"Bart Senior" wrote in message

My friend designed a boom brake and later designed a
hydraulic vang and the boom broke. Now he has a boom
brake and a broke boom!

What brands of rigid vangs do you like?

I'm trying to decide on one, or else I'll make a big rope
boom vang.

A friend with a new Catalina 350 had what I assume was a Garhauer rigid
vang. Sailing with him several weeks ago we bent the thing by
overtightening the mainsheet. Apparently there was not enough compression
allowance in the vang to allow the boom to drop much. So Garhauer sent him
a new vang--a completely different design--with heavy machined aluminum
endpieces and what appears to be a heavier hydraulic piston assembly. Has
anyone seen this unit or had any experience with it? Looks good, but who
knows.

Max

Heh... if they have that kind of after-market responsibility... I'd buy from
them in a New York Minute.

CM


"Maxprop" wrote in message
| A friend with a new Catalina 350 had what I assume was a Garhauer rigid
| vang. Sailing with him several weeks ago we bent the thing by
| overtightening the mainsheet. Apparently there was not enough compression
| allowance in the vang to allow the boom to drop much. So Garhauer sent
him
| a new vang--a completely different design--with heavy machined aluminum
| endpieces and what appears to be a heavier hydraulic piston assembly. Has
| anyone seen this unit or had any experience with it? Looks good, but who
| knows.
|
| Max
|
|

I've looked at the Garhauer vangs. I like them.
They make great equipment that will outlast all of us.

I'm not sure of Garhauer can make one for my boat.
My main is 440 sq ft. And that could grow if I eventually
get a new main with more roach. Their biggest may not
be big enough. I'd have to call and check on that.

I'm not convinced I'd want one of their boom vangs. The
sheeting seems bulky compared with other brands.

My running backs do not interfere with my boom, so if I can
get rid of the topping lift, an unintentional tack would only chafe
the sail. That frees my topping lift halyard for a Dutchman
flaking system--not that it would not be hard to add another
halyard. So this is why I'm thinking about rigid vangs.


"Maxprop" wrote

A friend with a new Catalina 350 had what I assume was a Garhauer rigid
vang. Sailing with him several weeks ago we bent the thing by
overtightening the mainsheet. Apparently there was not enough compression
allowance in the vang to allow the boom to drop much. So Garhauer sent
him
a new vang--a completely different design--with heavy machined aluminum
endpieces and what appears to be a heavier hydraulic piston assembly. Has
anyone seen this unit or had any experience with it? Looks good, but who
knows.

Max

My boat, 17' boom, 510 sf main, came with a Forespar solid vang. If I
was ever to replace it, Garhauer would be my choice. They make one
that fits my boat, and by extension, yours.




On Tue, 17 Aug 2004 05:09:40 GMT, "Bart Senior"
wrote:

I've looked at the Garhauer vangs. I like them.
They make great equipment that will outlast all of us.

I'm not sure of Garhauer can make one for my boat.
My main is 440 sq ft. And that could grow if I eventually
get a new main with more roach. Their biggest may not
be big enough. I'd have to call and check on that.

I'm not convinced I'd want one of their boom vangs. The
sheeting seems bulky compared with other brands.

My running backs do not interfere with my boom, so if I can
get rid of the topping lift, an unintentional tack would only chafe
the sail. That frees my topping lift halyard for a Dutchman
flaking system--not that it would not be hard to add another
halyard. So this is why I'm thinking about rigid vangs.


"Maxprop" wrote

A friend with a new Catalina 350 had what I assume was a Garhauer rigid
vang. Sailing with him several weeks ago we bent the thing by
overtightening the mainsheet. Apparently there was not enough compression
allowance in the vang to allow the boom to drop much. So Garhauer sent
him
a new vang--a completely different design--with heavy machined aluminum
endpieces and what appears to be a heavier hydraulic piston assembly. Has
anyone seen this unit or had any experience with it? Looks good, but who
knows.

Max

Bart,

I know that topping lift can be a PITA but it still has a lot of
advantages over the rigid vang. Just to mention a few;

A spare and ready back stay

A man overboard hoist

An end reinforcement of the boom when you want to use it as a crane
(Dingy recovery)

Ole Thom
P/S I've used to tail as a temporary sheet while clearing an over-ride
on the main sheet wench

In fact the rigging shop said they weren't taking off the topping lift and
for all the reasons Thom mentioned.

M.

"Thom Stewart" wrote in message
...
Bart,

I know that topping lift can be a PITA but it still has a lot of
advantages over the rigid vang. Just to mention a few;

A spare and ready back stay

A man overboard hoist

An end reinforcement of the boom when you want to use it as a crane
(Dingy recovery)

Ole Thom
P/S I've used to tail as a temporary sheet while clearing an over-ride
on the main sheet wench

Michael wrote:
In fact the rigging shop said they weren't taking off the topping lift and
for all the reasons Thom mentioned.

The only thing Ol' Thom listed that a rigid vang can't do is become an
emergency backstay. It will (or should) be able to support the boom for
hoisting.

DSK

"DSK" wrote in message

The only thing Ol' Thom listed that a rigid vang can't do is become an
| emergency backstay. It will (or should) be able to support the boom for
| hoisting.

Not a chance Doug! The mechanics are all wrong and the placement is useless
for that purpose.

CM

The only way I could even contemplate that would be to disconnect it
from the base of the mast, then put it somewhere back, but I can't
imagine it would do much good.

In article ,
Capt. Mooron wrote:

"DSK" wrote in message

The only thing Ol' Thom listed that a rigid vang can't do is become an
| emergency backstay. It will (or should) be able to support the boom for
| hoisting.

Not a chance Doug! The mechanics are all wrong and the placement is useless
for that purpose.

CM




--
Jonathan Ganz (j gan z @ $ail no w.c=o=m)
http://www.sailnow.com
"If there's no wind, row."

Doug,

Think about the mechanics of both your statement and mine

By using the topping lift for Hoisting the total strength of the Rig is
used (Shrouds, fore and back stays; In my case double lower shrouds to
keep Mast in line.
With the Rigid Vang in Hoisting, you are putting Max Effort on the end
of the boom, supported at a point about 1/4 of the way back from the
Gooseneck.
That is an awful long unsupported Alum. Pole. (Hollow Aluminium Pole).

In operation, the force of the sail is at least two points on the boom,
with the main sheet countering the force on the boom. Often assisted by
the Vang. Often over assisted by a Hydra. Rigid Vang.

I'm sure, as an Engineer, you can admit to the difference

If you were careening the hull, you wouldn't weight the end of the boom
without the back-up of the topping lift and/or a halyard to call on the
full strength of the total rig. The topping lift is a solid connection.
The halyard is a varying force

Just some things to remind you of.

I'm not knocking the Rigid Vang. I wish I could fit one on my boat but
the Pilothouse makes that impossible. I'm thinking I might be able to
use a KICKER. I'm pointing out that PITA top lift still is a worthwhile
addition.

Ole Thom