I just got the latest flyer from Sailnet and they have Boomkickers on sale (sort of a rigid vang). Has anyone here have experience with this particular model, and if so, what do you think of it. Would you recommend it? Thanks. Bob McGee
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I think it's great
I've had one on my h34 for the past two year. Had no problem, works well and is a plus. John s/v Dinnae-Ken II
I've had one on my h34 for the past two year. Had no problem, works well and is a plus. John s/v Dinnae-Ken II
Put one on my H260
Bob, Put one on my H260 and loved it. Was so happy to get rid of the topping lift, it was forever catching the leach of the sail. Link will take you to my site showing the installation. Jim S/V Java H260
Bob, Put one on my H260 and loved it. Was so happy to get rid of the topping lift, it was forever catching the leach of the sail. Link will take you to my site showing the installation. Jim S/V Java H260
Would you put it on your 356?
So is it heavy enough to put on your 356, or would you look for a more traditional rigid vang? Best regards to your wife and maybe to you <grin> dj
So is it heavy enough to put on your 356, or would you look for a more traditional rigid vang? Best regards to your wife and maybe to you <grin> dj
Check out Garhauer
They are priced to sell and give higher strength and more purchase ratio. A friend just installed the RV-20 on his Sabre 34. Very nice piece of equipment. I plan to install the RV-16 ($200) next year.
They are priced to sell and give higher strength and more purchase ratio. A friend just installed the RV-20 on his Sabre 34. Very nice piece of equipment. I plan to install the RV-16 ($200) next year.
Better light air performance
You will find that your sail shape will be much better in light winds if you have a Boomkicker installed. I put one on my C&C Shark 24 and was very happy with its performance. They are now installed on many of the boats in this very large racing fleet. Boomkickers also eliminate all the problems involved with a topping lift. Dropping the main is so simple now. I will be installing a Boomkicker on my Grampian 26 after launch this Spring. Cheers, JimQ - G-26 - Sam's Closin' time - BHYC note - check out their website for details - www.boomkicker.com
You will find that your sail shape will be much better in light winds if you have a Boomkicker installed. I put one on my C&C Shark 24 and was very happy with its performance. They are now installed on many of the boats in this very large racing fleet. Boomkickers also eliminate all the problems involved with a topping lift. Dropping the main is so simple now. I will be installing a Boomkicker on my Grampian 26 after launch this Spring. Cheers, JimQ - G-26 - Sam's Closin' time - BHYC note - check out their website for details - www.boomkicker.com
H35.5
I have the Boomkicker on my 35.5. I tighten up the topping lift just before dropping the mainsail only. Love it. I have even routed the topping lift back to the cockpit, so I don't have to go forward unless I want to. Makes life much easier when it is windy.
I have the Boomkicker on my 35.5. I tighten up the topping lift just before dropping the mainsail only. Love it. I have even routed the topping lift back to the cockpit, so I don't have to go forward unless I want to. Makes life much easier when it is windy.
Boomkicker
Bob, My 1985 Catalina 27 Tall Rig came with a Boomkicker when I purchased it in 1996. I did not have any experience with them until then, but I love it and would not have another boat without one.
Bob, My 1985 Catalina 27 Tall Rig came with a Boomkicker when I purchased it in 1996. I did not have any experience with them until then, but I love it and would not have another boat without one.
Boomkicker on my C-22
I installed a boomkicker onto my Catalina 22, which is similar to your O'Day 22. I did this through Catalina Direct so the installation instructions were quite straightforward. However, the Boomkicker people probably have good instructions on how to install a Boomkicker onto an O'Day 22. As the others have expressed, I like it for the same reasons. However, for a 22-foot boat, it is an expensive piece of equipment and it may be wiser to spend your money on something else before the boomkicker. It might actually be a better use of your time to devise a topping lift suitable to your particular needs as I now feel about my own boat. But then again, there is no way I would remove the Boomkicker. The Boomkicker will save the leech of a new main sail unlike the time when you forget to set up the topping lift. I know things can get rough up there in Maine, so perhaps for that alone a Boomkicker would be an advantage. Maybe Justin of the O'Day Owners Club of Brunswick, Maine can give you some advice. He comes into this web sight frequently.
