Sailboats equipped with a Model 103 Walder boom brake

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Sailboats equipped with either a Model 203 or a Model 203 C Walder boom brake

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Sailboats equipped with either a Model 403 or a Model 403 H Walder boom brake

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Sailboats equipped with a Model Hyper Walder boom brake

1 : Remove any existing boomvang tackle from under the boom. (In the case of a rigid boomvang, rig your WALDER boombrake aft of that rigid vang.) Rig your WALDER boombrake under the boom using a shackle, positioned approximately one-third of the way aft of the mast.
2 : Secure one end of pre-stretched line to a port or starboard external chainplate, pad-eye, or at the toe rail.
3 : Thread the line through the guide arms and around the grooves of the drum, 2 or 3 turns; a third turn is not always necessary.
4 : On the other side of your boat lead the line through a block fixed at the external chainplate, pad-eye, or at the toe rail, at the same level as on the first side.
5 : Run the line back to the cockpit and secure it to a winch or a tackle.

PRACTICAL ADVICE

We recommend sailing first on a fair day after you have installed your WALDER boombrake to verify the correct installation of the device and to familiarize yourself with properly adjusting tension on the line.
With use you will quickly find just the right line tension, so that the WALDER boombrake produces smooth and safe jibes.

RIGGING ERRORS TO AVOID

• Wrong anchoring points on deck or under the boom
• Using a line that stretches, or one of the wrong diameter
• Rigging points that are too weak
• Insufficient line tension
• Line stiffened with salt
• Too small a model of WALDER boombrake for the size of your mainsail surface

ATTACHMENT POINT PHOTOS (Note : The majority of these photos are with the Walder old range.

The new Walder range is now more light and more compact.)

Attachment Point 12 Photos

Under the Boom 16 Photos

Leading to the Cockpit 18 Photos

Line Tension Adjustment 7 Photos

We wish to provide you the very best service regarding your WALDER ® boom brake. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you do not find answered at our Web site.
A- GENERAL QUESTIONS

A1 : Why should I install a WALDER ® boom brake on my sailboat ?
A2 : Is the WALDER ® boom brake easy to install ?
A3 : What is the difference between the WALDER ® boom brake and a preventer ?
A4 : How do I maintain my WALDER ® boom brake ?
A5 : I’m mostly a coastal sailor – is the WALDER ® boom brake useful for me ?
A6 : My boat is berthed abroad – can I have a WALDER ® boom brake shipped to my boat ?

B- TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

B1 : Do I ease off the WALDER ® boom brake line for a controlled jibe ?
B2 : Can I also fix in place and block completely the movement of my boom with the WALDER ® boom brake ?
B3 : My sailboat is rigged with a rigid boomvang. Must I remove it to use a WALDER ® boom brake?
B4 : What kind of line should I use with my WALDER ® boom brake ?
B5 : How do I adjust my WALDER ® boom brake ?
B6 : Can I keep my WALDER ® boom brake in place under all wind directions ?
B7 : My mainsail is full-batten – which WALDER ® boom brake model suit best ?
B8 : My WALDER ® boom brake is producing too hard a braking force – what should I do ?

RESPONSES

A1 : Why should I install a WALDER ® boom brake on my sailboat ?
Even a controlled jibe remains a delicate and dangerous maneuver. The WALDER ® boom brake prevents injury and equipment damage. Being the skipper means having responsibility for the safety of all those on board – installing a WALDER ® boom brake makes sense as part of responsible skippering. The WALDER ® boom brake brings sailing safety, comfort, and peace of mind..

