I had my marina install a Garhauer Rigid Vang for me a couple months ago and have been sailing ever since. We love the extra control we get from it. The problem I discovered last night as I was stepping my mast for the end of the year haul out was that the mast attachment for the vang is to low and the tang for the cylinder hits the cabin top before the mast was in the crutch. Of course I was alone and it was getting dark so I had to block the mast up about a foot higher than the crutch and drive the pin out. This was not a good time. Now I need to figure out the best fix before next season. If your contemplating this upgrade, go for it, but beware of mechanics involved in stepping and unstepping the mast. A stupid oversight on my part.
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Jeff Peltier
Leave the vang attached to the boom
By supporting the end of the boom with the main halyard and tying off the vang line, one person can easily pull the pin on the boom and lift the vang attachment up the track for removal. Jeff Peltier
By supporting the end of the boom with the main halyard and tying off the vang line, one person can easily pull the pin on the boom and lift the vang attachment up the track for removal. Jeff Peltier
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Wayneo
vang attachment
Not much help to you now but I just talked to Mike at Garhauer for my H240 installation and he told me to watch out for that exact problem. Since I trailer everywhere, my boat is moored in the backyard he recommened the V-12 with car and track. But Jeff's response seems logical i guess without knowing how low they installed it. It alway happens while your alone, getting dark, and out of liquid energy. Thats sailing!
Not much help to you now but I just talked to Mike at Garhauer for my H240 installation and he told me to watch out for that exact problem. Since I trailer everywhere, my boat is moored in the backyard he recommened the V-12 with car and track. But Jeff's response seems logical i guess without knowing how low they installed it. It alway happens while your alone, getting dark, and out of liquid energy. Thats sailing!
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Michael Stephens
The mast plate is the problem...
I left the vang on the boom as suggested but when I lower the mast to the crutch the attachment plate on the mast hits the cabin top before I get it down far enough to rest on the crutch. The plate is riveted on. I'm thinking now I should remove the rivets and tap for screws. That way I could remove the entire plate before lowering the mast. What do you think? The alternative solution is to drill the rivets and move the attachment upward. I need to do some math to see how far up it will have to go. Anyone have an idea how high their mast attachment plate is up from the cabin top?
I left the vang on the boom as suggested but when I lower the mast to the crutch the attachment plate on the mast hits the cabin top before I get it down far enough to rest on the crutch. The plate is riveted on. I'm thinking now I should remove the rivets and tap for screws. That way I could remove the entire plate before lowering the mast. What do you think? The alternative solution is to drill the rivets and move the attachment upward. I need to do some math to see how far up it will have to go. Anyone have an idea how high their mast attachment plate is up from the cabin top?
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Tim Paul
Same Here
I installed the Garhauer vang earlier this season and when I unstepped the mast last week, I found the vang mast plate hit the deck before the mast could rest on the crutch. Fortunately, my installation was with tap and screws so it was no big deal to get the plate off and continue on. (Did this myself in a minute or two with the mast in mid-position...fortunately, you can reach the screws from the side). Had I installed the plate about 1.5 inches higher, it would've cleared. Thought about moving the plate higher for next year, but since removal was so easy, I think I'll just live with it now instead of tapping new holes.
I installed the Garhauer vang earlier this season and when I unstepped the mast last week, I found the vang mast plate hit the deck before the mast could rest on the crutch. Fortunately, my installation was with tap and screws so it was no big deal to get the plate off and continue on. (Did this myself in a minute or two with the mast in mid-position...fortunately, you can reach the screws from the side). Had I installed the plate about 1.5 inches higher, it would've cleared. Thought about moving the plate higher for next year, but since removal was so easy, I think I'll just live with it now instead of tapping new holes.
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Jim Loats
Tim, How many inches up should I mount the plate?
This winter, I am planning to put a Gerhauer on my '95 H26 and install it for next spring. So could you give me a suggested distance from say from the end of the aluminum extrusion to where I should mount the plate? Sounds like a hell of a mess to encounter when you are alone, it is dark, and you are already depressed because it is the end of the season and you won't be able to sail for months and you are so bummed out that all you need is just one more damn little thing to go wrong and you are beginning to wonder why you don't just sell this thing and take up bicycling because then you can do it year round mostly and besides it doesn't take so much time to get it ready in the Spring and take it down in the fall when you are already thinking about all the money this sport takes that you are going to be needing for Christmas this year. Jeez! Is it Christmas time already? Whew! Where was I? Oh, ya. Got any suggestions for a measurement? Seeya, Jim
This winter, I am planning to put a Gerhauer on my '95 H26 and install it for next spring. So could you give me a suggested distance from say from the end of the aluminum extrusion to where I should mount the plate? Sounds like a hell of a mess to encounter when you are alone, it is dark, and you are already depressed because it is the end of the season and you won't be able to sail for months and you are so bummed out that all you need is just one more damn little thing to go wrong and you are beginning to wonder why you don't just sell this thing and take up bicycling because then you can do it year round mostly and besides it doesn't take so much time to get it ready in the Spring and take it down in the fall when you are already thinking about all the money this sport takes that you are going to be needing for Christmas this year. Jeez! Is it Christmas time already? Whew! Where was I? Oh, ya. Got any suggestions for a measurement? Seeya, Jim
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Jim Loats
Tim, How many inches up should I mount the plate?