I installed a boomkicker onto my Catalina 22, which is similar to your O'Day 22. I did this through Catalina Direct so the installation instructions were quite straightforward. However, the Boomkicker people probably have good instructions on how to install a Boomkicker onto an O'Day 22. As the others have expressed, I like it for the same reasons. However, for a 22-foot boat, it is an expensive piece of equipment and it may be wiser to spend your money on something else before the boomkicker. It might actually be a better use of your time to devise a topping lift suitable to your particular needs as I now feel about my own boat. But then again, there is no way I would remove the Boomkicker. The Boomkicker will save the leech of a new main sail unlike the time when you forget to set up the topping lift. I know things can get rough up there in Maine, so perhaps for that alone a Boomkicker would be an advantage. Maybe Justin of the O'Day Owners Club of Brunswick, Maine can give you some advice. He comes into this web sight frequently.
How does it effect the vang
Given the rigidity of the boomkicker, isn't it harder to pull in the vang? For larger boats, Have you had to replace the standard with one with more mechanical advantage?
Given the rigidity of the boomkicker, isn't it harder to pull in the vang? For larger boats, Have you had to replace the standard with one with more mechanical advantage?
Yea, it is harder
On my C-22 with a Boomkicker I have two fiddle blocks for the boom vang. To the boom, I fasten the block that has the becket and cam cleat that thereby provides five to one mechanical advantage as opposed to four to one if I fastened this block to the mast and the double sheave fiddle block to the boom. For me, this is is actually a preferable place to have the cam cleat as opposed to being on the mast. In addition, the mast vang hound and boom vang hound will take more stress as well. After I installed the Boomkicker, I used to have a snap between the mast vang hound and the fiddle block at the mast so that I could set up a preventer (which I never did anyway). As this snap did not swivel well in the hole in the mast vang hound, this snap ripped apart the mast vang hound hole when I was sailing reefed and the vang tight in heavy winds. A sudden gush of wind broadside, and whammo no more vang and as the Boomkicker fell out of the slot on its boom fitting, no more topping lift for the boom. I admit that I was aware of potential problems with this snap, but with my recently installed Boomkicker, I quickly found out just how bad.
On my C-22 with a Boomkicker I have two fiddle blocks for the boom vang. To the boom, I fasten the block that has the becket and cam cleat that thereby provides five to one mechanical advantage as opposed to four to one if I fastened this block to the mast and the double sheave fiddle block to the boom. For me, this is is actually a preferable place to have the cam cleat as opposed to being on the mast. In addition, the mast vang hound and boom vang hound will take more stress as well. After I installed the Boomkicker, I used to have a snap between the mast vang hound and the fiddle block at the mast so that I could set up a preventer (which I never did anyway). As this snap did not swivel well in the hole in the mast vang hound, this snap ripped apart the mast vang hound hole when I was sailing reefed and the vang tight in heavy winds. A sudden gush of wind broadside, and whammo no more vang and as the Boomkicker fell out of the slot on its boom fitting, no more topping lift for the boom. I admit that I was aware of potential problems with this snap, but with my recently installed Boomkicker, I quickly found out just how bad.
Garhauer vs. Boom kicker
I have a Boom Kicker on my 31 and it is great. However, I have also had a Garhauer solid vang on a previous boat that I sold and it is better. For a few extra bucks I would definitly take the Garhauer, as they are very reasonable. The only negative would be that they are on the heavy side.
I have a Boom Kicker on my 31 and it is great. However, I have also had a Garhauer solid vang on a previous boat that I sold and it is better. For a few extra bucks I would definitly take the Garhauer, as they are very reasonable. The only negative would be that they are on the heavy side.
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