required with a winch and cleat it off. It won't prevent a gybe but slows it down significantly. The heavier the line the greater the friction generated. I have found 12mm to be just right.
Because of the attach point fairly close in to the gooseneck, it is probably unsuitable for a boat much bigger than my 30 footer, but so far it has worked a treat.

[Geoff54]

Originally Posted by arvicola-amphibius

I made a boom brake out of some rope and one of those belaying cleats you can buy in a shop that sell gear for abseiling and mountaineering. It is alloy and shaped like a figure 8 and a good one here in Oz sells for about 30 bucks.
I ditched the boom down haul, ran a line from one chain plate through the belaying device ( sorry I dunno what they are called) which was attached to the boom at the old mounting point for the down haul about 4 feet back from the gooseneck. From there the line runs to a block on the opposite chain plate and back to a cleat on the outboard side of the cockpit coaming.
Simply tension it as required with a winch and cleat it off. It won't prevent a gybe but slows it down significantly. The heavier the line the greater the friction generated. I have found 12mm to be just right.
Because of the attach point fairly close in to the gooseneck, it is probably unsuitable for a boat much bigger than my 30 footer, but so far it has worked a treat.

Very interesting. I had considered something like this using a Big Rescue 8. What size and type of 8 did you use?

[SimonV]

All sail boats over 30' should be manditorially fitted with a Dutchman boom break, Any boat I own will have one.

[Minnewaska]

Originally Posted by SimonV

All sail boats over 30' should be manditorially fitted with a Dutchman boom break, Any boat I own will have one.

I sort of agree. However, our boom is about 7 - 8 ft above the cockpit. You could still rip it off at the gooseneck with an accidental jibe in rough conditions, but you're much less likely to whack someone in the head.

[Minnewaska]

Originally Posted by arvicola-amphibius

I made a boom brake out of some rope and one of those belaying cleats you can buy in a shop that sell gear for abseiling and mountaineering. It is alloy and shaped like a figure 8 and a good one here in Oz sells for about 30 bucks.....

Essentially what a Gyb Easy device is, but they sell them for 15 times the cost!! However, does a climbing figure 8 really give enough resistance. There are other belaying devices that might work even better.

[smurphny]

Those climbing friction top-rope devices are basically the same principle as the Gyb-Easy device. The difference is that you can adjust the friction of a ladder device by the number of "steps" the line is threaded through. The ladder devices can also be disengaged by simply taking the line off the "post" at the top of the unit. The one I built from 1/2" s.s. rod would probably lift the boat. Although not as light as the cast aluminum commercial brake, it has to be much stronger. With the 12"x 4" plate shaped around the boom stress will be distributed over a much larger area. Wish I had pictures but it's on the boat which is asleep under tarp and snow:-)

[arvicola-amphibius]

I no longer have the packaging so do not know the brand name of the unit I purchased. It was almost identical to the Rescue 8 but did not have the 'ears'.
I was concerned that they could snag or allow the line to jump free. However if more friction is needed the Rescue 8 may suit as long as tension can be held or provided you don't mind going forward to add the extra turns. With the standard 8 it can be left permanently rigged and the tension adjusted as desired from the cockpit. For cruising I find that I rarely need to change tension as what suits as a down haul when going to windward still provides enough friction to slow the gybe.
Each boat will be different, depending on how flat the mainsail, the angle of boom to mast etc.
The only time I need to slack it off is when done for the day and hauling in the topping lift.