No Boomvang?
- Thread starter mmeechan
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It either has a vang or not..... a vang will connect to the mast base and boom, not the cabin top traveller track.
Is it normal? Uh....no.... but it is likely the previous owner took it with him. Look for a connection location at the mast base.... probably a padeye slipped into the mast groove and secured with a self tapping screw... the boom end's connection was probably a "bale"... a rigid hoop bolted through the boom. If there are even holes where these pieces would have been attached then your P.O. didn't leave you with all the equipment and you might want to gve him a call.
Do you need it? Only if you plan to sail downwind.
Even though the mid boom sheeting has some lines angled that remind one of a boom vang....it doesn't provide the same control.....because when the boom is eased outside the range of the traveller track.... the mainsheet no longer pulls DOWN on the boom.... it pulls SIDEWAYS..... therefore... the vang, since it is connected to the mast at a close angle.... takes over the mainsheet's function of keeping the boom from raising.
If and when you get a vang, either by the PO or yourself, consider your options: soft or rigid vang. If he "returns" the soft vang, put it on and use it, 'cuz you'll need it for both upwind and downwind sailing. If nothing happens and you have to do it yourself, then consider a Garhauer rigid vang if you have the $$. Either way, very good to have a vang. Good luck.
Buy Don's book or chart or both. Very good stuff.
Buy Don's book or chart or both. Very good stuff.
Most Catalina 27's with mid boom sheeting did not come with a boom Vang. Even the 30's Unless owner added one later. If so then it was usually used only for down wind long range cruising and used for other multi purposes on the boat .
Nearly every Cat-27 use for just plain day sailing or short weekend stuff. I have ran across did not have Vang.
So if you are going to just be doing your typical day sailing and just learning the boat I would not worry about it so much right now. Just keep in mind if you do any down wind sailing and have the boom let out to were it is all the way out to the shrouds, be careful when jibing because the mid boom setup can still let the boom ride up during any accidental or on purpose jibes and catch on back stay. I would try and save some money and just keep an eye out for one at the local boaters flea market etc. for a good deal. Be smart and have snap shackles on each end with small lanyard for pulling the release pins to shackles. Also be mindfull of when you use it that jam cleat release is adjusted at the proper angle. Some people like the cam cleat at the boom and some like it at the base of mast. I think harken makes the best and most reliable cam cleats. Really important is if you are using it as a preventor that you can realise it quickly and in a controlled manner.
Nearly every Cat-27 use for just plain day sailing or short weekend stuff. I have ran across did not have Vang.
So if you are going to just be doing your typical day sailing and just learning the boat I would not worry about it so much right now. Just keep in mind if you do any down wind sailing and have the boom let out to were it is all the way out to the shrouds, be careful when jibing because the mid boom setup can still let the boom ride up during any accidental or on purpose jibes and catch on back stay. I would try and save some money and just keep an eye out for one at the local boaters flea market etc. for a good deal. Be smart and have snap shackles on each end with small lanyard for pulling the release pins to shackles. Also be mindfull of when you use it that jam cleat release is adjusted at the proper angle. Some people like the cam cleat at the boom and some like it at the base of mast. I think harken makes the best and most reliable cam cleats. Really important is if you are using it as a preventor that you can realise it quickly and in a controlled manner.
A boom vang is instrumental on various points of sail, not just down wind as others are telling you. The vang will control the twist of the mainsail roach - even to weather. In heavy airs a vang is important to pull down tight. As you fall off, it can be eased off to create more twist to match the slot with the headsail, for one example. In heavy air, if you get over powered, easing the vang right away will help stabilize the boat until the blast goes by. Some boats have no mainsheet traveler, or short ones, so that the sheet is of no help if the boom is outboard of the influence of the mainsheet connection point. The vang will then be useful for mainsail trimming.
Going downwind, it keeps the boom level with the water so the wind does not make it rise up when the wind hits the center of effort of the mainsail. If you have a quick release attachment point at the mast base (like a snap shackle) sometimes you can use the vang as a preventer too when running with the wind for long distances to prevent accidental gybes.
Going downwind, it keeps the boom level with the water so the wind does not make it rise up when the wind hits the center of effort of the mainsail. If you have a quick release attachment point at the mast base (like a snap shackle) sometimes you can use the vang as a preventer too when running with the wind for long distances to prevent accidental gybes.
My PT 1/4 boat didn't come with one either and got different stories from different sailors as to if I should need one or not.
Looking @ the marina I'm at, I saw everyone else had one! (hmm, if they ALL have one and I don't...)
