not to change the subject again,
but would it be cheaper to buy your own blocks and line and to make one of the cascading systems than to buy the Terry Hutchinson system? which i thought ran for 200 in the layline catalog

thanks,
greg hammond

Then those folks with the "correct" vangs are in violation when they bounce their butts on the boom while pulling the vang. They have in effect added one more purchase to the vang also.

Good call Jon. I'd never thought about that. So, all you bottom feeding, shock cord using, upside-down boom-vangers out there stop it. It's illegal.

(Keep in mind that the forum should be as fun as the sailing.)

Just because the 24 forum is such a great source of material for debate, let's throw this in.....
If you place the block with the cleat (ie., the one you pull on) on the boom, which is the moving object, not the fixed object (the mast) although the actual block and tackle purchase has not changed, the EFFECTIVE purchase HAS. It has increased by one, which therefor exceeds the maximum 8:1 allowed. I don't believe that anyone has ever been tagged for this, but just thought I'd toss it out there.

To all,

Thanks for the responses. I've ordered the parts for the Terry H. setup, so we'll see how it works out. I like the idea of not having another double ended setup!

We purchased the hardware/line to put together what you call the "standard setup" several years ago. But, upon assembling it, decided to make one change from what we have seen on most boats. We put the new block at the mast and have the fiddle w cleat floating in the middle. This keeps the cleat up off the deck and makes it easy to operate from either rail or the cockpit. Best thing is it won't cost anything to try it...

Drew,

One thing you will find in your study is that the vang as well as some other areas like the traveller are a matter of personal preference. .

I use the Hutchinson style because it is light, and more importantly any double ended adjustment has the danger of bottoming-out on one side leaving no room for adjustment on the other tack.

Good Luck,
Will

Drew,
My team swears by a cascading setup that's built out of a number of high load Ronstan blocks, a ratcheting becket block with a cleat, and a Fredericksen block(but you can use any appropriate high load-light type of block) on the boom bail. The lines (all Sectron12 except for the one you pull that is covered) are deadended to a "purchase plate" (essentially a piece of anodized aluminum), that in turn is held off the deck by a piece of wire (so it will swivel side to side). The vang is lighter (hence it won't close the leech of the mainsail in light air by virtue of it's weight). Cascades like these are commonly seen on Solings. It still has the same purchase power (8:1) of your old vang with the added improvement that it is light.
Best regards and Good Luck!

My crew has convinced me that my vang setup has got to go this year. Its the standard setup with the extra strop of kevlar line and an extra block. Its still a pain in the butt to use in any kind of wind. My question is what is the hot setup for vangs? I have seen a few double ended setups where you can adjust the vang from either rail, and they look promising. Does any one have a list of all the parts or a diagram? Bill F. form North mentioned that all the West Coast boats use this setup, so I think I might give it a try. How about the Terry Hutchinson cascading setup I think I saw in last years Laylines catalog, has any one used this setup and how does it work? I would appreciate any feedback....