Catalina - Capri - 25s International Assocaition Logo(2006)  
Assn Members Area · Join
h.jpg Home.
a.jpg Association Forum
s.jpg Ships Store
c.jpg Cruising
r.jpg Racing
t.jpg Technical Tips
g.jpg Photo Gallery - New
o.jpg Boat Search - Updated
m.jpg Manuals & Brochures
3rdrpt.jpg Swap Meet
l.jpg Links
f.jpg Officer Flag Line & Staff
b.jpg Bylaws & Constitution
 
1.jpg Members Area
1.jpg Join the Association
 
Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.
 
Association Forum
Association Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Forum Users | Search | FAQ
Username:
 Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 Catalina 250 Specific Forum
 Two rigging questions:		  New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  

AADIVER
Admiral

Member Avatar

USA
966 Posts
Initially Posted - 08/20/2008 :  21:29:43  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
1. How important/effective is the boom vang on 250's?

2. Would a Cunningham improve the luff of a 250 mainsail?
Frank Farmer
Long Beach, CA
aa.diver@verizon.net
http://mysite.verizon.net/aa.diver

PRETTY PENNY
'01 C-250 WK, Hull #558
Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 08/21/2008 :  15:46:46  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
An answer to my first question from Wikipedia:

"On small sailboats and some cruising sailboats a vang may be omitted. If a vang is not installed, then the sheet has to try to control both horizontal and vertical angles of the boom. When the boom is near the centerline, the sheet is nearly vertical, and can exert downward force on the boom. As the sheet is loosened to increase the horizontal angle of the boom and sail, the sheet becomes horizontal and exerts less downward force. A vang works with the sheet to apply the downward force on the boom at all horizontal angles, allowing the sheet to be used to control the horizontal angle of the boom effectively."
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

piseas
Former Treasurer

Members Avatar

USA
2017 Posts
Response Posted - 08/21/2008 :  16:02:30  Show Profile  Visit piseas's Homepage
Frank, I did a search on all forums and those who use both, swear by them. Many don't use either. I also read that many small boats like ours have omitted them. I must admit, I rarely use vang but after reading comments, I am gonna play with it a little more.
BTW, I picked up 250 lbs of rock at my Home Depot for the bow. I will take it down to the boat this weekend. Keep you posted on how she does.
Steve A-aka, Paul
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

AADIVER
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 08/21/2008 :  16:35:24  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
Yo, Pau...er, I mean Steve. Today I removed the vang and rigged a Cunningham; better way to tighten the luff than risking damage to the halyard by winching it up too tight. The Cunningham grommet is the first one up from the boom. A line leads down to a block where the vang used to be, through the port deck block, and back to the port winch.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5897 Posts
Response Posted - 08/21/2008 :  16:40:05  Show Profile
Frank, when you're sailing, you don't ever want the boom to lift, because the mainsail not only loses power when the boom lifts, but the boom can be hazardous when it flails around, and it can become damaged. When you're beating to windward, and the boom is near the centerline, then the vang has little or no effect, because the mainsheet holds the boom down as much as a vang would, preventing the boom from lifting. When you're sailing downwind, however, and the boom is eased forward almost against the mast shrouds, the mainsheet can no longer hold the boom down. That's when you need the vang to hold it down. In practice, however, most sailors just put light tension on the vang when sailing to windward, and, when they turn downwind, they don't need to readjust the vang.

A cunningham is used to increase the tension on the luff of the mainsail. As the wind strength increases, you should generally increase the amount of tension on the luff, and, as it decreases, you should decrease the luff tension. You can use the main halliard to make those adjustments, but it's much easier to do with a cunningham. Therefore, you don't absolutely need a cunningham, but it makes it easier to adjust the trim of your sails for changing wind conditions. Most racers would want a cunningham. Another factor is that a cunningham isn't very expensive to add to a boat. You just need to have your sailmaker add a grommet and some reinforcement to your sail, and add a little hardware to the mast.

Given a choice between a vang and a cunningham, the vang is much more important, but if your boat already has the cunningham grommet, then all you need to do is add a cleat to the mast for the cunningham, and you can use both.
Edited by - Steve Milby on 08/21/2008 16:43:49
Go to Top of Page

AADIVER
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 08/21/2008 :  17:37:01  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
Which I've done (see recent post)
I'm thinking of adding a boom brake, but the bloody things cost over 200 dollars! Idea: adapt an old Tiller Tamer I no longer use. Pics when installed.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

willy
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
422 Posts
Response Posted - 08/21/2008 :  20:44:40  Show Profile
Frank,
can you post a pic of your cunningham set-up?
Willy
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

AADIVER
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 08/21/2008 :  20:45:45  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
Will do, pics tomorrow.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

AADIVER
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 08/22/2008 :  16:40:27  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
The first pic is a wide shot. Notice I've re-attached the vang. Second shot is a close up; the Cunningham is the green line.
Edited by - AADIVER on 08/22/2008 16:42:32
Go to Top of Page

piseas
Former Treasurer

Members Avatar

USA
2017 Posts
Response Posted - 08/22/2008 :  17:17:35  Show Profile  Visit piseas's Homepage
Frank, nice job but looks like you could use some deck organizers and/or additional clutches. Maybe hit the swap meet this weekend!
Steve A
PS what made you decide to re-install vang?
Edited by - piseas on 08/22/2008 17:18:15
Go to Top of Page

AADIVER
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
966 Posts
Response Posted - 08/22/2008 :  17:37:33  Show Profile  Visit AADIVER's Homepage
"...what made you decide to re-install vang?"

In the rather unlikely event I have to sail downwind in a strong wind. The two blocks and lines don't interfere with each other.
"additional clutches" for what? I only have four lines leading aft: main halyard, luff reefing line, the Cunningham, and the dousing line through the cam cleat on the hatch lid. Did you know from '06 on Catalina eliminated one of the starboard clutches? Duh. But they won't simplify the convoluted, inefficient reefing system.
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page

piseas
Former Treasurer

Members Avatar

USA
2017 Posts
Response Posted - 08/22/2008 :  21:50:07  Show Profile  Visit piseas's Homepage
Frank, go figure, huh! My rule is KIS, whenever possible.
Steve A
Edited by - on
Go to Top of Page
  Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
 New Topic  Topic Locked
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Association Forum © since 1999 Catalina Capri 25s International Association Go To Top Of Page
Powered By: Snitz Forums 2000 Version 3.4.06
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.