Full batten blues getting better - rigid vang?

[Tom Parrent]

Taking advice offered by many here, I was real careful to make sure the sail was dead into the wind before releasing the halyard today. The sail dropped like a rock! Thanks to all of you for you help.While the sail comes down all right I am still considering adding the Dutchman system and the Dutchman batten cars. The lazy jacks really have always been a pain in the aft for me on all my boats - chafe, noise, problems raising the sail and very poor flaking are all charactersitics my various boats have had in common. The Dutchman solved all these problems on my 280.What do you all think of rigid vangs? I noticed today that the topping lift was really a hinderance in very light air and it does get in the way somewhat when trying to close the *&%*$@%*& sail cover. It may not be a ^*^$(@^ sail cover if you don't have a bimini but it sure is with one!Is the boom kicker sufficient for the 320 or do I need to go up in size? Advantages/disadvantages?

 

[Steve Cook]

The vang is awsome

I just installed a Garhauer RV-20 rigid vang on my 1999 H310. "What a difference" it made!!!!The 4:1 soft vang that was factory was junk and even with the vang on the #30 winch I just could not pull the boom down.With the rigid vang @ 20:1 purchase, my wife can pull on with great ease.The boat sails faster and sits flater on the water and a no more weather helm.The vang cost $230.00 custom made from Garhauer. Took 3 weeks to get it.A boom kicker is going to cost you more and it will do less.Fair winds.Steve,s/v The Odyssey (H310)

 

[Rod Leonard]

Boom Kicker

The boom kicker worked great on my 31' you have room for lots of adjustment and two different size rods to accomadate the weight of the sail.

 

[Doug]

Rigid vang with super clean look...

Our 33.5 "Addsion" received a rigid vang upgrade last season. We chose the Spinlock Powervang (see on web or in west marine cat) because function is important but so are looks. This unit has an internal 5:1 purchase (I dont know why a 20:1 purchase would ever be needed on a vang unless you have a 1,000 square foot main and on a run in a 60 knot blow....and remember that a 20:1 purchase means you need to haul in 20 times more line than the actual length needed to trim) that is truly functional and looks clean. It has a locking collar to hold the boom up in light winds or to keep it off your head before releasing halyard.We give it good marks.Doug

 

[Phillip Coker]

Rigid vang

Installed the Spinlock Powervang VX1505 on my '96 29.5. Very happy with it.Phillip CokerSilent Dancer