410 rigid boom vang failure

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John Van Wagoner

Yestarday, in 18-20 knots of wind, while on a reaching across Galveston Bay, the factory cast aluminum fitting that connects the rigid boom vang to the base of the mast fractured. The fitting had a small hole in the middle through which a cotter pin attached the fitting to a stainless 1/2 inch diameter pin. The fracture passed through this hole. Has this happended to any of you guys? If so, what did you do to replace the part: did Hunter replace with an upgrade, did you have a new part machined? Thanks for any advice and insight you can pass along.
 
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Rafael Perez

A point to check in that area.

I have not find (yet) any problem with the rigid boom vang. But we have found that the rivets that secure the gooseneck to the mast were not properly set. All the rivets on the port side of the fixture are too "short". They have almost no "head", so they have a very-very limited holding power. While all the rivets on the starboard side were perfectly set. We have the factory in mast furling main. Good luck, Rafael Perez H410 Marina Clara
 
Sep 24, 1999
1,511
Hunter H46LE Sausalito
more info, please

John, is your boom vang a Seldon Rodkicker? (I ask because not all 410s came with Seldon spars.) If so, the gooseneck for the vang is most probably the same gooseneck that is used for the boom. On my 410 both of these parts are labelled 528029. That is the Seldon part number. Is this what broke on your rig? Thanks. (No problem with mine, by the way, after lots of heavy weather sailing. The logbook reads 140 sailing days at this point, and for us 20 knots is pretty much the norm.)
 
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Don H.

I was chasing Petrel in my Legend 37.5

John, I can't help you with the details of the 410 boom vang, but I was chasing you across Galveston Bay on Sunday as you were headed east towards the Houston Ship Channel. You guys were going fast. My Legend 37.5, SEAFARI, could not keep up with you. It looked like your boom vang was OK when I saw you. Don H.
 
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John Van Wagoner

410 rigid vang fracture/reply to John F.

John, My rig is by Z-Spar and the rigid vang is made by Hood. It has an internal spring. I called the Z-spar factory today and they told me that in 16 years that part has never failed, but that it should only be used with a Z-Spar vang. The part that failed was not the aluminum plate attached to the mast, but the part that attaches to the vang and is pinned to the plate on the mast. Anyway, I am either going to get a heavier part machined or replace the Hood vang with a Z-spar vang according to the recommendation of the factory. One last question. How hard do you have to crank down on that vang to get your boom flat. thanks for all the responses. It is good to know that y'all are out there. Best wishes, John
 
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John Van Wagoner

hello Don H.

Don, I saw you out on the bay. Thanks for the note. It is great to hear from someone you sail with. where do you keep your boat? Perhaps we could get some Hunters together and do a cruise, for example to Double Bayou. There's enough of us in the Clear Lake area. See you on the bay, John Van Wagoner Petrel, Seabrook shipyard, F dock
 
Sep 24, 1999
1,511
Hunter H46LE Sausalito
hard

My vang (Seldon Rodkicker) has a 5-to-1 purchase, which I believe is the same as the Hood Performance Vang, which means that in anything but light air I have to take it to a winch if I want to tighten it while going downwind. I've raced on a few boats with Garhauer (sp?) rigid vangs, which are relatively inexpensive and have a 20-to-1 purchase. They can easily be hand tightened. Of course the big boats all have hydraulic vangs these days. Talk about pressure.......... Why does it not suprise me that Z-spar tech support would suggest that only Z-spar vangs can be used on Z-spar sticks? Humph.
 
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Mickey McHugh

Garhauer rigid vang on a ZSpar

On my 40.5 I installed a Garhauer and used the fitting on the Z Spar mast but the vang came with its own fitting that was pinned to it using a 1/2 inch bolt. I can usually get it tight enough by hand but could use a winch if necessary. BTW, count me in on any Hunter cruises. It is getting cool enough for Double Bayou now. Sure would look good to see a couple dozen Hunters lined up on the bank of West Fork. I am over a Waterford Harbor.
 
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Steve Feinsilver

rigid vang advice

Have a 2000 h410 with factory Selden rigid vang and Selden roller furling mast. Works great, no problems, but... It seems that the way it is installed, I always have the vang tightened down- at the angle it is installed, if I give it any slack it just flops around. There is no internal (or external) spring. Am I missing something? I'm still learning how to sail this roller furling main thing- had a more traditional h33.5 for seven tears (great boat). Any advice appreciated. s/v Breathless
 
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John Van Wagoner

Selden vang

Steve, John Farnsworth, a very experienced 410 owner and frequenter of this site (I always learn something from his posts, he seems very knowledgeable) has said in this forum that some 410s have been delivered to the new owners without the spring(?)or cylinder installed in the Selden vang. You may be missing this internal part. If so, this would explain why your vang just "flops" around. John's comments can be found in the archives (try boom vang or rigid vang for key words). Or put a note out on the forum for him and he will probably answer you with all the information you need. good luck, John
 
Sep 24, 1999
1,511
Hunter H46LE Sausalito
oh gosh

Having the gas spring makes a huge difference, especially in light air when you want to take some weight off the leach. Hunter doesn't supply them, so you'll have to contact Selden. Best bet is to talk to Scott Alexander, their National Sales Manager, and tell him that some blabbermouth on HOW told you to ask for the boat show price. I got mine for about a hundred bucks. Plus shipping. A buddy of mine with a 380 was quoted a higher price, but was able to haggle him down by reporting that he knew how much I'd paid for mine. Takes ten minutes to install, or five minutes if you read the instructions first. Scott's number is (978) 745-4583. e-mail SA@seldenUS.com
 
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