2nd INSTALLMENT ON THE INSTALLATION
Episode two in the ongoing saga of the rigid vang installation.
This day began as it had a week before. The installation instructions were left behind, but no effort was made to retrieve them. We figured we were smart enough and far enough along in the process not to really need them.
Steve arrived at 11:00 AM with the newly machined stainless steel insert for the gooseneck (broken in our haste the prior Monday). The gooseneck was reassembled and installed into the forward end of the boom. The boom was then attached to the mast and again raised to about a 40 degrees angle to verify the vang placement. This was accomplished as before - while watching the aft end of the boom.
Should have paid attention to what was happening at the gooseneck end of the boom. As the boom raised to a 40 degree angle, the sail tack fitting on the boom end was acting as a fulcrum and the as the boom rotated up, it was being pulled away from the mast. Either the rotation had to stop, or something had to give. Something gave, and the gooseneck pulled a section of the toggle track away from the mast! Right where there was a fastener!! Lots of power in that topping lift. A piece of wood and a hammer efficiently corrected the bow in the mast track, but it took the next size larger fastener to hold it down.
With that little problem out of the way, the boom was again raised to an approximate 40 degree angle. The vang's attaching bracket was positioned on the boom according to the (missing) instructions and then held in place with a hose clamp. The topping lift was released to see if the boom would ride level as it was supported by the vang's spring. The boom sat at a slight upward angle. By moving the attaching bracket aft a bit at a time, the boom finally was resting level. At that point, holes were drilled, tapped and machine screws installed (after coating them with an anti-seize compound). At last, the vang was installed.
On a minor note, the vang bracket on the mast covered one hole of an already installed eye strap. This end of the strap was repositioned and a new hole drilled to fasten it to the mast. All that remains is to put the main back on the boom, install the reefing lines and reattach the Cunningham block to the mast.
During this adventure, we took time for lunch and to go for another hose clamp. We also needed a tape measure since none managed to be where they were supposed to be. This search ended at a fabric store where we purchased a true "tape" measure.
During the installation, we were even able to smoothly cover for other forgotten tools - most importantly, the correct sized tap. Luckily, we had borrowed a tap and die set earlier from Ed, so we were able to find what was needed.
The vang project was completed just as the last of the Second Half Opener racing fleet was crossing the finish line in front of the club. Good thing we were done as the DJ was cranking up volume on the amplifier and the noise was getting to be a bit much as the club's Second Half Opener party began picking up steam. We left the dock and headed home to relax and contemplate what we may have forgotten. Or, forget what we may have . . .