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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Boom vang question

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michaelj
Navigator

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132 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/20/2010 : 06:44:41

My 25 SR does not have a boom vang and I have been reading some threads about them. One thing I have seen several people refer to is keeping the boom centered. Should the boom be centered all the time? Also, it does not seem to me that my boom will move up and down when the main sheet is tight. What, if anything, am I missing? Thanks.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2010 : 07:18:34

A boom vang prevents the boom from lifting. The mainsheet also serves that purpose, up to a point, but only when sailing to windward. When the boat bears off to a run, and you ease the mainsheet so that the mainsail can catch the wind from astern, the mainsheet can no longer hold the boom down. In an accidental gybe, the boom can lift and twist, with a potential for breaking the gooseneck, or doing other damage. When C25s were new, a boom vang was a factory option. There's no law that says a boom vang is required on a sailboat, but I wouldn't own a boat without one. and I'm sure most experienced sailors would agree.

The way most sailors use a boom vang is to raise the mainsail, and then snug the vang down lightly and cleat it. As you turn the boat from a windward course to a downwind course, there's no need to adjust the vang. As you ease the tension on the mainsheet, the vang will take over the task of holding the boom down.

The vang isn't intended to be used to center the boom. That's the job of the mainsheet traveler. The boom shouldn't always be centered. As the windspeed increases, you might want to ease the traveler to leeward, to keep the boat on its feet. You'll also want to ease either the mainsheet or the traveler, or both of them, when you bear off downwind.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 12/20/2010 07:21:51

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2010 : 08:08:16

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> One thing I have seen several people refer to is keeping the boom centered <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The only thing I can think of is that when your main is down and main sheet drawn tight, having the vang tight as well does help keep the boom centered and solid so as to make for a better hand hold while on the cabin top.

Edited by - on

Boomeroo
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Australia
129 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2010 : 21:36:37

Steve is correct a Boom vang is VERY important for safe sailing
In addition to sailing off the wind as mentioned it is very usefull when overpowered to windward . Having dropped the traveller, flattened the sails the next move is to ease the mainsheet . That depowers the main but eases the leach when you want to be keeping the boat up into the wind . With the Vang on Hard you can ease the main sheet more but with better control and drive .. (called Vang Sheeting )
If you fit one (Very easy ) Use a Strap on the boom with just one Pop rivet in the top .( bales weaken the boom at the ctitical Side point .)
Best of luck Graeme

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Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2010 : 22:35:50

I haven't heard of a bale causing a boom failure on a C-25, but then I haven't heard of everything that's happened on Earth... I would bet the optional factory installation uses a boom bale.

Another approach to dealing with heavy weather to windward is to allow the upper part of the main to "twist off" so that the lower part is driving and the upper part, which creates the greatest heeling force, is somewhat neutralized (closet to luffing). A vang flattens the main and reduces twist. Conventional wisdom says that's better for racing speed, but I have lived comfortably with the "twist" scenario in a blow.

All that said, I planned to add a vang to Passage, but sold her before doing so. Having all of the options is worthwhile.

But it has nothing to do with "centering the boom". Only the mainsheet can do that.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 12/20/2010 22:36:48

michaelj
Navigator

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132 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2010 : 04:17:09

Thanks to all who responded. I am definitely going to get a boom vang. So the next questions are: (1) should I get it from CD, and (2) do I need one with two bails? Thanks.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2010 : 06:31:15

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by michaelj
 Thanks to all who responded. I am definitely going to get a boom vang. So the next questions are: (1) should I get it from CD, and (2) do I need one with two bails? Thanks.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Ordinarily, one end of a boom vang is attached to the base of the mast with a bail, and the other end is attached to the boom with a bail. That's the way my 1981 C25 was rigged. However, I believe some C25s came from the factory equipped with an eye on the mast step for the bottom end of the boom vang. Look at your mast step. If your C25 is so equipped, then you only need a single bail. If not, you need two bails.

