Some U.S. Territories info, it’s been ages since I heard the word payola, and in the “wisdom from an unexpected source” department…
One of my favorite music blogs does a good, better, best cover post every once in a while. You know, like this one. Now, while they don’t always get it right (I mean, seriously, everyone knows Vanilla Fudge is the gold standard) they do help expand one’s musical horizons.
Anyway, it got me thinking and the good, better, best format could be applied to boats and boat stuff.
For instance, not long ago someone asked me for more info on boom brakes and I immediately popped out a good, better, best take on the whole boom brake reality.
A simple figure eight belay device. It’s simple, doesn’t cost much ($8-$20) and is as close to foolproof as anyone can get.
Better
The Heinson Boom brake. While no longer made, the Heinson is a simple rope around a drum boom brake with no moving parts. It does the job. It’s better than than the figure eight belay device. I mention it because it’s the brake I’ve used for decades with good results. I bought a used one for our Islander for $15 plus shipping. It works finestkind.
Best
The Walder Boom Brake. Walder says that for our 36-foot boat I need their Model 203 which costs $461. That said, while obviously nicer than the Heinson and costs more to build, it works pretty much the same as the Heinson. If I had a bigger boat I’d certainly consider getting a Walder but (me being cheap) would be looking for a used one.
The funny thing is that when push comes to shove, the smart thing to do with boat gear is to concentrate on the “Better” zone. My experience is “Best” is almost always overkill. Of course, products falling in the “good” zone are just that… they’re good and shouldn’t be overlooked..