RIGID VANG

This is a 'point by point" story of today's efforts to install a rigid vang.

First, I arrived at the boat without the instructions! When Steve showed up to help, I left him with a mission to find some 1/2" x 20 fine thread fasteners while I headed back to base.

Second, Steve was only able to get hex headed (not round headed) fasteners with the desired fine
threads. So we decided to go ahead and use them now and replace them when the round heads become available. Doing that meant that we would not interfere with today's installation progress.

Third, but before we could proceed, one block on the mast had to be removed and the power cable for the steaming light on the mast had to be pushed back into the mast cavity and then pulled through another opening since both interfered with the installation of the vang bracket.

Fourth, we strapped the vang base bracket to the mast using hose clamps. Worked great.

Fifth, now we had to remove the mainsail as it was interfering with the installation process. Took it to the club house lawn, removed the battens and folded it for storage.

Sixth, raised the boom to the required 35 to 40 degree angle and fractured the gooseneck fitting on the boom. The end of the goosneck through which the bolt on the toggle fits, broke from being pressed against the mast. I guess it was pretty weak and brittle after 40 years. But, sure glad it happened at the dock rather than out sailing (which so often is the case).

Seventh, Steve has taken the goosneck fitting home and will machine a new center piece from ss. He hopes to have it ready by Saturday so we can install and then test it. Once that is done, we will continue with the vang installation.

Eighth, obviously, this means we will miss the 2nd Half Opener on Saturday. (And I just finished entering the YRA marks into the GPS so we would not miss #24 this year)<:)

This story points to my procrastination in getting around to installing the vang. All these problems should have occurred a couple of weeks ago. But, such is life with a Plastic Classic!

Capt Bill of the O'l Yeller

Bill
I just ordered a rigid vang from Garhauer last week( a late B-day present to myself or whatever) and am anxiously awaiting delivery. 'thought about a fixed gooseneck for 113 just because this one is old and I feared the same would happen to me only under sail. Mark at Garhauer said he's made several rigid boom vangs for Ariels. Do you have one or know of anyone else using one on their ariel? thanks in advance Tony G.

The Garhauer rigid vang is on at least two and a half boats here on SF Bay. (Mine is the half.)

Ed in #77 was one of the first, followed by Joe in #256. All agree that it is a great piece of hardware, and can only be duplicated at twice the price.

I "fixed" the gooseneck toggel on the mast by placing a hex headed machine screw on the slide track at a point where the toggel slide would stop to allow the sail foot to line up with the lower black band (class racing). The foreward end of the boom can pull up, but it will never fall to the deck.

After breaking two, I replaced the aluminum gooseneck toggle with stainless. Now we are doing the same for the roller reefing boom end fitting. I hope to have some photos to post by the end of next weekend.

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 . . .

Bill
Thanks for pointing out all of the pitfalls on rigid vang installation. 'Guess that makes the count officially three! Even though we're at least a year away from actually installing ours I still get all excited when the UPS truck hits the parking lot. still waiting. It's mighty nice of you to offer your photo service to Ebb. I'd like to see what's going on up there sounds like Ebb's got his head screwed on right. Wait a minute-boats, vinyard, are there alterior motives here?

Bill:

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I was considering installing a Garhauer rigid vang on my new boat, but I now think I may wait a year, or ten.

Al

Mr. Bill,

I would offer one point to watch out for (after the fact). When I mounted our vang I did it with the main sail on the boom. I found that it took a couple of tries of locating the mounting bracket on the boom to make sure the vang would support the total weight of boom and sail. This may not be an issue for you, but when you add the weight of the main sail you may find that the boom will settle down into the cockpit. .........ed

Al,

Go for it! If you remember to bring the instructions you will save a day :) The hose clamps for the mast are the 5-1/2 to 6-1/2 inch size. The one for the boom is 3-1/2 to 4-1/2 inch. Just watch the gooseneck/mast as you raise the boom with the topping lift. If things start to bind, disconnect the gooseneck and reattach it with a piece of line or a shackle. Should be a piece of cake. :p

BTW - Garhaur asks for a drawing of the mast and boom where the vang will attach. They custom fabricate the brackets. Garhaur suggests using a length of solder coil to take the shape from the spar. Then trace the solder shaps onto a piece of paper.

Ed,

Your right, the boom probably will hang down a bit. We laid the sail on the boom and it did not seem to settle appreciably, but then we saw the one on Lickety Split. I'll let you know where it ends up after the mainsail is installed.

I've never come across a book or article that adequately explains how to attach hardware to a mast or boom.

What is a self tapping screw? How is it different than a fine thread machine screw?

What is a tap? Is that what makes threads in the hole? How do you use it?

