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Old 27-06-2011, 08:44   #1
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Boom vang recommendation

OK all...

Looking at replacing the block and tackle vang on our Columbia 8.3 with a rigid vang.

Any recommendations on makes and models?

We do light coastal cruising. no racing and want a cleaner appearance and simpler setup than what we have now.

Thanks!
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Old 27-06-2011, 08:51   #2
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Re: Boom vang recommendation

I purchased a Garhauer rigid boom Vang for my 42' sailboat. Works great one of the better things I have added.
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Old 27-06-2011, 08:57   #3
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Re: Boom vang recommendation

My last boat had a Selden rodkicker-- and so do lots of other boats. It worked just fine.
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Old 27-06-2011, 08:59   #4
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Re: Boom vang recommendation

What are the advantages other than eliminating the need for a topping lift?
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Old 27-06-2011, 09:30   #5
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Re: Boom vang recommendation

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Originally Posted by sneuman View Post
What are the advantages other than eliminating the need for a topping lift?
Sailworld had a good article on the benefits.

sail-world.com -- Nine Reasons to have a Fixed Boom Vang
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Old 27-06-2011, 10:02   #6
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Re: Boom vang recommendation

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Sailworld had a good article on the benefits.

sail-world.com -- Nine Reasons to have a Fixed Boom Vang
Thanks. Very informative!
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Old 27-06-2011, 10:19   #7
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Re: Boom vang recommendation

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Originally Posted by offline View Post
Sailworld had a good article on the benefits.

sail-world.com -- Nine Reasons to have a Fixed Boom Vang
I was going to get one. The price almost put me off, then I discovered that my sliding gooseneck had to be replaced with a fixed in place one, and that my boom that pivots on the pin had to be somehow fixed so that it couldn't rotate. At that point it wasn't worth it to me.

I find the nine reasons in the sail-world article not very convincing.

1. Much easier to hoist/drop.
Really? One more line to tighten loosen, and that not under high load.

2. Worried that crew releases topping lift instead of halyard.
Huh? Why do you care if lift is loosened while sail is up.

3. Reefing easier since boom rises.
Yes it saves you the 5 seconds it takes to pull and cleat the topping lift.

4. less chafe on leech.
Yes, but a piece of shock cord reduces t. lift chafe.

5. Don't have to worry about boom falling if halyard breaks.
My t. lift only allows boom to lower a few inches below where the sail holds it, even uncleated.

6. Sail shape in light air because of boom weight.
I tighten the t. lift as needed to maintain leech trim.

7. Good for short handed sailing.
OK, I'll give them that one, it saves you having to do an extra step, even if they are easy quick low load steps.

8. Time considerably reduced at mast when single handed.
Considerably? There's something wrong with your t. lift if it seriously adds time to your reefing.

9. Topping lift doesn't use up sheave that could be spare halyard.
Mine doesn't use up a sheave. Fixed at top it's adjustment is in the boom.

John
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Old 27-06-2011, 11:47   #8
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Re: Boom vang recommendation

I too went through this drill and discovered that not only do I have the same problems at the gooseneck as cal40John but my boom is only 24" from the cabin top. Due to the shallow angle relative to the boom and vang, resulting loads on the mast and gooseneck would be too great for my comfort zone. Ridged vangs are nice to have and have their pluses for sure but conversion can get expensive if you have to replace to many other components.
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Old 27-06-2011, 11:55   #9
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Re: Boom vang recommendation

Hmmmm....seems to me the block and tackle are alot simpler, and if you add a good snap shckle at the mast it can double as a mean of holding the boom down in light air on a reach attached to the toerail/bulwark. Never had a rigid vang, but looked into them at one point. Not as easy as a conversion as one would suspect, expensive, heavy, and seen a few damaged or broken booms in the racing fleet also. What's simple about that? KISS is my motto.
After 30 years of outfitting various boats, I now try to ask myself this question: If I buy this, how much will it cost me every time I use it? In 3 years during my last Carribean cruise, I could count the times I used the Vang on one hand. I could count the times I used it as a preventer to the toerail on both hands though. If a rigid vang is $2000 (?) and you use it 10 times that's $200 a use. If you use it 100 times that's still $20 bucks a use... just sayin'.... I used to spend so much time trying to "improve" my boat when I should have been sailing instead of spending a couple weekends install a new toy....
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Old 27-06-2011, 12:06   #10
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Re: Boom vang recommendation

