I am wondering what the appropriate size cruising spinnaker and spinnaker pole should be for my Hunter 31. I note some posters have suggested that a pole is quite unnecessary. Is that the consensus of opinion? I was also studying other boats around the docks and note that the presence or absence of a boom vang is not always related to the size of the boat. What are the factors one should be looking at when considering whether to add a vang?
Spinnaker Poles and Boom Vangs
- Thread starter wufibugs
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Good question - I have a 1984 Hunter 25.5. It did no have a boom vang, so I added one. It turns out that I do not need it. They way you can decide if you need it or not is by looking to see where the main sheet is attatched to the boom If it is about the middle of the boom - then you will not need it. On some boats the main sheets are attatched to the boom at the aft end of the boom. When sailing down wind the boom rises and spills the wind. In order for this not to happen boom vang is needed.
Beg to differ..... Yes your boat should have a boom vang regardless of how the main sheet is configured. There have been plenty of discussions on the merits and use of a boom vang on the 'Sail Trim' forum of this site. It is true that many skippers do not understand or use their vangs and that is a mistake.
A spinnaker pole is totally unnecessary for use with a 'cruising' or asymmetrical spinnaker. If you choose to sail DDW (which is absolutely the slowest point of sail) then you could fly your asym wing on wing with a pole. But this is not the designed use of an asym. Typically it is used for broad and beam reaching and requires no pole.
A spinnaker pole is totally unnecessary for use with a 'cruising' or asymmetrical spinnaker. If you choose to sail DDW (which is absolutely the slowest point of sail) then you could fly your asym wing on wing with a pole. But this is not the designed use of an asym. Typically it is used for broad and beam reaching and requires no pole.
Thanks, Alan. I will do a search for posts in that forum. So is it our opinion that Hunter Marine's failure to install vangs is an unfortunate cost saving measure?
Richard, of course I can't speak for Hunter but it's a good bet the vang is missing due to cost. There are several sail controls that were missing on my boat when I bought her. Over time I have added them and upgraded some of the poorly installed ones. Just because the boat wasn't rigged correctly doesn't mean I have to sail her that way.
The upgrades and additions have made a dramatic difference in the ease of sailing the boat closer to her true potential.
The upgrades and additions have made a dramatic difference in the ease of sailing the boat closer to her true potential.
Upgrading the original equipment sail controls obviouslymake sense for racers, but benefits cruising as well. while a spinnaker pole isn't necesary for a cruising chute, a whisker pole can be usefull for poling out a Genoa opposite the main when running down wind without a chute or in a non spinnaker racing class.
The pole would be as long as your 'J' dimension which is 12'-0"; diameter should be about 2.5" to 3" diameter.
Even with a mid-boom cabintop traveler, a vang would be useful when the main is out against the shrouds.
Improving the traveler purchase and the outhaul purchase are typical sail control upgrades over OEM rigs; as is a backstay adjuster for flattening the main, particularly if you are looking toward racing.
The pole would be as long as your 'J' dimension which is 12'-0"; diameter should be about 2.5" to 3" diameter.
Even with a mid-boom cabintop traveler, a vang would be useful when the main is out against the shrouds.
Improving the traveler purchase and the outhaul purchase are typical sail control upgrades over OEM rigs; as is a backstay adjuster for flattening the main, particularly if you are looking toward racing.
For the casual to semi-serious cruiser, it sounds like a boom vang might be a wothwhilie upgrade. I did a search of this topic, and late last year there was a very spirited discussion of the value of a vang which included opinions by Don Gillette, a noted author of a book on sail trimming. His position is that a vang plays a crucial role in sail trimming that is not duplicated by a traveler. Among the things that surprised me about that article is that it was started by a Hunter 31 owner who wondered about removing his vang. Did vangs ever come standard on Hunter 31s? Was it a factory option? Second, the article referred to "soft" and "hard" vangs. I assume the latter is a metal support. Is the former just some sort of rope device? Finally, were I to go off in search of a hard vang, what dimensions would I be looking for and where would I find instructions on mounting it?
Richard, I have an original brochure of the Hunter 31 and it did not come with a vang. You are correct about hard and soft. A hard (or solid) vang is preferable but more expensive. It also serves to replace a topping lift. Garhauer makes a fine solid vang at a very reasonable price. Their customer service is excellent. 909 985 9993
www.garhauermarine.com
www.garhauermarine.com
A boom vang will reduce the main sail twist and flatten it out to maximize sail performance. I recently installed a Garhauer Marine Rigid Boom Vang RV 20-1SL (suitable for 28 - 44 ft sailboats) on a 31 ft hunter. Of course my sailboat does not have a topping lift so a boom provides double duty. I use it in the SF bay and works great.
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