Bill,
I will risk giving you information you already have.
Hardening the choker pulls the wishbone boom back. It has the effect of an out haul and a vang at the same time, both tensioning the foot and the leech of the sail. The steeper the angle of the boom the more the choker pushes the heel of the boom down, putting tension on the the leech of the sail. The flatter the angle of the boom the more the pushes the boom aft putting more tension on the foot of the sail. Small variations in the length of the hangars should not cause unacceptable shape but if the length changes too much you will no longer be able to properly shape the sail. I do not know enough to know how much variation is okay. The cut of the sail and the angle of the boom have to work together to ensure the correct amount of tension is applied to both the foot and the leech at the same time to create a successful sail shape. That is where the skill and knowledge of the sail maker comes into play. If the angle is too steep on the boom for the sail tensioning the choker will flatten the leech but leave the foot very full. Too flat of a boom angle can result in a fully flattened foot with a full leech that is twisting off at the head of the sail spilling air.
My understanding is that the boat designer (Mark Ellis) specified the length of hangars to give the correct boom angle in light of the aspect ratio of the sail (hoist compared to foot). The sail makers then take the angle of the boom into account, along with the allowed hoist and foot, when designing and making sails. I believe most sail makers, when designing a sail will assume that the hangers, and therefore the boom angle are as per the the parameters set by Mark Ellis. The angle is important for both the a fully hoisted and a reefed sail.
Eb Botterell, if he is still reading this pages will be able to give a much better and technically correct answer than I can. I am not trying to pressure Ed into giving a response since I know typing a response is now labour intensive for him.
The most efficient hangar length will be the one that gives a boom angle most consistent with the one the sail designer used. You have indicated that your boom hangs below the steaming light while your neighbours boom hangs above it. This does not tell the boom angles which is correct. A quick look through the Nonsuch Photo Galleries suggests the boom normally hangs below the steaming light on the 30U, which suggests you may be closer to the designed position. The steaming light in most of the pictures I have seen of the 30C seemed to be mounted higher up the mast so are not helpful.
Based on the hoist and foot length (LP) given in the Nonsuch Class Specification the boats have the following aspect ratios:
22 1.80
26 2.00
30 1.875
324 2.00
33 1.91
354 1.91
36 1.89
Based on these numbers we would expect the 26 and the 324 to have the steepest boom angle and the 22 to have the flattest boom angle. I have seen a 324 docked along side of a 30 and the 324 has a steeper boom angle so theory and practice seem to match.
Do you have any good photos of your boot while under sail that you can share?
Mark Powers