Rigid Boom Vang

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36041
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Rigid Boom Vang

Post by 36041 »

All,

I am curious to know if any of the 36 owners have a rigid boom vang on their main sail. If so, was it original or aftermarket? We are contemplating putting one 36041 and I'd like some first hand knowledge from anyone who has one or even better, someone who has put one on their boat. Any input is appreciated.

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Tom
www.tendervittles.net
Dan White
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Re: Rigid Boom Vang

Post by Dan White »

I had ordered one with my 2003 Capella. Unfortunately, because I also have a boom break, it would not fit. I decided I liked the boom brake better -- it so convenient in controlling jibes -- so we returned the boom vang.

In retrospect, due to the wide traveler on the hardtop, I rarely miss the vang.
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Re: Rigid Boom Vang

Post by eepstein »

I added a soft boom vang to see if she would point a bit better or could tighten the boom in a run. It appears to help a bit, but perhaps its only my eternal optimism. My traveller is off of the deck, not the hard top, so a vang helps less in general in my case. I think I read something by Charles Kanter that said Cats don't need vangs, but I think its a matter of angle from traveler to boom. If its acute, then there is less of a need. A rigid vang would keep the boom off the solar cells on my hard top when the topping lift slackens, but as I need to buy new sails, I can't see spending the money any time soon. Of course I have only owned a catamaran for a few months and blew out my sails already, so my opinion may be open to doubt. :)
Eric
Eric & Bonnie Epstein
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Re: Rigid Boom Vang

Post by MagicDragon »

Magic Dragon has a rigid boom vang - don't know what model or brand, or if it was original or after market. We knew the first owner, so I'm guessing he had the factory install it. Right now we've got about 18" of snow to melt, but when it's a warmer day, I'll go and take some pics / find out more info. Brrrr!
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near Cleveland, OH
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Re: Rigid Boom Vang

Post by MagicDragon »

Finally found the old records for the Rigid Boom Vang (We own 1996 36' LRC - hull #54). It was custom made by Garhauer, and installed by the original owner in 1998 - cost then $270 and cost now around $450. As mentioned above, it keeps the boom up off the bimini top. The pneumatics still work great considering it's over 10 years old. Happy to answer any other questions as well.
Attachments
fastened to boom
fastened to boom
MVC-005S.JPG (23.4 KiB) Viewed 14002 times
foot of vang at mast base
foot of vang at mast base
MVC-004S.JPG (36.96 KiB) Viewed 14017 times
entire boom
entire boom
MVC-003S.JPG (28.09 KiB) Viewed 14035 times
Last edited by MagicDragon on Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Angela Barbati
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thinwater
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If you put a knot in the topping lift at the right point ...

Post by thinwater »

it will keep the boom off the hard top and cells.

The boom will still swing around a good bit.

I've sailed cats of different sizes and types for many years, and I can't see a vang for twist control. Without a flexible mast, the traveler does the same thing.

With a flexible mast, however, that is something different. Vang sheeting encourages leach twist and mast bend in the puffs. We may be confusing these 2 cases.
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Re: Rigid Boom Vang

Post by PDQ-Dave »

I've wished for a vang on many occasions while sailing Pacifica.
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Please explain.

Post by thinwater »

PDQ-Dave wrote:I've wished for a vang on many occasions while sailing Pacifica.
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Re: Rigid Boom Vang

Post by PDQ-Dave »

I sailed a fair bit, but don't consider myself an expert on sail trim. This said, a simple multi purchase vang that need not be rigid can control twist off the wind where I've observed my boom lift and the top of the sail open up too much for my liking. We sail hull 36068 with the traveler on the deck.

A vang can also limit chafing of the sails where they contact the rigging by limiting movement of the boom when used in conjunction with a preventer. Maybe not a big deal on a day sailing basis, but on multi-day passages you can wear holes through your sail at the batten pockets overnight.
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Agreed, but unless the mast is flexible...

Post by thinwater »

oes it matter
PDQ-Dave wrote:I sailed a fair bit, but don't consider myself an expert on sail trim. This said, a simple multi purchase vang that need not be rigid can control twist off the wind where I've observed my boom lift and the top of the sail open up too much for my liking. We sail hull 36068 with the traveler on the deck.

A vang can also limit chafing of the sails where they contact the rigging by limiting movement of the boom when used in conjunction with a preventer. Maybe not a big deal on a day sailing basis, but on multi-day passages you can wear holes through your sail at the batten pockets overnight.
Why does it matter wether the pull is mid-boom or end-boom?

In the absense of a traveler, sailors would sheet from a central point, and the boom would lift when the main was eased. With a traveller, the vang and the sheet should be doing exactly the same thing... unless the traveller is miss-set. Thus, if you have a traveller it is often well to play the traveller on a multi-hull more than the mainsheet. If nothing else, it is easier to grind the traveler in after dumping! In general, I found that on my Stiletto, if it was time to play the mainsheet instead of the traveller, it was time to reef. I am sure that is even more the case on larger cats, since you simply can't muscle the main in and out, or shouldn't want to.

If the mast can bend (Aussy skiff) then they are very different. With "vang sheeting" when a gust hits, the mast bends, the sail flattens, and the boom rises. This is a different application for a vang, and it does not apply here.
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Re: Rigid Boom Vang

Post by PDQ-Dave »

I'd agree with you if the traveler were the full width of the beam on the PDQ 36, but on my boat it is only 8' when it could have easily been 16' to facilitate better sail trim.

Perhaps, the traveler on your 32 spans the entire beam of the boat, thus our disagreement on the value of a vang to better shape the sail???

Sorry for the delay, I just sailed 800nm up from Guatemala over the last week and had little internet access.
Dave Kane
Previous owner of Pacifica #36068
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http://www.PDQ36.blogspot.com
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