Slow down, Mooron. I was merely verifying what Doug mentioned, I assuming
that's what he was referring to, the ability of a rigid vang to support the
weight of an individual standing on the boom. I wasn't necessarily referring
to you when I talked about "improvements in sailing technology" Of course
the boom end is supported better by a topping lift on the end than it is by
a rigid vang mounted a quarter of a way along it's length. But a rigid still
offers enough support to hoist someone out of the water with the end of the
boom, or lift an auxiliary out of the engine compartment. Not that I never
question the merits of "technology improvements", I like to think I try to
keep a fair amount of skepticism when I see words like"new and improved",
but I don't reflexively assume that improvements aren't just that. In any
event, I wouldn't think that capacity is an issue when debating the merits
rigid boom vangs. One last point, if you retrofit a rigid vang to you boat
you still have a topping lift to use for things like hoisting someone to the
masthead, or hoisting an auxiliary out of your engine compartment, etc. BTW,
I'm not rushing out to buy a rigid vang for my boat, it's fairly low on my
list of future boat improvements.
John Cairns


"Capt. Mooron" wrote in message
...
Good Grief John.... how can you miss the point of this whole discussion so
adeptly.

Nobody is arguing the merits of the technology... what is being debated
is
the advantage in capacity between a topping lift and a vang.

...and by the way... since when do you undertake the option of never
questioning "improvements in sailing technology"?

CM



"John Cairns" wrote in message
m...
| Because you've seen someone step up onto the boom to do some work, as
did
| the skipper during the Trans-Erie, he had to re-run a jiffy reefing line
| through a reef clew grommet. You some of the folks here are taking up
the
| arguments of the lately departed Captain Neal, who never met an
improvement
| in sailing technology that he didn't like.
| John Cairns
|
| "DSK" wrote in message
| . ..
| Last but not least, booms supported by solid vangs will (if properly
| engineered) hold up weights at least as heavy as a medium size adult.
| Ask me how I know this for a fact!
|
| Fresh Breezes- Doug King
|
|
|