Cunningham or Boom Down Haul

Jan 7, 2012
276
catalina 22 Cave Run Lake
Getting ready for racing season and need to get a few things before it starts. I am still about as green as they come so I am not sure which one I need so thought I would just ask. The Cat22 will be mainly used for racing so that is the set up I want to go with. Last year I just tied the boom down with a rope want to do a little better this year.
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,012
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
You actually need both ("need" being the operative word).

The boom downhaul is called a vang.

The cunningham can easily tension the luff of the mainsail without having to use the main halyard.

Garhauer is a good source for blocks and pre-made vangs. For a C22, a cunningham doesn't need any extra purchase, but is best run back to the cockpit. The vang can be used without running it back by putting the cam cleat end on the boom.

Have a great season.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
A boom downhaul is not a vang.. On many small boats like the C22 the goose-neck is in an sliding track and held in place by a downhaul.

A cunningham is MUCH more effective way to control draft position on a mainsail, as it acts only of the luff of the sail and not the boom and foot.

So you need the boon downhaul, but SHOULD have a cunningham. Vang too!
 
Jan 7, 2012
276
catalina 22 Cave Run Lake
Should have asked this while I was at it. What about an outhaul for the boat. Catalina Direct has an four to one and an internal 8:1 for about twice the money. I do not mind spending the xtra money as long as its something I really need. If it does not make much of a difference I would just assume save some money.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Should have asked this while I was at it. What about an outhaul for the boat. Catalina Direct has an four to one and an internal 8:1 for about twice the money. I do not mind spending the xtra money as long as its something I really need. If it does not make much of a difference I would just assume save some money.
A 4:1 will work fine. But an 8:1 is much nicer; it is easier to adjust, and the adjustment is done on the forward end of the boom, which is easier to get to than the aft end, in particular after you have let the mainsail way out.
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,012
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Thanks, Jack, it's been awhile for me and our C22! I didn't need one since we had either a cleat or something else below the boom where the boom was tied, making it essentially fixed, so the halyard provided the basic tension.


A boom downhaul is not a vang.. On many small boats like the C22 the goose-neck is in an sliding track and held in place by a downhaul.... but SHOULD have a cunningham. Vang too!
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Thanks, Jack, it's been awhile for me and our C22! I didn't need one since we had either a cleat or something else below the boom where the boom was tied, making it essentially fixed, so the halyard provided the basic tension.
Me too, WAY long ago. Ours was permanently secured as well. I really don't understand the purpose of the thing really... its a crappy substitute for a cunningham, so most people just lash the thing in one place.
 
Jun 9, 2008
1,792
- -- -Bayfield
Here's my comments. If you have a floating gooseneck, then you need the little line secured to the cleat below the gooseneck to secure it from rising when you tighten the halyard. To be legal, most boats have black lines for the tack of the sail near the gooseneck position and another at the top of the mast for the head of the mainsail. These are limits between the two black lines for the hoist of the sail. Your boat may not have them and the fleet you sail in might not care. But, if they do, then you should paint or tape on these black lines where they are supposed to be. If you are racing one design C-22's someone in your fleet will be able to help you I am sure, or a sailmaker can. The cunningham eases or tightens the leading edge of the mainsail which is something you do to make finite adjustments. You don't have to have a cunningham as you can also do this with the halyard, but sometimes, if rigged correctly, it is quicker to do this adjustment with a cunningham. Tightening the leading edge brings the draft forward and loosening it brings the draft aft. Now, the outhaul does the same sort of adjustment, but it does it along the foot of the sail (along the boom). Tighten it and it brings the draft down. Loosen it and it brings the draft up. If you have a 4:1 outhaul adjustment (which is adequate for a C-22), then this job is easy and especially if the wind is blowing hard. I am sure if you buy the products from Catalina it will be convenient, but if you buy the parts separately from your local chandlery, you probably can get a better price, but that is your business. And, as far as where you make your outhaul line fast (on a cleat) depends on where you install the cleat. If you want it way forward then so be it, but I assume you will want to make it internal rather than external and so you need an exit block forward and the cleat will have to be somewhere aft of that position. The boom vang is something that controls the twist in the trailing edge of your mainsail. In heavy air, sometimes this has to be eased in order to make the cunningham or outhaul adjustments. Usually in heavy air the vang is in hard and eased in lighter air and especially as you reach off the wind so that your leach copies the twist of the leach of your headsail. Have fun racing. C-22's have been around for ever and there are plenty of them to race against.
 
Jan 7, 2012
276
catalina 22 Cave Run Lake
Thanks for the info guys, all the knowlege one needs to acquire to be a good sailor can be very intimidating. So much to learn and I am getting older so it's harder to remember things it seems. I realize that for now some of these things can wait till I better hone my skills. Thanks again for the help.