Then I got Don Guillette's "The Sail Trim Users Guide" and read it over til understood it, (my second year sailing, also my first year with a REAL boat. so I've no clue what I'm doing at times).
The Boom Vang helps controls a few things, draft and draft position of the sail, sail twist, (the wind is stronger as you go up the sail from water level. Twist OPENS or CLOSES the top of the sail to "dump" air out, this equals PSI through out the entire sail). Draft is where the "belly" of the sail is.
As well as other controls on your main sail.
After reading it and looking close at my main sailing,I ordered a boom vang. It just arrived from West Marine.
You can use the main sail sheet as a vang to keep the boom "down" and contrl the sail twist, but after reading this book, I THINK you really need one to get the most outta your main sail.
You can (like I was last year and this year) just go out and have fun with your boat and set the sails as best you can, but if you wanna really set up your boat to work it's best, I THINK you need one! (I figure it'll keep me outta trouble is a strong poof hits me- again).
Go to "U Tube" and type in Boom Vang,see the vidoes on it and the whys and you'll see if you need one, (U Tube is a great source of info on ANY sailing topic)!
Joe
This is just my 2 cents worth, any advice I spew out of my pie hole should be taken with a few beers!
Looking @ the marina I'm at, I saw everyone else had one! (hmm, if they ALL have one and I don't...)
Then I got Don Guillette's "The Sail Trim Users Guide" and read it over til understood it, (my second year sailing, also my first year with a REAL boat. so I've no clue what I'm doing at times).
The Boom Vang helps controls a few things, draft and draft position of the sail, sail twist, (the wind is stronger as you go up the sail from water level. Twist OPENS or CLOSES the top of the sail to "dump" air out, this equals PSI through out the entire sail). Draft is where the "belly" of the sail is.
As well as other controls on your main sail.
After reading it and looking close at my main sailing,I ordered a boom vang. It just arrived from West Marine.
You can use the main sail sheet as a vang to keep the boom "down" and contrl the sail twist, but after reading this book, I THINK you really need one to get the most outta your main sail.
You can (like I was last year and this year) just go out and have fun with your boat and set the sails as best you can, but if you wanna really set up your boat to work it's best, I THINK you need one! (I figure it'll keep me outta trouble is a strong poof hits me- again).
Go to "U Tube" and type in Boom Vang,see the vidoes on it and the whys and you'll see if you need one, (U Tube is a great source of info on ANY sailing topic)!
Joe
This is just my 2 cents worth, any advice I spew out of my pie hole should be taken with a few beers!
Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to look at a few of the sources mentioned. I've seen a few more Catalina 27s in my marina, and only 1 of them has a vang. Onecoolair's response helps, as I was pretty sure the PO didn't take anything with him. You should see the stuff he left.. lol
Thanks again.
Mike
Thanks again.
Mike
My P-31 was supposed to have a vang. I did not have or use one for two years. I got spanked. Now I have vang, and also understand better how to use the whole boat. I am doing better.
Remember -- Get a vang -- so says Lang!
Remember -- Get a vang -- so says Lang!
I don't have a vang, but will probably add one at some point soon. I'm not a racer, but still, I can just feel the giddyap spill out of the mainsail when that boom raises up.
Racing's got nothing to do with it..... it's just sailing.... and a vang will make your boat sail better.
I have a catalina 27 too. Perhaps it is the weight of the boom or the way it connects in three places to the mainsheet, but I find that I very infrequently need to use my boom vang. And I say this as I judge my sail trim by looking at my telltales. In fact, I often find that I have too little twist and just can't get that top telltale flying just right, even when it's out of the lee of genoa. I've found that actually ADDING TOPPING LIFT gets it flying perfectly, although the effect on the performance of the boat seems too negligible to bother.
In fact, if you route your mainsheet from the forward bail on the boom at a downwards angle to the base of the mast, the direction of the force on the boom is partially directed in the same line of action as if it were a boom vang anyway! (What Joe said.) Alternatively, you can route the mainsheet along the forward section of the boom to where it meets the gooseneck, and then route it downwards to the base of the mast with a block attached to the bottom of the gooseneck. I believe this was the way Catalina intended, as it is depicted this way in the owner's manual.
In fact, if you route your mainsheet from the forward bail on the boom at a downwards angle to the base of the mast, the direction of the force on the boom is partially directed in the same line of action as if it were a boom vang anyway! (What Joe said.) Alternatively, you can route the mainsheet along the forward section of the boom to where it meets the gooseneck, and then route it downwards to the base of the mast with a block attached to the bottom of the gooseneck. I believe this was the way Catalina intended, as it is depicted this way in the owner's manual.
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