John MacDougall, Annie Laurie, #26
Some 470 owners have installed boom brakes and others (like myself) use preventers, when sailing deep downwind..... Whichever method you choose, you'll need to attach something to the boom, somehow.....
I originally tied preventers to the end of the boom, and while this worked, I looked for other areas...... Using one of the bails where the mainsheet attaches to the boom, can also work.......but I didn't wish to overload any one bail, so adding additional bails seemed like the best choice.....
A call to Charleston Spars, got me the detailed info.....and I order 2 new boom bails directly from them......a couple hundred dollars..... (also added some small eyestraps for attaching my lazy jacks, as we changed from the Dutchman system to lazy jacks.......switch was easy, since we've already got 4 small holes in the mainsail cover for the Dutchman lines, we just use those holes to route the lazy jack lines thru, thereby allowing easy removal / replacement of the sailcover...)
These additional boom bails are a foot or so forward, and aft, of the aft mainsheet attachment bail...... This give me more options for preventers, boom brakes, etc.....and give me a easy way to tie off the boom securely when at anchor or at the dock (see photos)....
Just wanted to pass on this info.... Enjoy....
(Click on picture for full size)
