Equipment & Gear used on our CR Yachts 400DS sailboat
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Dutchman Boom Brake
Ever wonder why they call the Boom a Boom? We've wondered that and although it may be folklore, we like the explanation that the sound thundering in your head when whacked by it on an accidental jibe is a "BOOM".

On a sailboat, when you change direction, in relation to the wind, it is either a tack or a jibe; a tack is relatively safe as you are changing your direction in relation to the wind, with the wind coming generally from ahead of you. A jibe, on the other hand, is when you change direction while the wind is coming from slightly behind you. The danger of a jibe is that if you turn too far, too fast, the sail will catch the wind and fill explosively with wind. This can throw the Boom across the boat and is very hard on the gear, shackles, lines and people standing in the way.

We have experienced a few accidental jibs and while they were relatively light occurrences, we can see what happens if you get hit by a big one.

On our pilothouse sailboat Mad Dog Voyager, we take safety very seriously and have purchased the Dutchman Boom Brake. While there are other systems of boom brakes available, or you can use a Preventer line (this is a line that is secured to the end of the boom and run to the front of the boat to "tie up" the boom and prevent it from being able to swing back), however we liked the ease of adjustment of the Dutchman Boom Brake, as well as the ability to, again, make all the line and control changes from within the cockpit.

The Dutchman Boom Brake, is a relatively simple and innovative system designed to prevent these accidental jibes. The Dutchman Boom Brake is normally attached on the boom, generally near the Boom Vang, and has a line running through it and secured to either side of the boat, preferably near the shrouds and chainplates (chainplates are where the shrouds are secured to the body of the boat). By adjusting the tension in the Dutchman Boom Brake, the boom is slowed down by the line passing through the tension wheel. With our planned journeys and travels this could be a real lifesaver! There are three sizes of Dutchman Boom Brake available to fit almost all sizes of sailboats.

 

Web links: Follow link for more information on the Dutchman Boom Brake