This winter, I am planning to put a Gerhauer on my '95 H26 and install it for next spring. So could you give me a suggested distance from say from the end of the aluminum extrusion to where I should mount the plate? Sounds like a hell of a mess to encounter when you are alone, it is dark, and you are already depressed because it is the end of the season and you won't be able to sail for months and you are so bummed out that all you need is just one more damn little thing to go wrong and you are beginning to wonder why you don't just sell this thing and take up bicycling because then you can do it year round mostly and besides it doesn't take so much time to get it ready in the Spring and take it down in the fall when you are already thinking about all the money this sport takes that you are going to be needing for Christmas this year. Jeez! Is it Christmas time already? Whew! Where was I? Oh, ya. Got any suggestions for a measurement? Seeya, Jim
This winter, I am planning to put a Gerhauer on my '95 H26 and install it for next spring. So could you give me a suggested distance from say from the end of the aluminum extrusion to where I should mount the plate? Sounds like a hell of a mess to encounter when you are alone, it is dark, and you are already depressed because it is the end of the season and you won't be able to sail for months and you are so bummed out that all you need is just one more damn little thing to go wrong and you are beginning to wonder why you don't just sell this thing and take up bicycling because then you can do it year round mostly and besides it doesn't take so much time to get it ready in the Spring and take it down in the fall when you are already thinking about all the money this sport takes that you are going to be needing for Christmas this year. Jeez! Is it Christmas time already? Whew! Where was I? Oh, ya. Got any suggestions for a measurement? Seeya, Jim
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Tim Paul
Reply
The best thing to do would be to mark the lowest possible plate position while the mast is down and install the vang after raising the mast in the spring. This way there is no doubt. Without measuring, I would guess that the bottome edge of my vang plate is 4" from the bottom of the mast. At 6" it probably would have cleared the deck without a problem. If you want to contact me at tim.paul@shorelinecity.com, I can get you more precise measurements next time I'm down at the boat. Keep in mind that the instructions call for installing the mast plate at the lowest possible point for best performance. Removing the plate before unstepping the mast (asuming screw install-not pop rivet) is no big deal (8 screws). My mistake was not knowing in advance of unstepping that I would have to take off the plate.
The best thing to do would be to mark the lowest possible plate position while the mast is down and install the vang after raising the mast in the spring. This way there is no doubt. Without measuring, I would guess that the bottome edge of my vang plate is 4" from the bottom of the mast. At 6" it probably would have cleared the deck without a problem. If you want to contact me at tim.paul@shorelinecity.com, I can get you more precise measurements next time I'm down at the boat. Keep in mind that the instructions call for installing the mast plate at the lowest possible point for best performance. Removing the plate before unstepping the mast (asuming screw install-not pop rivet) is no big deal (8 screws). My mistake was not knowing in advance of unstepping that I would have to take off the plate.
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Tim Paul
Reply
The best thing to do would be to mark the lowest possible plate position while the mast is down and install the vang after raising the mast in the spring. This way there is no doubt. Without measuring, I would guess that the bottome edge of my vang plate is 4" from the bottom of the mast. At 6" it probably would have cleared the deck without a problem. If you want to contact me at tim.paul@shorelinecity.com, I can get you more precise measurements next time I'm down at the boat. Keep in mind that the instructions call for installing the mast plate at the lowest possible point for best performance. Removing the plate before unstepping the mast (asuming screw install-not pop rivet) is no big deal (8 screws). My mistake was not knowing in advance of unstepping that I would have to take off the plate.
The best thing to do would be to mark the lowest possible plate position while the mast is down and install the vang after raising the mast in the spring. This way there is no doubt. Without measuring, I would guess that the bottome edge of my vang plate is 4" from the bottom of the mast. At 6" it probably would have cleared the deck without a problem. If you want to contact me at tim.paul@shorelinecity.com, I can get you more precise measurements next time I'm down at the boat. Keep in mind that the instructions call for installing the mast plate at the lowest possible point for best performance. Removing the plate before unstepping the mast (asuming screw install-not pop rivet) is no big deal (8 screws). My mistake was not knowing in advance of unstepping that I would have to take off the plate.
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