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cheechako View Post
Hmmmm....seems to me the block and tackle are alot simpler, and if you add a good snap shckle at the mast it can double as a mean of holding the boom down in light air on a reach attached to the toerail/bulwark. Never had a rigid vang, but looked into them at one point. Not as easy as a conversion as one would suspect, expensive, heavy, and seen a few damaged or broken booms in the racing fleet also. What's simple about that? KISS is my motto.
+1 on the value of using the block and tackle type as a light air preventer. Once we started doing that, our anger management training was no longer required on off the wind slatting passages. Our "new" boat came with a block and tackle vang and I took it as a plus.
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Old 27-06-2011, 12:24   #11
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Re: Boom vang recommendation

I'm quite happy with mine. Once it was set up, I rarely need to adjust it. It just does it's thing. Keeps the boom up in light air, down in off-wind, from falling when i drop the main, etc.
Had it installed by Annapolis Rigging and Spars when I had the mast converted to internal halyards and the boom internally rigged for single line reefing.
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Old 28-06-2011, 06:03   #12
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Re: Boom vang recommendation

OK, 1st post. Being the non international inland lake "cruiser" on a small boat I've been just a browser of these forums the last year or so. Has anyone here tried a Boomkicker for this application. The price certainly is right. I've been considering one for our boat as it would make reefing easier.

Boomkicker

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Old 28-06-2011, 07:09   #13
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Re: Boom vang recommendation

Quote:
Originally Posted by sesmith View Post
OK, 1st post. Being the non international inland lake "cruiser" on a small boat I've been just a browser of these forums the last year or so. Has anyone here tried a Boomkicker for this application. The price certainly is right. I've been considering one for our boat as it would make reefing easier.

Boomkicker

Scott
A boom kicker would only be good as a topping lift replacement. Good for your application maybe, but leaves out some of the other pluses.
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Old 28-06-2011, 08:44   #14
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Cool Re: Boom vang recommendation

Quote:
Originally Posted by offline View Post
A boom kicker would only be good as a topping lift replacement. Good for your application maybe, but leaves out some of the other pluses.
What are the other pluses where rigid would be an advantage? It seems to me that if the boomkicker works as advertised it would satisfy all 9 of the points discussed in the Sail article mentioned above. Obviously, you have to use it along with the existing soft vang. I could see maybe problems with the boom bouncing some on rough water with the sail down, which you wouldn't get with a rigid vang or topping lift. Also, the boomkickers are only for up to about a 38 ft boat. Anything else I'm missing?

Scott
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Old 28-06-2011, 10:20   #15
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Re: Boom vang recommendation

We have a Forespar spring-loaded vang and it works well enough. With an adjustable vang of this type we can adjust the boom angle as we like for various conditions and points of sail:

To bring the boom down we tension the vang control line. Without a vang we would adjust the mainsheet traveler (which we do anyway), and/or use a preventer to the rail (which we sometimes do).

Sometimes we want to raise the boom, for sail shape in heavy or light air. We ease the vang control line and let the vang spring lift the boom. Without a vang you can adjust the traveler and/or use a topping lift.

One drawback of the Forespar vang is that in heavy seas with the main deeply reefed the spring lets the boom bounce up and down a bit more than I would like. I use my spare main halyard as a topping lift in these cases. I often have the spare halyard rigged for this, but when the main is at full hoist it does sometimes hang up on the roach and snag the battens, so I will take it off the boom and bring it forward.

In summary, the vang is a nice convenience. We could sail without it.
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