On Mon, 6 Oct 2008 08:51:22 -0700 (PDT), RichH
wrote:

I use a Garhauer rigid vang; and, a CMI 'rescue descender' as the boom
brake.

http://www.cmi-gear.com/catalog/descenders/R1000.asp

Not having used a "rescue descender", I'm trying to envision how this
works. I'm guessing the small end of the descender attaches to
mid-boom with a shackle, and a line running athwartship (port to
starboard) gets looped through and around the large end ?

What is the biggest boat on which you have used this technique ?