I would like to know what the experts think about the BoomKicker for a Hunter 26. I would like to get rid of my top lift. I would like to know if someone with the same or comparable boat has installed a BoomKicker? Or should I just get a rigid vang? I saw the boomkicker at the Oakland boat show this weekend and it seems pretty easy to install and use. Has anyone had any problems with one or know of the drawback of installing one? Since the boat is a trailer able, I like the easy setup and teardown of it. Any help would be appreciated. Only three more weeks until I get my new mast and boom. Man its has been a long 10 weeks. The weather this weekend was perfect. It was killer to watch the boats on the bay Sunday. Carl S/V Wind Shadow
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another option
I have a 260. The Boom Kicker was my secound choise. I went with Garhauer Marines solid vange because, by the time I would have added a decent vang to replace the marginal OM, the cost would have been about the same. Jeff
I have a 260. The Boom Kicker was my secound choise. I went with Garhauer Marines solid vange because, by the time I would have added a decent vang to replace the marginal OM, the cost would have been about the same. Jeff
Boom kicker on H-22
I just installed a boom kicker on my H-22. It was a relatively easy install. I paid $120 for the boom kicker and I have a vang on order for $100. That was far less than I could get a rigid vang for. I really hated the topping lift slapping the sail. The boom kicker is nice. I used the lighter set of spring rods that came with the unit and had to shorten mine a few inches due to my low boom height to get the proper angle of the vang. I had sailed on a Catalina 30 with a boom kicker in the past so I was familiar with the basics of the unit ahead of time. I have sailed with it on my boat a couple of times now but have not had an adjustable vang due to a backorder. With my temporarily rigged vang it seems to work great. The only thing to watch for is at the boom connection. The Catalina I sailed on had a boom that rotated on a pin at the gooseneck and had a loose footed sail. That combination twisted the boom bracket of the boom kicker. If you have any other questions about it just ask. I might try to take some pictures of the boom kicker installed this weekend. Dan
I just installed a boom kicker on my H-22. It was a relatively easy install. I paid $120 for the boom kicker and I have a vang on order for $100. That was far less than I could get a rigid vang for. I really hated the topping lift slapping the sail. The boom kicker is nice. I used the lighter set of spring rods that came with the unit and had to shorten mine a few inches due to my low boom height to get the proper angle of the vang. I had sailed on a Catalina 30 with a boom kicker in the past so I was familiar with the basics of the unit ahead of time. I have sailed with it on my boat a couple of times now but have not had an adjustable vang due to a backorder. With my temporarily rigged vang it seems to work great. The only thing to watch for is at the boom connection. The Catalina I sailed on had a boom that rotated on a pin at the gooseneck and had a loose footed sail. That combination twisted the boom bracket of the boom kicker. If you have any other questions about it just ask. I might try to take some pictures of the boom kicker installed this weekend. Dan
I've had both
I installed a Boom Kicker on a Starwind 22, instalation was easy. I thought it was a good system until I bought a 1997 H26 and installed a Garhauer rigid vang on it. A world of difference! The Garhauer runs aroud $160 complete, it's as easy to install as the BK and alot more stout and you don't need to buy a separate vang as it is built into the Garhauer. I will put a Garhauer rigid vand on any boat I ever sail. I don't have anything to do with Garhauer, but I believe in their products.
I installed a Boom Kicker on a Starwind 22, instalation was easy. I thought it was a good system until I bought a 1997 H26 and installed a Garhauer rigid vang on it. A world of difference! The Garhauer runs aroud $160 complete, it's as easy to install as the BK and alot more stout and you don't need to buy a separate vang as it is built into the Garhauer. I will put a Garhauer rigid vand on any boat I ever sail. I don't have anything to do with Garhauer, but I believe in their products.
Tom.....Rigid Vang and Bimini ?
Tom, I'm not at all familiar with Garhauer's rigid vangs. I have a bimini top on our H26 1996. Will we be able to keep the boom off it when sheeted in tight? S/V "Festivity"
Tom, I'm not at all familiar with Garhauer's rigid vangs. I have a bimini top on our H26 1996. Will we be able to keep the boom off it when sheeted in tight? S/V "Festivity"
Boom Kicker 1000
I put the BoomKicker on my H26 and used the existing vang. I purchased the adapter that slides down into the mast headsail track that the lower end of the device attaches to. The whole installation took about 30 minutes. Was one of the best additions to my boat I've made. It will keep the boom off the bimini. I kept the topping lift in place to use when the dreaded Sunday evening comes along and you have to go home. I used the smaller of the two fiberglas rods that comes with it.
