Hey Ron,

...a boom brake, properly rigged, will never be able to snatch a boom up short in an accidental/uncontrolled jibe the way a mainsheet will... In fact, I'd go as far to say that some sort of boom brake is more important today than ever before, with the prevalence of mid-boom sheeting, and so many people sailing to autopilots so much of the time... If I were sailing a boat with mid-boom sheeting, and a loose-luffed main, no way would I be without some sort of boom brake...

Frankly, I'm surprised at some of the responses in this thread. An accidental jibe is one of the most violent episodes your rig and sails will ever likely be subject to, I'd want to everything I can to minimize the effects... If you sail far enough, and long enough offshore, just a matter of time before it happens... And as RichH says, once you've experienced a truly catastrophic one, you don't want to ever have it happen again...

for coastal sailing, or cruising where someone can always be at the helm if the conditions get sporty, I suppose you can live without a brake as a backup to a preventer... But for guys like you and me, who sail a lot using a vane, or an autopilot, and have been known to go asleep on occasion with no one else at the helm (grin), a boom brake is a very worthwhile investment, IMHO...

Sure, like any piece of sailing gear, it's a tradeoff... On my boat, the tripping hazard is real, and I'll de-rig it if I'm sailing with guests aboard, for example... But sailing offshore, or in a strong breeze, I wouldn't be without it...

best regards,

Jon