Boom Vang Connections
Assuming you don't have pre engineered tangs on the boom or at the base of the mast, you will need to create those attachment points without weakening the structural integrity of the mast or boom. Start with a bail attachment at the lowest point of the mast, clear of the deck. On my 1978 Hunter 25 that was a bail added at the thru bolt for the mast base. Look at a boom vang making at least a forty-five degree angle 1:1 with the mast and boom as a minimum, and a longer 2:1 leg out along the boom as more of a maximum. The exact location of the bail out on the boom should consider any other hardware in the immediate vicinity so as not to create a week area in the boom. The third consideration is the purchase you need for the vang, starting with at least a 4:1, assumind a traditional boom vang. Look at other similar boats before you drill any holes and make sure you can engage or disengage the vang in it's cam cleat. If you are considering a 'Yacht Rod' or 'Powervang', these solid vangs are far more expensive; come with their specific boom and mast fitings and eliminate the need for a topping lift. Check out West Marine's Catalog for cost and set-up comparisons.
