Rigid Boom Vang for H 23.5

[stackwalker]

Anyone have a recommendation for a rigid boom vang for my 23.5? I'm starting my winter spending spree for the boat. Getting her ready for a week-long trip to the San Juans next season. Lots of projects and stuff to buy! Anyway, had a rigid on my old boat when I lived on the Great Lakes and it made reefing and general handling so much nicer. Anyone have one they like?

 

[Ted]

"Boomkicker" Reasonably priced so you'll have some money left over for your other goodies. Simple to install. You still need to provide some fiddle blocks and line to make up the vang part of it. The Boomkicker only prevents the boom from dropping. No springs so they are very quiet. The only down side that I found was that if you leaned your weight on the boom as you were dropping the main or putting on the cover, the boom would not support your weight. Using a topping lift or bringing the main halyard to the end of the boom took care of that issue. Nice product especially for boats under 30 feet.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Good point Ted but if one is going to trailer the boat a lot and is concerned with the time to set up and take down, just another item to deal with and in a hot sun, that does play an issue but the choice is an individual choice I respect.

 

[Jackdaw]

Boomkicker for sure. Works well, and very cost effective, in particular if you already have a soft vang that pulls/holds the boom down.

 

[Ted]

It is very simple to connect and disconnect the Boomkicker when trailering. The fitting on the boom allows the Boomkicker to just slide on and off in a few seconds. If you have a snap shackle on the fiddle block just snap it on and you're done. No sweat, literally!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Ted;
Thank you for that clarification. They have come a long way since I was in business as to connection

 

[stackwalker]

Thanks guys - I'll check out the boomkicker. I do worry about weighting the boom as in a blow with big swell I recall having to hang on to the boom for dear life when trying to reef. I do have a topping lift but it's pretty flimsy... I'm not positive I want the extra step of having to attach the topping lift... As it stands I don't need to worry about it because my dang bimini holds up the boom. Not sure if the previous owner bought the wrong one or if I'm doing something wrong.

 

[isaksp00]

The PO most likely bought the wrong size. My 23 has a bimini that is too tall and extends too far forward. I cannot sail with it deployed, and even have to raise the boom about 6 inches with my topping lift to deploy it.

 

[sesmith]

Another boomkicker fan. We had one on our 23.5, when we had it (and moved it to our current boat). No down side I ever found. You can get rid of the topping lift entirely, if you want.