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A2 : Is the WALDER ® boom brake easy to install ?
Installing the WALDER ® boom brake is a snap – each device comes with full instructions on how to install and use your WALDER ® boom brake to best advantage.
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A3 : What is the difference between the WALDER ® boom brake and a preventer ?
As indicated by its name, a preventer locks and holds the boom in an unchanging fixed position – and in some cases, as a result, possibly causing damage to your boom, mast, or sail with a forceful and unexpected wind or wave change. In contrast, if your sail starts to luff, the WALDER ® boom brake allows your boom to travel in an easy and controlled manner. What ever your tack, with the WALDER ® boom brake rigged on your boom there is no longer need to venture out on a pitching deck to deploy, adjust, or remove boom control equipment. During either a controlled or an accidental jibe the WALDER ® boom brake completely controls the boom sweep across your deck.
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A4 : How do I maintain my WALDER ® boom brake ?
Your WALDER ® boom brake needs no particular maintenance – just rinse it off occasionally with freshwater as you do with your sailboat. Be sure to ease off the line and rinse thoroughly in the grooves of the WALDER ® boom brake drum.
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A5 : I’m mostly a coastal sailor – is the WALDER ® boom brake usefulfor me ?

The WALDER ® boom brake is useful (and potentially life saving) not only in open ocean passages. It is just as needed when sailing in coastal and protected-waters. Consistency in your immediate wind or wave direction is rarely certain; land bluffs near coastlines can create shifting or gusty winds; sometimes there is even sea swell in reduced winds – all conditions in which accidental jibes happen.
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A6 : My boat is berthed abroad – can I have a WALDER ® boom brake shipped to my boat ?

We ship the WALDER ® boom brake world-wide. We can send it to your home address, to a friend’s address abroad, directly to the marina where your boat is located, or any address you designate that receives shipped packages.
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B1 : Do I ease off the WALDER ® boom brake line for a controlled jibe ?
Not at all. Line tension provides frictional braking force on your WALDER ® boom brake and, thus, controls the velocity with which the boom sweeps from one side of your boat to the other. More line tension = a slower, controlled swing; less tension = a quicker swing.
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B2 : Can I also fix in place and block completely the movement of my boom with the WALDER ® boom brake ?

Absolutely. In addition to safe and smooth jibing, the WALDER ® boom brake allows you to stabilize your boom at whatever position you choose. Thus, the WALDER ® boom brake assists when you furl or reef the mainsail or simply cinch down the boom in port or at anchorage.
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B3 : My sailboat is rigged with a rigid boomvang. Must I remove it to use a WALDER ® boom brake ?

Not at all. Installing a WALDER ® boom brake on your sailboat is completely compatible with an already-rigged rigid boomvang. Your rigid boomvang need not be dismantled – simply rig your WALDER ® boom brake aft of the vang.
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B4 : What kind of line should I use with my WALDER ® boom brake ?
We recommend using a halyard-like flexible, prestretched line. Do not use a line whose diameter is too large for the drum grooves of your particular WALDER ® boom brake model.
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B5 : How do I adjust my WALDER ® boom brake ?
Adjusting your WALDER ® boom brake is easily accomplished with the boom brake line that you have fed back to the cockpit of your boat. The tension on your WALDER ® boom brake line is adjustable without having to climb up on deck – under all weather and wave conditions you remain safely in your cockpit. Remember : more line tension = more WALDER ® braking force on the boom’s rate of swing; less tension = less braking force.
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B6 : Can I keep my WALDER ® boom brake in place underall wind directions ?
Yes – a WALDER ® boom brake properly deployed under your boom follows along with its movements under all wind directions.

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B7 : My mainsail is full-batten – which WALDER ® boom brakemodel suit best ?
The better choice of WALDER ® boom brake for a full-batten mainsail is the stainless steel double-guide model.

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B8 : My WALDER ® boom brake is producing too hard a braking force – what should I do ?
There could be several reasons if you find the braking force of your WALDER ® boom brake is proving too powerful :

Your line could be too large a diameter for the size of the drum grooves of your particular WALDER ® boom brake – use a smaller diameter line.
It could be that your line is too old, creating additional frictional braking force – change the line.
The line could be stiffened with accumulated salt – soak it overnight in fresh water.
Finally, you can eliminate one turn of your line around the grooved drum, keeping only two turns – a third turn is not always necessary.
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