Barry P here.You are correct about vang pressure working to
contract, but you can have 3 problems. Your main pump can be fubar, which would require rebuilding-apparently complicated but possible-a seal kit would be required. Is it possible the hydraulic fluid is low or empty, or is a line from the pump to the vang disconnected and blanked off or a valve on the line shut off. The third possibility is the
seals leak so badly they can not overcome the 600 psi nitrogen pressure in the vang (i.e. the pressure that holds up the boom).
If the
seals are so shot, they must be replaced, but here is the issue. The boomvang cylinder is highly pressurized (approx. 600 psi), and if the end cap is removed without all the necessary precautions, the shaft shoots out with possible fatal ramifications. It MUST be done correctly, so if you can isolate it to this issue, send it to a
rigging shop that has and can do this.
We have this issue on our
boat in Western
Canada and are looking for an experienced shop to send our vang to. I am told about $300 plus
shipping. At least 2-3
rigging shops on
East Coast U.S can
repair these.- Thanks, Barry from
C&C 37, Temptress