 Boomlock
history.
The Boomlock was developed by Donald
Scott, a Chartered Mechanical Engineer with a lifetime's
experience of the design and development of new products.
Donald also owned and sailed long distance cruising yachts
for many years. The need for a simple gybe preventer was brought
home to him in 1991 when sailing around the Scottish Hebrides.
A sudden and unexpected downdraught under high mountains brought
the boom across suddenly and parted the hair of a tall friend
who was standing in the cockpit, looking at some seals.
A close shave that could so easily have been a disaster. Donald
vowed it must never happen again, and so as soon as he got
back, he looked at what was available to prevent gybes and
decided it was an area that needed a radical rethink. That
was when he designed and made the prototype Boomlock
.
Donald wanted it to be simple to operate from the cockpit
in a way that would be intuitive, even for inexperienced crew.
And it must be small and easily fitted by owners, with a minimum
of rope clutter. It must be simple, robust and able to survive
many years in a harsh marine environment.
After two years of development, followed by a season of sea
trials of a pre-production batch, this became Boomlock
One, first marketed in 1995 and suitable for yachts
up to 30' (9 m).
This was followed in 1997 by Boomlock
Two, for yachts up to 50' (15.2m). Both models
have now been accepted by cruising yachtsmen around the world
as the ideal boom gybe preventer.
Donald Scott died peacefully
at his home in the summer of 2002. In Febuary 2003, Sailspar
of Brightlingsea in Essex, took over the production and distribution
of the Boomlock.
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