Vang

[hinmo]

Doe anyone have a boom vang? I see a tang on my boom for one, but no connection on the base of the mast.

[kickingbug1]

    i have one on my 16. it has a stirrup loop thing attached on the stern side of the tabernacle. i have sailed with it and without and i dont see much difference. maybe i dont understand the principle (flatten the sail downwind?) so i didnt use it the last few times i sailed.

[JBC]

I use a vang, and it attaches to a pad eye fixed to the mast slot at the bottom of the mast.  Here's a brief but clear description of the use of a vang: http://sailing.about.com/od/learntosail/ss/BoomVangHowTo.htm

[kickingbug1]

   you know i have read more stuff on boom vangs and for some reason (mental defect) i have never really understood it ------until now. i thank you.

[JBC]

You're welcome...always something more to learn about sailing.  I'm still learning after 40 years.

[Salty19]

That article doesn't mention anything about upwind sailing advantages.  I think it helps there too by keeping the leech more consistent and the chord in a more forward orientation, which moves COE forward and she points higher. And the boom doesn't bang around when tacking anymore. I do loosen it a tad upwind, enough for not to raise but not cranked down.

You can see the difference a vang makes in the below photo of an Eclipse and 23 taken at CLR.



Just remember that the vang has to freely rotate with the boom and mast and not prevent the boom from swinging all the way out.  If you attach the vang to the center of the mast and tighten it to much, it might now swing out as far as you like. The rotating attachments (Boomkicker makes one style that has been discussed here) prevent that issue.