"DSK" wrote in message

| It's a "smoke screen" to say that equipment should be designed & built
| to do it's job??

That's not the point at all Doug..... the vang is indeed designed to do
it's job... it just seems that you fail to concede the point that the
vang's primary "job" is not to handle bearing loads delivered to the end of
the boom.

|
| Well, you keep saying over and over, "It can't be as strong as a topping
| lift" as though somehow calling a piece of rigging 'topping lift'
| magically renders it invulnerable.

No!... I said over and over that the mechanical advantage is to the topping
lift!

| That may have been a bit over the top. I apologize.

Accepted.

|
| But you sure don't act as if you ever saw any such thing. If you have,
| then why all the bogus assumptions?

Not assumptions Doug..... just basic engineering principles. The "Topping
Lift" will always have the advantage over the "Vang" in hoisting load
capacity

|
| I gave a simple engineering explanation of the forces & stresses, which
| you agreed with, and then you started right back up with "it can't
| possibly be as strong."

No .. I stated rather plainly that the advantage was to the topping lift...
by a large margin.

First, the matter is not one to be settled by
| debate.

Yes Doug it can... I present a point, you present a counter-point.. we
collectively review the data presented and submit rebuttals based on logic.
That's discussion and debate.

Second, believe what you want... I have spent more time than I
| should trying to explain, maybe some day you'll actually sail a properly
| rigged boat with a solid vang and see for yourself.

I think you'd better give your head a shake.... you have explained
nothing... you have obfuscated and side tracked, you've attempted to bring
in a plethora of variables to substantiate your claims. You have provided
very little in the form of actual, logical counter points to my statements.
You've been reduced to brash accusations regarding my experience.... and
now you lament wasted time.... the reasoning of a failed argument.

| Ok, I'm glad that makes you feel better. Does that mean you "win"?

No Doug... what it means is that despite your attempts at introducing wild
variables... the basic logic of my statement is understood by those who have
bothered to read this far into our debate.

That alone may be the sum total of your inability to close with this.... you
refuse to entertain it as a discussion and rather approach it as a contest.
You gain nothing in a contest... you gain information via discussion.....
but only if you are willing to grant favour to logic rather than emotion.

In regards to abilities to discuss topics... my Father always insisted on
regular discussions since I was very young.... on a wide subject of
materials... the onus /responsibility for research was placed upon us ...
and insisted we be able to defend points of view we did not agree with....
if only to better understand the complexities of differing points of view
and hone our abilities to present them.

It's a skill that still stands me well.... ;-)

CM