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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Boomkicker or rigid boomvang

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existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/23/2005 : 05:44:47

What are the advantages/disadvantages and why would I use one instead of the other? Does the combination of boomkicker and standard boomvang give more control under certain conditions? Any insights, experiences, opinions greatly appreciated.

Rick

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2005 : 08:11:52

One disadvantage of the rigid vang, on a Catalina 22 or 25, is that you can't raise the pop-top when it is in place. With a regular vang, you just loosen it and the lines drape over the pop-top when it is in the up position. I don't know how much effort it is to disconnect a rigid vang when you want to raise the pop-top; maybe it's quick and easy? Does your boat even have a pop-top? Maybe this is a non-issue for your boat.

Edited by - lcharlot on 02/23/2005 08:13:41

existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2005 : 09:35:19

Larry,

No pop top on The Capri, so no issue there. Thanks for pointing that out though.

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Brent
1st Mate

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USA
37 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2005 : 09:44:31

I am in a similiar position right now. I need either a topping lift, kicker, or rigid vang to support the boom when the main is not hoisted, and to correct sail shape.

I have found that the boom kicker offered by Catalina direct is the best deal in kickers, and the rigid (spring loaded) vang from Garhauer Marine is the best deal in rigid vangs.

Both companies assure me that their product can be quickley detached (Garhauer will modify their product to do this with a pin connection or put it on track), about 10 seconds. It takes me this much time to slacken the vang anyway.

I am leaning toward the rigid vang simply because it is designed to work as a single unit, rather than having two seperate systems that could potentially get in the way of one another.

With the kicker or rigid vang (when the pop to is raised) you of course have to support the boom some other way. It is probably not the best idea to sail with the pop top raised so in most instances the boom should be able to be supported by the tag line on the backstay while the pop top is raised.

Brent

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johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2005 : 14:04:59

Brent
I have a C250 wk #719 with a Garhauer boom vane which is bolted to the boom and bolted to a adjustable track on the mast.I will put up my pop top this week end and let you know what happens.
I would like to see what the pin setup looks like for the Garhauer because it is a two man job to bolt it on.
It seems to me it would be easier to reef the main on the fly with the Garhauer. I will try this also.
paulj

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Brent
1st Mate

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USA
37 Posts

Response Posted - 02/23/2005 : 17:26:50

Garhauer said that a quick release pin could be substituted for the bolt which attaches the vang to the mounting plate on the mast. That is what they say at least. I would love to see some pictures of your setup in order to figure out how to install one on my boat, and if the pin idea would infact work.

Brent

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2005 : 08:40:02

Brent,

I also installed the Garhaur rigid vang with track attachment. I had really enjoyed the freedom it gives you in the cockpit regarding the boom. It's superiority over the standard rope and block vang became evident when reefing the first and second reefs last year. Not having to worry about a topping lift or having the boom dancing around your ears in a high wind, high stress situation, is great.

I have never used the pop top on my boat except to clean around the seal. The vang disconnect is simple and quick to accomplish however. I did notice that the track attachment point worked itself loose on the mast last season, and required periodic checking. I intend replacing the standard machine screws with nuts, bolts, and washers to alleviate the problem.

I have several racing friends who use the Boom-kicker who like their system as well. I suspect that cost was the primary motivation for their selection of vangs however.

Whichever system you decide on, you will like the rigid vang a whole lot more than the standard system. Safety, ease of reefing,(even flaking the main on the boom at the end of the day is a whole lot easier)necessitates having one in my opinion.

Al
GALLIVANT #5801

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roberoo
Navigator

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USA
182 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2005 : 22:54:02

I have the boom kicker and after one season I am switching to the Garhauer ridgid boom vang. For two reasons:
1. having a vang and boom kicker do get in the way of each other .
2. The boom kicker install is a little on the cheesy side. The bolts worked them selves loose (I ended up checking them at each sail).
I was at the Miami Strictly Sail show and saw the rigid Garhauer and was very impressed it is about the same as the boom kicker in price just under 2BU.

Just my 2 cents.

Edited by - on

Brent
1st Mate

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USA
37 Posts

Response Posted - 02/24/2005 : 23:21:03

I am leaning toward the Garhauer rigid vang. It just seems easier to have one component do the complete job, rather than having multiple components. Especially when the price is almost the same.

Brent

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 02/25/2005 : 08:52:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by aeckhart
 I also installed the Garhaur rigid vang with track attachment.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Could someone post a photo or two of one of these Garhauer rigid vangs? It seems that a lot of you like the device. Maybe I will check it out. The pop-top issue for me is a serious one: at 6'3" in deck shoes, I DO raise the pop-top at least once or twice every day I am on the boat. If it has an easy-to-use quick-disconnect, that would be sufficient. As for supporting the end of the boom when the rigid vang is disconnected, and there is no topping lift, almost all Catalina 22's and 25's that I've seen have a pigtail with a snap on the backstay for just that purpose.

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sterngucker
Navigator

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USA
169 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2005 : 03:42:30

Here's a picture direct from [url="http://garhauermarine.com/catalog_process.cfm?cid=40"]Garhauer[/url].

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 02/26/2005 : 08:03:16

I spoke to "the guy" at garhauer last year and one of the things we talked about was the rigid vang. He is especially proud of its design because they use multiple short springs, one can make adjustments to the support characteristics of the vang by adding or subtracting springs.

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johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2005 : 20:34:10

Well it took me a while but here it is..........
paulj

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existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 03/10/2005 : 22:00:25

Very nice, I'm convinced. I'll b making my templates this weekend. Now if I could just get my brain around how a whisker pole is supposed to be used...

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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.