Where do you buy this stuff?

What size do you drill the hole, a little smaller?

Please speak slowly. Thanks.

If I have this correct, a self tapping screw is one that makes its own threads as it is screwed into place. On machine screws, this usually means an offset or notched end. Taps are the things you use to put threads into holes in metal. They can be purchased in sets that include the proper bit size for each tap. The bit size is also usually etched on the side of the tap. You can find taps and tap and die kits (dies put threads on the outside of pipe) at most hardware stores.

Bent the main back on and released the topping lift. The boom remaind level!

Here is a photo of the vang attachment at the mast.

Boom end attachment:

View of line controls:

dumb question:
there is a nice solid piece of stainless steel there, why the lines that look like a non-rigid boom vang?
what is their collective purpose? backup?
thanx-km

I have some questions on the vang too.

We know it does away with the topping lift, but what are the other advantages? Under what conditions do you use this baby?

On every boat I ever sailed on with a vang, the owner never used it.

Often when I'm sailing on a broad reach or a run in choppy seas, the boom will flop around, spilling air. Will a vang help with this problem?

The line on the vang provides a 4 to 1 purchase when pulling on the vang halyard.

Downwind, the vang holds the boom down and prevents it from bouncing around when the boat rolls. (Does not prevent a jibe, however. For that, you need a preventer). This improves downwind sailing performance.

Upwind, the vang can tighten the sail in brisk winds to make it more like a blade, again improving performance.

With a rigid vang you are able to deveope more down force power than with most non rigid vangs. Not needing a topping lift or boom gallows is, of course, a big added benefit.

Capt'n Pete
I Mentioned some weeks back that I have this vang and I can say without hesitation that since mounting it I have used it every time I go out sailing. The value of it I suppose depends on what you use it for. For us the key points are:
-Removes the worry of a line chaffing above your view
-It removes weight aloft
-Makes a flatter sail by depowering it
-Keeps the main from doing a goose neck jibe (ugly)
-allows you to lower the main during a reef with out the boom sitting in the cockpit
-helps eliminate weather helm on the tiller (flatter)
-It will help hold the main out during a run and will keep it from bouncing up.
-Gives you one more tool to trim sail with

These are some of the key points. I know that I often come across as "just a racer", but I do think that racing can make you a better all around sailor. Considering the above points, your boat should sail better. It will help keep her on her lines, will help eliminate drag on the rudder, allow you to shape your sail for efficiency and above all it looks "cool". Hope this helps.....ed

IMHO, any vang is better than no vang. A rigid vang is the way to go if you can afford it.

There are two reasons why people often don't use their boom vangs:

The main reason is that most rope vangs have the control and cam cleat up at the mast, a most inconvenient place. When you have to go forward to make a basic sail adjustment, it will tend to be ignored. Running the control line aft eliminates this problem.

The other reason is that many people don't realize just how much a vang can help their sail shape and control...so they underutilize it. When the vang is easy and fun to play with, it gets used much more. Plus, the Garhauer comes with a 16:1 tackle that makes adjustment a snap. 4:1 on most rope vangs can require some exertion to pull down completely, making it less likely sometimes that they get properly used.

Anyone buying a Garhauer should ensure that they are getting the model that allows the control line to lead aft to the cockpit. They provide plenty of line with the vang for this--in fact, too much. You will tweak this thing often, with utter joy.

Oh, and one further advantage of the Garhauer (or other rigid, spring-loaded vang) is that in extremely light winds, you can release it a bit to free the leech of the sail, since the wind may lack the strength to hold it up on its own. I know one can do this with a topping lift, technically, but it's easier and more convenient with the vang.

Note that all rigid vangs still rely on an external rope tackle to do the adjusting--that cylinder only contains a spring that forces the boom up, supporting it. The tackle pulls it back down.

Given the high prices of rope vangs (barely less than the Garhauer), it certainly makes sense to go this route. And be the envy of all your friends. And then understand why some of us are always pushing these things!

Tim

glissando had the answer to my question. a rigid vang is not solid, as the name would imply. it all makes complete sense now.
thanks-km

Well, I'm convinced. The vang just moved up to page 3 of my "To Do" list.

When I tell people that I need to get a "rigid boom vang" they ordinarily suggest that I try some Viagra. :mad:

I was talking with Garhauer Marine on Friday about a rigid vang. He has the template for the Ariel, but asked if the Commander is exactly the same. :confused:
I said I would ask my primo knowledge base...
Any takers?

I would assume that Because the Commander does not have the "humped" house just behind the mast, that the vang can be placed lower down on the Commander's mast. Which might indicate the need for an adjustment in Garhauer's computations. You may need to take the requested measurements . . :)