You might be able to shop around and beat CD's prices and quality, but I doubt that you'll beat them by much, if at all. CD is pretty competitive. Probably your best chance would be at a boat show. Garhauer has a booth at the Chicago sailboat show in late January.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3460 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2010 : 06:31:21

When I bought my boat, I discovered what appeared to be a boom vang in a cabin seat storage area. Later, when I took it out for a closer inspection, it appeared to have never been used and was indeed a boom vang. I took a look at the boom and then figured the PO just never got around to installing it since there was no attachment point on the boom. I purchased a boom bale from CD and cannot remember if I installed it with screws or blind rivets. In any case, it is supported with 4 screws/rivets and the holes are so small compared to the relative diameter of the boom, that I doubt there is much concern of those small holes causing a significant weakness in the boom. Maybe there are some documented cases of a boom that actually suffered a deficiency from installing the boom bale, however, the boat builders/marinas where you would purchase a new boat would install it the same way - Utilizing all the screw holes as the boom bales were made to be installed.

Boom bales come in various configurations. CD sells both most common types: The one shown is similar to what I used except I am not sure if it has 4 or 6 holes. The one shown has 6 holes. The other style boom bale is more like a loop that attaches to the boom.

Edited by - OLarryR on 12/21/2010 06:34:04

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2010 : 07:40:16

You should buy the blocks you want. I would NEVER buy a "boom vang" as opposed to selecting the line I wanted to use and the blocks I wanted to use myself. One thing, snap shackles are nice on a boom vang, they are nice on main sheets too.
[url="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.m748&item=200556083921&viewitem=&_trkparms=clkid%3D5806795406918321153"]snap shackles[/url]

Edited by - pastmember on 12/21/2010 07:41:37

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2010 : 09:56:20

One thing about buying from CD... You don't have to worry about selecting the right size for things. They know exactly what fits on our boats. In some cases that varies between tall and standard rigs as well as year-to-year, but they'll ask the right questions and supply the right parts. And in my experience, their components (blocks, shackles, organizers, clutches, lines, etc.) are high quality, from Harken, Shaefer, Garhauer, Spinlock, etc.--maybe not exactly what an avid racer might choose, but more than adequate for most of us.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 12/21/2010 10:01:01

Unsinkable2
Captain

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USA
273 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2010 : 12:00:59

I bought the boom vang kit from CD two years ago. Only took 10 minutes to install, they shipped it with everything needed. It's true you might save a little bit of $ by buying the parts elsewhere, but I don't think the time it takes to find all the parts is worth the $ saved in this case. CD's kit had high quality parts (garhauer) and everything was tailor-made (even down to the length of the sheet, lengths of the bolts, and all necessary nuts, washers, etc.) All you need to install it is a cordless drill.

Edited by - Unsinkable2 on 12/21/2010 12:15:30

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2010 : 12:17:53

We didn't sail the first year w/ the vang, as I thought it was superfluousness...boy was I wrong! You'll have a whole new boat once the vang is used as prescribed. There was no point of connection at our boom base, and a bale on the mast was going to be too much trouble...so I went w/ a welded SS eye bolt, through bolted (w/ a large washer and loc-nut) through the mast base a few inches up from the cabin top. I also second the snap shackle as a connector, it makes for an easy dis-connect and connect when employing the vang as a preventer to a stanchion base...

Edited by - on

glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2010 : 15:17:34

Another potential use of the boom vang and snap shackles -- in the case of a MOB, one end of the boom vang could be re-attached to the end of the boom and the tail led back to a primary winch. With the other end of the vang attached to the MOB's harness the vang could be used to assist in lifting the MOB back on deck.

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bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1776 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2010 : 19:42:11

Having sailed for years on boats without a boom vang, and then adding one to my C25, I would never NOT have one again. It really increases your options for sailing in various conditions.

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2010 : 20:08:06

Guess I'll have to put mine back on. I used it a few times right after I bought the boat but took it off for some reason(don't remember why) and never put it back on.

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 12/22/2010 : 10:54:35

I learned about the uses of a vang here on this Forum and also about how it allows for control of the mainsail shape. The more you know about sail trim, the more fun you have under all conditions, both cruising and racing, I think.

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