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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Vang Use Rules of Thumb

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Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/05/2008 : 10:47:59

Can anybody tell me how to use the vang on a C-25? On other boats, I've used the vang to keep the boom from "skying" downwind. However, on the C-25 the main sheet is so far aft that the boom never skies.

In practice, I never use my vang--although my crew messes around with it from time to time, and it seems to help / hinder performance for reasons I don't understand. Anybody?

Thanks,

Bruce Baker
Falls Church, VA
"Yee Ha" 3573
'83SR/SK

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 06/05/2008 : 12:56:21

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Bruce Baker
 ...on the C-25 the main sheet is so far aft that the boom never skies.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I'm not sure what you mean here... The end-boom sheeting actually makes a vang more important because the angle to the boom, especially on a run, is too shallow to hold it down effectively. Close-hauled and traveler down, the vang is somewhat more redundant as the mainsheet can pull the boom down better. In stronger winds, the vang can help harden the leech on any point of sail, but especially reaching and running. In lighter air, the vang can be eased to keep the sail fuller, although my preference would be easing the outhaul on a loose-footed main, which I didn't have.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 06/05/2008 12:58:01

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 06/05/2008 : 13:04:40

Basic rule, close haul the mainsheet, set the boomvang, leave it set like that. This will hold the leech tension through other points of sail.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/05/2008 : 13:23:54

What Frank said sums it up rather nicely. In a nutshell, to control leech tension, start using the vang when the traveller has reached its leeward limit.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 06/05/2008 : 16:39:05

I don't usually use the vang upwind, but downwind the boom will certainly sky especially in waves. I set it just tight enough to keep the boom down and under control. I also use preventers. These are lines I connect from the vang point on the boom to the forward stanchion base. They are fully rigged and ready to go on my boat at all times.

I can put my 4:1 vang on the winch and even upwind you can winch the halyard, tighten outhaul (also on a winch on my boat) and harden up the vang and get the sail as flat as a sheet of paper. Even my old Factory sail.

Probably I'd set traveller down, set the flattening reef or the 1st reef before I winched the main that flat, however.

Edited by - on

Ed Cassidy
Captain

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USA
365 Posts

Response Posted - 06/05/2008 : 21:03:33

I have a rather unusual C25 in that it has a traveller bar (actually looks more like a radar mount for a power boat)above the cabin hatch on a non-poptop and it doesn't have a vang. Should I rush out and get one.
Ed

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 06/05/2008 : 21:10:46

I race occasionally on a Capri 26, which has a cabin-top traveler. We also use the vang, particularly on reaches/runs. It does help.

Edited by - on

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2008 : 12:05:36

On this boat I don't really think the vang is a "must have". To me it is a minor tool. Kind of like the stock traveller.

Now on real race boats, those two become major tools.

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2008 : 14:14:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by JimB517
 On this boat I don't really think the vang is a "must have". To me it is a minor tool. Kind of like the stock traveller.

Now on real race boats, those two become major tools.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
IMHO sailing is all about sail shape, and anything that will contribute to sail shape is a must have. I mean you can probably blow around on the water by hoisting an old pair of shorts and a D-cup bra but what kind of fun would that be.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2008 : 15:12:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Ed Cassidy
 I have a rather unusual C25 in that it has a traveller bar (actually looks more like a radar mount for a power boat)above the cabin hatch on a non-poptop and it doesn't have a vang. Should I rush out and get one.
Ed
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Does your mainsheet connect to the boom in 1 spot or multiple? If you split the purchase points on the boom between 2 or 3 spots you shouldn't need a vang on a boat with such a small footed mainsheet.

Edited by - on

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2008 : 10:56:01

HUH ! did I miss something?, "up with the skivvies and the "D" cup jib" and WHAAAAAAAAATTT?

Did I get on the Victories Secret forum by chance....Oh well I'll never find this forum again...better lay off the cold ones before NOON.

Just getting ready for the marina' free bee open season party...I'M ready...............Val on Calista # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2008 : 17:14:40

Great advice.

Sail shape is a great topic to learn about, and use of the vang, outhaul, traveler, and mainsheet to adjust sail shape makes sailing continually challenging and rewarding.

Perhaps once you THINK that you need a vang (due to the boom skying on a run in choppy water), then you DO NEED one. If you don't care to know what a boom vang does, then you probably don't need one.

Edited by - on

Ed Cassidy
Captain

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USA
365 Posts

Response Posted - 06/08/2008 : 17:27:37

The mainsheet connects to the boom in two places, the first about 4 feet from the mast and the second about 5 feet from the mast and the traveller is about three feet wide. I'm guessing that in all but a downwind run I should be able to keep the sail shaped well without a vang. I can put it on next year's wish list.
Ed

Edited by - on

PZell
Admiral

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USA
548 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2008 : 12:50:37

If the skivvies and bra are at the spreader, I'd say someone was having fun.

Edited by - on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.