Boom Vang vs Topping Lift

[rfrye1]

Recent post on topping lifts...... I still have OEM topping lift on my H376, works fine, but does sometimes get in the way while raising the main. I have been thinking abt replacing it with Boom Vang.

My question that I have is, aside from the obvious expense issue (money spent on our boat never is an issue is it?), what do you like better? The solid Boom Vang, or Topping Lift?

 

[Steve Dion]

I would suggest that you check out the Garhauer Marine rigid vang. High quality and it will hold you boom without the need for the topping lift.

We had a rigid vang on our HV'36 and the boom is 18ft + long. Provides good sail control and no need for the topping lift.

If your mast has a provision for a rigid vang, they can fabricate a fitting for it too.

 

[Allan Frey]

If you head so that the main is slightly to starboard when it gets to the topping lift, there is no problem raising it.

allan

 

[Paul F]

A rigid boom vang is one of the best sail handling improvements that I have made. The vang gives much better control of the mail when sailing. Removing the toping lift makes both raising and lowering the sail much easier. There is no downside to a rigid boom vang that I am aware of.....

When at rest, not sailing, I move the main halyard from the sail and use it as a topping lift holding up the boom and taking pressure off the rigid boom vang. This may not work well for boats with long booms.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

Our boat came from Hunter with the Selden vang and a topping lift. The Selden manual says not to bottom the vang out with the mainsheet, so it is the topping lift that stops the boom from going down too far when we do not have the mainsail up.
If we are not sailing and the topping lift is loose, the boom will bounce up and down on the gas spring in the vang and the mainsheet. It is the topping lift and mainsheet that keeps our boom in one position.
I don't know about other vangs but this might be a consideration when you are shopping for a "rigid" vang.

Bob