rigid vang with mid- boom sheeting

[RON20406]

Has anyone installed a rigid vang on a Pearson/other boat with mid-boom sheeting? There is a standing block on deck directly aft of the base of the mast (that leads to a turning block back to the cockpit) that would interefere with the rigid vang when it swings during tacks. Any suggestions for moving the location of the standing block that would not compromise the purchase power/physics of the sheeting. I own a Pearson 34-2. Thanks, Rognvald

 

[Stu Jackson]

Yes, many folks have done just that. My PO had the same issue you describe, so he simply installed a bigger bail on the boom.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Does your main sheet run along the boom until it gets to the mast, then straight down to the turning block? Or does your mainsheet boom and mast form a triangle?

 

[RON20406]

Does your main sheet run along the boom until it gets to the mast, then straight down to the turning block? Or does your mainsheet boom and mast form a triangle?

Hermit, Thank you for the reply. The boom, mast and sheet form a triangle. The sheet side of the triangle approximates the angle the rigid vang would require for mounting. The standing block is about a foot aft of the mast thus the apparent problem. Any suggestions? Best, Rognvald

 

[RichH]

Hermit, Thank you for the reply. The boom, mast and sheet form a triangle. The sheet side of the triangle approximates the angle the rigid vang would require for mounting. The standing block is about a foot aft of the mast thus the apparent problem. Any suggestions? Best, Rognvald

The typical rigid vang is the Garhauer, it has a 'tang' that is mounted on the hinge (connection bolt) of the vang to mast base connection. The tang is simply a small flat piece of metal with two holes - one for the hinge pin/bolt and the other end for the vang tension control block.

For the mainsheet, make another tang but slightly longer than the OEM and install over the OEM tang at the 'hinge'. Mount another bail/block on the boom slightly aft of the vang boom connection. The mainsheet then can run from the cockpit, (to a deck organizer o r tuning block), to a block mounted at the vang/base connection 'hinge' (new/additional tang), along the bottom of the vang, to a block/bail slightly aft of the vang boom connection,..... then to the block system that attaches to the traveller, etc. This way, the mainsheet doesnt rub or have friction along/across the vang and its connections; plus, with the mainsheet block AT the hinge, the mainsheet wont change tension as the boom swings.

 

[Stu Jackson]

You could do that, or

do what we've done. There is really no reason to have to line up the mainsheet with the base of the vang at the mast, it works just fine offset a bit. It does not "interfere with the vang during tacks." Don't go to the deck organizer, just go back aft from the block at the base of the mast, which is NOT what we did, but will save some friction on the mainsheet. If I did that it would interfere with the saloon hatch.

 

[RON20406]

Rich, thank you for your ideas. Although my boom does not use bails, but rather eyes with blocks, your concept should work with some adaptations. My primary concern was routing and physics.

 

[RON20406]

Re: You could do that, or

Stu, thank you for the info and pix. Your setup is similar to mine and with Rich's input I'll take another look at it this weekend.