Boom vang, optional?
Submitted by JHS on Tue, 09/09/2008 - 09:24
The other day I had between 2-4 passengers for fun sailing. I didn't attach the boom vang that day because it was light wind and it left things a little more open in the cockpit. Were I racing I would use it obviously but I am wondering if others find this kind of as an optional rigging item. The boom vang bridle hung up the centerboard once but short of that, there were no apparent issues. Anyone else try this or recommend against it?
"If the sea did wild or wicked things, it was because she could not help them." - Hemmingway
JHS
Tue, 09/09/2008 - 13:33
Permalink
quote:[i]Originally posted by Richard Lewis[/i] [br]Personally,
quote:[i]Originally posted by Richard Lewis[/i]
[br]Personally, I wouldn't recommend dispensing with the boom vang. It's there for a purpose - to keep the boom from 'skying' and winds can change even if you start out in a light wind. The first year I had my Scot the vang came loose as I was coming into the dock (and had the boom sheet fairly far out) and the boom went up at a sharp angle and the boat heeled way over. Needless to say, I made sure the vang was more securely in place. BTW how did the vang hang up on the centerboard?
R.Lewis
FS367 Chin up
Good advice and I won't ignore it. To answer your question: With no vang attached the bridle just kind of rests on the centerboard track - the curved part that the rollers run on. The loop was aft of the rollers and when I lowered the board, the rollers came back and the bridle kind of snared it. (I hope that makes sense.)
"If the sea did wild or wicked things, it was because she could not help them." - Hemmingway