I put the BoomKicker on my H26 and used the existing vang. I purchased the adapter that slides down into the mast headsail track that the lower end of the device attaches to. The whole installation took about 30 minutes. Was one of the best additions to my boat I've made. It will keep the boom off the bimini. I kept the topping lift in place to use when the dreaded Sunday evening comes along and you have to go home. I used the smaller of the two fiberglas rods that comes with it.
Garhauer
I tried getting a rigid vang for my H26. The guy at garhauer kept asking me for the dimensions of the base of the mast. I figured they have sold some rigid vangs for other H26's and I think all mast are Z-Spar's. Being frustraded I didnt ordered it, but I did got a rope organizer which is almost identical to the one that came with the boat. If someone calls Garhauer and gets them to sell a rigid vang, please mail me or post the specs so I can order one
. Thanks Carlitos H26 Martina PS I had to re-stich my bimini cause the boom kept chafing it.
I tried getting a rigid vang for my H26. The guy at garhauer kept asking me for the dimensions of the base of the mast. I figured they have sold some rigid vangs for other H26's and I think all mast are Z-Spar's. Being frustraded I didnt ordered it, but I did got a rope organizer which is almost identical to the one that came with the boat. If someone calls Garhauer and gets them to sell a rigid vang, please mail me or post the specs so I can order one
. Thanks Carlitos H26 Martina PS I had to re-stich my bimini cause the boom kept chafing it. Garhauer
If you order a rigid vang from Garhauer, you need to make a pattern for the boom and the mast. They custom fabricate the brackets for each boat. For some reason they do not keep the standard ones on file. You need to take a piece of solder and form it around the mast and boom. Then you trace these shapes on a piece of paper and send them to them in Southern California. They send you back the formed brackets with the vang.
If you order a rigid vang from Garhauer, you need to make a pattern for the boom and the mast. They custom fabricate the brackets for each boat. For some reason they do not keep the standard ones on file. You need to take a piece of solder and form it around the mast and boom. Then you trace these shapes on a piece of paper and send them to them in Southern California. They send you back the formed brackets with the vang.
Garhauer vang
I wish I had seen that Garhauer unit before I bought the boom kicker. That is a very good price for a rigid vang at $170 with a custom length. I am still happy with the boom kicker but the Garhauer would have been cheaper for me since the H-22 did not have a vang. If you sheet in tight on the main the sail would be the only thing to hold the boom off of the bimini. The boom kicker would not help this situation and I am not sure if the Garhauer unit would either unless the spring was completely compressed within the unit before boom contacts bimini. The topping lift was intended to keep boom off of bimini/deck etc when the sail is down.
I wish I had seen that Garhauer unit before I bought the boom kicker. That is a very good price for a rigid vang at $170 with a custom length. I am still happy with the boom kicker but the Garhauer would have been cheaper for me since the H-22 did not have a vang. If you sheet in tight on the main the sail would be the only thing to hold the boom off of the bimini. The boom kicker would not help this situation and I am not sure if the Garhauer unit would either unless the spring was completely compressed within the unit before boom contacts bimini. The topping lift was intended to keep boom off of bimini/deck etc when the sail is down.
It was no big deal...
I ordered my Garhauer directly off the web and ordered by boat size. I didn't have to order naything special. They know what a H26 boom and mast are like and the thing went together quickly and easily. Half an hour or less. Yes the boom stays high enough to stay off the Bimini. When you install, make sure that when the solid vang iw 10 to 20 degrees above level at rest then you can draw it down as needed for safety and sail shape. Like I say, I'd never own a boat without one. Good luck.
I ordered my Garhauer directly off the web and ordered by boat size. I didn't have to order naything special. They know what a H26 boom and mast are like and the thing went together quickly and easily. Half an hour or less. Yes the boom stays high enough to stay off the Bimini. When you install, make sure that when the solid vang iw 10 to 20 degrees above level at rest then you can draw it down as needed for safety and sail shape. Like I say, I'd never own a boat without one. Good luck.
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