Vang as a mainsheet?

[Tally Ho]

My 1996 Hunter 280 has the "optional" traveller on the cabin roof. While I like the traveller option, I would like to make the boat easier to single-hand.

So today, I moved the vang to the pedestal attachment point to use it as a mainsheet.

Assuming the line is long enough to let the boom extend port and stbd, is there any reason this should not work?

I left the traveller / main sheet in place while I test this out...just in case

 

[FourPoints]

Send me the old parts from your traveler if you don't want to use it

 

[RAD88]

Main sheet

The 1st problem might be the strength of the attachment at the base of the vang ( u-bolt) on the pedestal. The second problem is the vang itself is mounted upside down. The fiddle block with the cam or jamb cleat would have to be in the cockpit. When sailing and the boom is out it would be almost impossible to release the cam on the vang with the way it is set up in the picture.

 

[RAD88]

As I look again at the picture I realize that the vang attachment to the boom might also be suspect. Usually the main sheet blocks attach to the boom with a thru bolted wishbone for maximum strength. The boom and pedestal connections will see the most stress and force while sailing with the main sail. Just my thought on the set up. More pictures might help to figure this out. Look at the way the old main sheet was attached to the boom. I am sure it was probably robust.

 

[FourPoints]

Look at the way the old main sheet was attached to the boom. I am sure it was probably robust.

It was (probably) attached mid-boom with 3 of the same rings.

 

[Tally Ho]

It was (probably) attached mid-boom with 3 of the same rings.

Yes, and it still is...

Does anyone know how the H280 was set up if it did not have the optional traveller?

 

[Tally Ho]

The 1st problem might be the strength of the attachment at the base of the vang ( u-bolt) on the pedestal. The second problem is the vang itself is mounted upside down. The fiddle block with the cam or jamb cleat would have to be in the cockpit. When sailing and the boom is out it would be almost impossible to release the cam on the vang with the way it is set up in the picture.

I think the pedestal was made for a mainsheet connection point. But you are right about the fiddle block. I tried pushing the boom out (with the B&R rig, I have limited boom movement), and could reach the sheet. But maybe not under sail. Will have to play with that and see.

I will keep the original equipment in place while I test this out.

Thanks for the input.

 

[FourPoints]

Yes, and it still is...

Does anyone know how the H280 was set up if it did not have the optional traveller?

I would guess the same as my boat, with a crosby rigged main sheet from the cabin top.

 

[Don12364]

The becket on the pedestal was probably the original attachment point for the mainsheet block or as a life harness tether attachment point. Either way it should be strong enough.
Using a mainsheet from the boom end will give you tremendous control over the leach and will also avoid the boom flexing which allows the sail to sag off when hard on the wind. Also you probably won't need all the parts on the vang tackle and could unreeve some of it.
However you will still need a vang to prevent the boom skying when on a broad reach and dead run.
Is the existing mainsheet long enough to use at the boom end by reducing the number of parts?
Beware of a great loop of mainsheet lassoing the pedestal (and helmsman) in an inadvertent crash gybe!
Then again you could simulate the desired operation by simply leaving the existing traveller set centrally and only using the mainsheet for all.
If the problem is one of not having it to hand when single handing then why not lead the sheet aft and simply loop it over anything handy on the pedestal? For this you need to be able to operate any jambing cleats from the helm.

On my H376, which also has a mid-boom mainsheet, I lead both traveller lines back to the pedestal with jamb cleats I have moved to the aft end of the coachroof and I play these from the helm in the gusts, leaving the main sheet in its jamb cleat - works a treat but in extremis I still need to set the autopilot and go and ease the sheet.

 

[Tally Ho]

However you will still need a vang to prevent the boom skying when on a broad reach and dead run.

Good point....I have a boom kicker, and as I was trying out the new set-up this weekend, the book kicker slipped out of the slot on the boom on a broad reach...obviously the boom was raising more than I wanted.

Is the existing mainsheet long enough to use at the boom end by reducing the number of parts?
Beware of a great loop of mainsheet lassoing the pedestal (and helmsman) in an inadvertent crash gybe!
Then again you could simulate the desired operation by simply leaving the existing traveller set centrally and only using the mainsheet for all.
If the problem is one of not having it to hand when single handing then why not lead the sheet aft and simply loop it over anything handy on the pedestal? For this you need to be able to operate any jambing cleats from the helm.

My mainsheet (on the traveller) runs through a rope clutch on the cabin roof. I think it is long enough to run back to the pedestal, but I am not sure where I would put a jam cleat back behind the helm.

Some good things for me to ponder. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Jimmy Jenkins]

I once had a 33 OutIsland with boom-end sheeting and no boom vang. It did not take me long to realize that when running down wind with the main waaaay out, that when I gybed, specially a fast gybe, there was no way I could pull the sheet in fast enough to control the boom.There was just much sheet out. Vang is absolutely necessary and you need to use it every time you are in the above configuration. That's why they call it "boom". I find my H30 with the midboom sheeting much easier to control.
Jimmy


Jimmy

 

[rardiH36]

The attached photo was my way of solving control of the main sheet from the helm. I took the photo after I re-arranged the winch and rope-clutch locations and added the cam cleat soon after I bought the boat. I never could figure out how the PO lived with his setup. The epoxy filled holes from the previous set up have since been painted over with Perfection 2-part.

I've got mid boom main sheet blocks and the traveler is on the cabin top. The green main sheet in the picture comes from the 7:1 block and tackle between the boom and the traveler, then forward to a block at the base of the mast, then aftward to the organizer and then to the jam cleat via the rope clutch.

I've been using this set-up for three years now -- at least 200 outings -- many (if not most) in +20kts conditions for at least part of the sail anyway across SF Bay's "the Slot". From behind the wheel, getting the main sheet in the the jam cleat is not difficult in the least even when the conditions are gnarly. A good snap up of the line frees it quickly from the cleat if I need to depower or let out the sail for a change of course. I very seldom use the winch. Pulling the sheet straight back from the helm doesn't strain the back.

 

[Don12364]

Traveller Cleat Photo

By way of explanation of my previous posting I just came across a photo of my traveller cleat positions.
I unscrewed them from the ends of the traveller in front of the main hatch and re-mounted them between the winches on the aft end of the coachroof and just in front of the halyard bins.
From the helm I can release and re-cleat the lines and I use them to dump main power in gusts etc.
From there I simply lead each traveller line across the cockpit and to the steering console. I do this when I sail single handed and so the lines are not a nuisance as there are no others in the cockpit.
For info I also felt need to lead each of these lines through a two foot length of plastic water pipe fixed to the traveller ends and where they pass through the skirt of the bimini so the lines run freely and don't chafe the Sunbrella fabric and the poly windows.
See also second picture. Disregard my "Wincher" built from a $50 TI 1500 modified Superwinch.

 

[rardiH36]

Re: Traveller Cleat Photo

Nice solution for easy access to the traveller cleating.

Wish I could find a reasonably priced small self-tailing winch to replace my starboard cabin top standard winch I use for the halyard lines and boom vang. At nautical flea markets in my area, sellers seem to ask and won't negotiate much around 50-60% of the list price for brand- new self tailing winch of similar size. Even if the winch is 25 years old! And on-line, used self tailers also seem to be listed for much more than age vs dollars seems reasonable to me. So I continue to make do with just fine with the standard winch.