About to install my quik-vang , and wondering ! Do you position your boom fitting with the boom set in an horizontal position , or slightly above horizontal , or.......?
Question on Rigid boom vang installation
- Thread starter koolfrog
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If your vang has a spring like the Garhauer Marine Rigid Boom Vang I recently installed it does make a difference if it is level or not. However, you will need to winch up the vang line to contract the spring and cleat off the line to line up the final bracket to install the final pin in either case. Good luck.
I'd line it up 5 degrees or so above horizontal.... What does your installation manual say? When I bought my Garhaurer vang the tech guy told me exactly what to do.... You set the boom at the highest position you'll want it to be... use the topping lift to hold it there.. The vang should be attached to the mast. With the boom bracket attached to it, allow the vang to completely extend, position it to the boom and mark the holes for the bracket.
Remove the bracket from the vang then screw it to the boom. Leave the vang attached at the mast. With the bracket now in place, re attach the vang to the boom bracket. Now......... the best part.... disconnect the TOPPING LIFT.. and get it out of the way, because you'll never need it again... YIPPEEE!!
Here's a tip.... get all the bracket bolts started before you screw any down tight. This will allow you to jiggle the bracket into position as you start tightening them up.
Remove the bracket from the vang then screw it to the boom. Leave the vang attached at the mast. With the bracket now in place, re attach the vang to the boom bracket. Now......... the best part.... disconnect the TOPPING LIFT.. and get it out of the way, because you'll never need it again... YIPPEEE!!
Here's a tip.... get all the bracket bolts started before you screw any down tight. This will allow you to jiggle the bracket into position as you start tightening them up.
Additional uses...
Might use it to hoist an anchor-riding sail or a flag. Support an awning. All the equipment is there. No sense in removing it. Might tie it off to a backstay.
Strange- I just took off my solid vang and replaced with block and tackle. Different strokes, etc....
Yes, If you ever use the boom to hoist something- say picking up a man overboard or a dingy. You'd want the end-of-boom to be counter-supported to handle the weight.
Might use it to hoist an anchor-riding sail or a flag. Support an awning. All the equipment is there. No sense in removing it. Might tie it off to a backstay.
Strange- I just took off my solid vang and replaced with block and tackle. Different strokes, etc....
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No...... that's the reason you're installing a rigid vang... so you don't have to mess with the topping lift. With the trend towards larger roach mainsails, the topping lift becomes an inconvenience because it often hangs up the battens when changing tacks. I wrapped it around the forestay to get it out of the way. It's there still, but I haven't used it in the 9 years since the new vang was installed. If it's rigged that way, I suppose you could use it for a backup halyard, but mine wasn't.(The adjustment was on the boom end.)
I got rid of the pig tail attched to the backstay also. I clip the main halyard to the boom end when shutting down, but the vang is what supports the boom.
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The solid vang was OEM on my B323. Coupled with the stack pack, I was not content with the range of vertical boom travel, which limited sail trim. I could have lived with that as most people do, but.... Also in it's lowest rest position it hit the bimini that I made.... Also I had a problem with rain getting into the stack pack and gathering in the sail folds- until I raised sail. With the solid vang removed, back at the slip I could dip the end of the boom so the rain water ran off the lowered end.... With a shackle on the mast end of the new vang, it is easy to move the vang/shackle out to the toe rail for a preventer of sorts.... And I guess I could move this vang to put the dingy on the cabin top when anchored or in slip. Keeps the foredeck cleared.... Along with the vang conversion, I re-did the stackpack's lazy jack lines so I can adjust them from the cockpit.... I guess that's all.
Thanks Ron. Makes sense. Especially of interest because Im getting a bimini for the HaHa this Fall. Besides, looks like rigid vangs are mostly for smaller boats.
That's just not true, many, many big boats use rigid vangs.... If you want to support the boom for lifting, use the main halyard. The vang connects to the boom bracket with a clevis pin and is very simple to release so you can do what you want with the boom. Keep the old soft vang to use as a preventor or MOB tackle.
As far as the bimini deal goes.... here's a 43 footer with a dodger, bimini and rigid vang.
(check out the video, too)
http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...8114&slim=broker&&hosturl=scyacht&ywo=scyacht
here's some more pics of random boats of the Yachtworld sight.
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I stand, well, sit corrected
Looked at your pix and went to the Garhauer site. Thanks for the tip.
More importantly, thanks for letting me know I was starting to sound like a liberal, opining on things I clearly knew little about...
Looked at your pix and went to the Garhauer site. Thanks for the tip.
More importantly, thanks for letting me know I was starting to sound like a liberal, opining on things I clearly knew little about...
My pleasure.......I suspect 99% of those that converted to a rigid vang are pleased with the upgrade. Keep on sailing, my brother.
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