Capt. Mooron wrote:
Although I agree with this... my argument was regarding the actual load
capacity between the vang and the topping lift. My point is the topping lift
is able to handle much greater loads than the vang ever could.

Well, if they're both engineered appropriately, why?


.... the topping lift has the mechanical advantage
over the vang.

If you mean "the topping lift is directly opposite the weight, while the
solid vang has to support a multiple of the weight" then I agree. But
that ignores the fact that modern materials and engineering are well
equal to the task. OTOH if you're limited to Stone Age technology, then
solid vangs are not going to work too well, no.

Fresh Breezes... Doug King