combination boom vang and preventer?

[Ivan Edwards]

Saw a product description for a combination boom vang and preventer (Wichard, I think...)Looked to me like a standard boom vang, with a lot of line on it,and snap hooks where it attached to the boom and mast base.I guess to use it as a preventer, you unsnap the mast base end,give more scope to the vang, and attach it to the toe rail? Result is the vang goes from boom to toe rail, and can be clamcleated at the boom.Is this how you use it?I guess you dont need the vang to be able to pull down the boom to tighten the sail, when you are on a broad reach.Is that it?

 

[O_salt]

You have the application right. When the vang is attached to the toe rail as a preventer, you can still use it to tighten the leach of the main. To do this, you find a point on the toe rail that will hold the boom in place but also pull down on the boom.I found that the best use of the preventer was in light air to keep the boom from moving around in sloppy sea conditions and light wind.I never used the vang as a preventer in heavey air to prevent an accidental gybe. I felt that it would cause to much load on fittings if you got pinned over with the boom on the wrong side of the boat.O_salt

 

[Ivan Edwards]

agree about extra load

Thanks for the feedback.I had just read an article about a boom broken in half because of a rogue wave and a preventer secured in the middle of the boom.So, I understand your heavy weather caution.