Boom Vang attachment

[Brad]

Just purchased a 1980 H33 on which the boom vang had been attached to the mast by a couple of small pop-riveted padeyes. These pulled free in a blow and I was wondering how best to reattach the vang. Thus far the candidates are though bolting an eye to the mast or through bolting it to the cabin top (epoxied with the addition of a backing plate). I suppose that strapping the eye to the mast would also be possible. My question is how does everyone else do it? Is there an advantage to attaching the vang to the mast rather than the cabintop? If the cabintop, would it be better between the mast step and the cabintop hatch or aft of the hatch, more perpendicular to the deck?

 

[Chuck]

Ask Santa for a Garhauer solid vang, you will be very happy with it.

 

[David Foster]

Through-bolts with bails

Our vang attaches to two stainless bails (semi-circular fittings that are through bolted to the boom, and the mast just above the step. It's easy to do the work - the key is to be sure to avoid the lines and wires inside the spars, and to use a good corrosion isolator where the stainless and aluminum would otherwise be in contact.The vang must attach to the mast to be free to swing to the boom.DavidLady Lillie'77 h27

 

[Steve Weinstein]

Brad, assuming you have a standard 4:1

vang and not a solid one the you can very easily burn a hole (blowtorch)through the top flange of the step and attach the vang with a snap-shackle. That's my set up on my '81 h33.

 

[Sam Lust]

A wee bit of explanation might help here.

The later 33's have the mast mounted on an elaborate step that includes sheaves to turn halyards out at the base of the mast. Many of the earlier 33's as I recall did not incorporate this feature. Kenyon rig on the later models vs. schaefer or some similar maker on the earlier ones. Even the Kenyon steps varied in design with little if any rhyme or reason.(Early 34s used a similar step, probably because Hunter had extras to get rid of.)If your 33 has the black anodized step, and if it has a vertical rib at the back you can very successfully DRILL a hole in it for the connecting shackle for a vang. A torch, unless in the hands of a VERY experienced practitioner will cause grievous damage. Second choice might be connecting via the horizontal flanges where the mast sits on the step. Last choice, because it will be higher and reduce the mounting angle would be a bail fastened by a bolt through the mast. Just drill slowly and carefully so as not to damage the halyards inside. As long as you're not drilling at 12,000 rpm trying to set a record you're unlikely to do any damage.If you're still confused let me know anf I'll find some pictures.