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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

boomvang: rigid or not

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Dustysailz
1st Mate

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USA
85 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/16/2005 : 08:55:28

The mid-winter doldrums are here but my mind is wandering toward the approaching boating season (its only four short months away). Im thinking of installing a boomvang-not for the extra speed but more to properly trim the boat and main and to avoid that inevitable surging of the boom when another boat passes near you creating waves.

I'm leaning toward a rigid boomvang to alleviate that last problem but was wondering if any of you had further thoughts on the subject and if you have had a satisfying experience with a specific dealer.

I'll look for your responses here of if you wish, you may respond to dustysailz@verizon.net. Thanks and happy wintering!

Samuel Jennings, "Ode To Joy", '84 Std. Rig, fin keel, #4503

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1769 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2005 : 10:38:37

Hi Dusty,

I don't have any experience with a rigid boom vang, so I don't know how easy it is to remove. Unless you can temporarily disconnect it, you won't be able to raise the pop-top. That might not be a big deal in Rhode Island, but in Texas the pop-top is a big relief when it is blistering hot outside ... 'just a thought.

Welcome to the group!

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2005 : 10:49:34

Dusty,

A year or two ago I looked into installing a rigid boom vang on my boat, but decided to wait until I got more information from those who have installed and used them.

The reason I hesitated was because I wasn't sure how compatible the rigid boom vang would be with the pop top. With my current vang, I simply just slacken the vang and move it out of the way when raising the top. With a rigid, I'd imagine one would have to disconnect it from both the boom and mast before raising the top. (Can anyone comment on this?)

Anyway, check out the [url="http://garhauermarine.com/catalog.cfm"]Garhauer Catalog[/url]. They have reasonable priced rigids, although I can't comment on their performance.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2005 : 10:51:30

Buzz, you beat me to the punch!

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Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1769 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2005 : 11:28:32

Buzz, you beat me to the punch!

- Don

... only because my answer wasn't as good/thorough as yours!

Edited by - on

Jeff McK
Captain

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USA
389 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2005 : 12:58:54

Dusty,

I have no experience with a rigid vang. However, the virtues of a "soft" vang include the ability to raise the pop-top more easily, using it as a preventer when going downwind, and as a 4:1 hoist for heavier gear (like an outboard). I put snap shackles at both ends to make detaching it easier.

Edited by - Jeff McK on 01/16/2005 13:00:17

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2005 : 13:28:46

If you have any experience with cats then you are familiar with quick pins.

Solids are easy to remove. As we have discussed before there are a lot of advantages to an adjustable toping lift and a traditional vang. Performance is not just about beating someone else, it is also about your boat moving when the guests that you have tried to get sailing for a year finally come and there is hardly a breath of air and they want to kill you. Boat speed is often defined as whether or not you move at all!
This guy likes both; note the purchase on the vang.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 01/16/2005 13:36:00

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2005 : 15:10:59

Garhauer makes a special rigid vang for the C25 equipped with a with a pop top. It has two short lengths of track which are fitted to the bottom of the boom and base of the mast. The vang then slides over the tracks when installed. When you whant to raise the pop top, all you have to do is attach the end of the boom to the stock pigtail, pull a spring-loaded pin on the mast attachment point, and remove the end of the vang. It rests on the on the pop top when the top is raised.

The vang is very well engineered and comes with line, blocks and track. Total cost including shipping was $187.00. I have removed the cam clutch and have run the line to a turning block at the mast base, through a deck organizer, and then secured at a rope clutch.

The rigid vang is one of the top two or three additions to my boat equipment inventory. It is particularly helpful when single-handing since you don't need to touch your topping lift when dropping or reefing the main. It also keeps the boom end out of the cockpit, and makes main sail adjusments much easier than with a rope vang. If it does anything, it frees up a lot of "thought processe" since you no longer have to think about the boom when trying to accomplish main sail-related actions (dropping, reefing, or flaking the main).

Al
GALLIVANT #5801

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2005 : 21:04:29

Is there a picture or diagram of a complete non-rigid boom vang installed? I think I have one but couldn't figure out how to connect it. The one I have is very similar looking to the one in Frank's reply
81'SR/SK

Edited by - on

roberoo
Navigator

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USA
182 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2005 : 21:31:59

I installed the Boomkicker on my boat last summer. It has worked out great. When I raise the pop top though not a lot I use a pin like Frank shows. The boom kickker is simple to install and inexpensive. I don't have a topping lift so that is why I got the boomkicker.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2005 : 21:38:44

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by stampeder
 Is there a picture or diagram of a complete non-rigid boom vang installed? I think I have one but couldn't figure out how to connect it. The one I have is very similar looking to the one in Frank's reply
81'SR/SK
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Walk the docks, you will see several ways to do it.

Edited by - on

Charlie Vick
Captain

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USA
423 Posts

Response Posted - 01/16/2005 : 21:56:08

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
It is particularly helpful when single-handing since you don't need to touch your topping lift when dropping or reefing the main. It also keeps the boom end out of the cockpit, and makes main sail adjusments much easier than with a rope vang. If it does anything, it frees up a lot of "thought processe" since you no longer have to think about the boom when trying to accomplish main sail-related actions (dropping, reefing, or flaking the main).

Al
GALLIVANT #5801
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Now thats something I haven't thought about with a rigid vang.
I can see that being very handy singlehanding.
Great, now more boat units going out!

Edited by - on

Dustysailz
1st Mate

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USA
85 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2005 : 19:01:37

Hey Guys, the responses were great! I really appreciate your thoughts. I can't recall using the pop top, so in my case thats not a concern. I do have a topping lift, which is properly adjusted so that the boom doesn't fall into the cockpit when lowering the main, so thats not a concern. I guess i could properly adjust the topping lift and traditional vang which might help eliminate the boom surge, but I dont think the problem would be completely eliminated. And yes I am familiar with quick pins, which I have been thinking of using for the shrouds.

And it occurs to me that if I have a rigid vang, that would eliminate the topping lift and then maybe I could explore the possibility of a "genny". Oh the possibilities! Anyway thanks again, and I really appreciate that address, I will check their website for the vang.

Edited by - on

Dave Laux
Captain

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318 Posts

Response Posted - 01/19/2005 : 21:43:21

Those hollow quick pins will bend and jam under shroud loads. There are solid pins with a spring and toggle that would work but the hollow ones will jam. Dave

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/20/2005 : 09:28:32

Dusty,

When you say you want to prevent the boom from "surging" when another boat comes by, I'm assuming you mean you want to prevent the boom from inadvertently swinging overhead and into the cockpit (accidental gybe).

A vang, rigid or otherwise, won't prevent this from happening. What you need to do is rig a preventer to keep the boom to one side. I sometimes unclip my standard vang from the mast and hook it to a stanchion base. Other times, I simply grab an appropriate size bungee from my stash in the cockpit locker to quickly secure the boom.

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