is a boom vang needed on a 16?

[Jason]

Hi,

I'm contemplating some winter projects as my boat hibernates.   Thinking about oars and boom vangs.  I'm not too interested in "performance" sailing, and I don't want to have to take time to rig unneeded parts, and it wasn't deemed neccessary by the designer, so I am inclined to skip adding a boom vang.   But maybe there are benefits that I am missing or unaware of.  I'm looking for input on pros and cons, or for input on if a vang is important for safety.   Thanks for any comments.  -Jason

[MaritimeElevation]

A boom vang will greatly improve sail shape and thus boat speed when sailing down wind. I consider it an improvement in safety from the standpoint of greater boat speed=shorter passage time=less exposure time=improved safety.

When sailing off the wind, especially with end boom sheeting the boom will rise significantly. When sheeted in for up wind sailing, the main sheet pulls down on the boom and a vang is not needed. When the main sail is sheeted out for down wind sailing, this downward pull is lost. This allows the boom to rise and the upper portion of the sail to twist and spill air, making for a less efficient sail. Tightening the vang will pull down on the sail and flatten it when the boom is sheeted way out, thus improving sail efficiency and boat speed. The vang can also be eased intentionally to spill air from the top of the sail when overpowered on a down wind point of sail.

[wes]

Well said! There's another advantage too - when sailing wing and wing on a dead run, the lower end of the vang is easily unsnapped from the mast and shifted out to any convenient attachment point such as a lifeline stanchion base, where it morphs into a preventer. If you've ever experienced an accidental gibe when the mainsheet is way out, you'll probably agree that this is a big safety improvement.

Wes

[carry-on]

But is there enough space on the CP-16 to get a proper angle for a boom vang?

[kickingbug1]

    i have one on my 16 and it seems to work downwind. there are two attachment points on the boom and i use the one closest to the cabin since the line is too short to use the other one. next spring i will re rig it to use the point farther aft and see if it makes a difference.

[skip1930]

Yea spend a few $$'s and hank on a mini vang. It's useful for a bunch of reasons.
Sail Shape
Boom shake
Light air
Heavy air
Jet ski wake abatement
Something to mess with
Now your a bigger boat

Put the tac as low as possible on the mast, not the deck, and the jam a vertical drop in line with the closed companion way hatch. Don't want to reach too far in rough seas. That was my mistake. I should have put the jam closer to the end of the boom. About the end of the closed hatch would be about perfect on my CP-19.

Hummm? Roller boom reefing? Pop a couple of sail grommets in the main and tie the flaked sail to the boom without rolling the boom. Good point though. Didn't think about that.

skip.

[NateD]

If you have roller reefing around the boom, you'll have to disconnect the vang to reef.

Personally I wouldn't consider it a safety item and I wouldn't install one if you would have to rig it every time you sailed. Unless you are making multi-day long distance passages under sail the extra half-knot of boat speed that the vang might give you downwind will be unnoticed. Most CP16s don't have lifelines, so your potential attachment points for a gibe preventer are pretty limited. When I had a 16 I think I ran a line from the end of the boom up to the bow cleat as a preventer. The vang isn't going to reach that far. So unless you add a couple of padeyes or already have convenient places to move the vang to on the cabin trunk or side decks, then it isn't going to work as a preventer.

From my perspective, a vang will be something that you will have to rig EVERY time you set the boat up, it would help a little with downwind boat speed, could get in the way when reefing (if you have roller reefing), and won't add any safety factor unless you also add attachment points to use it as a preventer, and then actually make the effort to move the vang when running downwind.

[brackish]

Some good points Nate, and I don't know the 16 that well, but having to rig every time for me consists of clipping two snap shackles, about ten seconds.  However, since my 23 stays in the water, I just leave it rigged all the time.

If you sail a lake that often has a lot of powerboat traffic as I do, the other benefit of the vang is to hold the boom steady when you are in very light air and in the middle of a bunch of wake chop.  Before I added it whenever those rollers came through my boom would bounce vigorously until the sea state steadied again. 

[NateD]

Some good points Nate, and I don't know the 16 that well, but having to rig every time for me consists of clipping two snap shackles, about ten seconds.  However, since my 23 stays in the water, I just leave it rigged all the time.

Fair enough. The vang on my 23 uses a clevis pins and ring, so it is considerably harder than snap shackles. I guess I didn't use my imagination enough, if you attach it with something that would make it very easy to unhook, then it wouldn't be so bad. I'm still not sure the benefits are that great. If there is something else that would make the boat more comfortable to use or easier to setup, I would probably spend the money on that before the vang.

[Salty19]

I would have to agree with everything.

They are not necessary but do add some performance and safety.  Having used one for the last two seasons, wouldn't sail without it.
As for rigging, I too rig once or twice a year so it's not a big deal but trailering each time and rigging it might get old.
You certainly can get the Lewmar blocks and their snap shackle to make it real easy to take on and off, and for a preventer to the shroud.
The issue is really the mast bail setup. it's not tricky, but take a little more time to rig before raising mast. At least the "Boomkicker" brand which used the mast stay pivot bolt as the connection point.

[Jason]

Thanks everybody for the insights and feedback. -Jason