[C320-list] Boom Vang Hydraulic Spring

[Stephen Kaplan]

Fellow sailors,
After twice having the topping lift wrap around and hang-up on the back stay
"V" causing damage to the boom vang saddle fasteners on the mast I have
taken to sailing w/o the topping lift. Removes the worry of the wrap
occurring on the rather vigorous tacks common on San Francisco Bay.
However the Boom Vang hydraulic spring does not hold or lift up the boom
when furling or unfurling the main. Thus requires a crew to hold the boom to
keep it from smashing into the helm pedestal/instrument cluster. Is this
the normal situation or has the hydraulic cylinder lost its oomph?

Steve Kaplan
Saline
Hull 980
San Francisco

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of Dick Walker
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 5:30 PM
To: C320...@Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Best place to attach cockpit radio extension mic

On pod since 2000 and just fine


Cheers

Dick Walker
740 Olive Ave.
Coronado ,CA 92118
619.435.8986



> On May 28, 2014, at 17:22, Mark Gillingham <mark...@uwalumni.com> wrote:
>
> I attached an extension mic in the cockpit on port just between the
> lids for the propane well and the settee. That's not too bad for the
> the helmsman, but is in the way of crew working or sitting nearby.
> Before the end of the first season a crewman kicked the connector and
> rendered it useless.
>
> I've considered moving it to the instrument pod, but it is very
> difficult to get around the wheel to get to the mic. I think my best
> move is to leave it where it is and reinforce or add a shield do the
connector.
>
> What have others done?
>
> Speakeasy #612
>
> Mark Gillingham | gplus.to/MarkGillingham | Support a struggling
> student<http://101010scholarship.info>
> | Harbor-To-Harbor Blog <http://www.loftnet.com> | Speakeasy
> Photos<http://picasaweb.google.com/mark.gillingham>

[Stephen Kaplan]

Thanks for the input. I bought her new but it never supported the boom w/o the topping lift, unfortunately never suspected the vang to be broken. Duh!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Santangelo <andrew_s...@mac.com>
Sender: "C320-list" <c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com>
Date: Thu, 29 May 2014 13:32:55
To: <C320...@Catalina320.com>
Reply-To: C320...@Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Boom Vang Hydraulic Spring

Hello Steve from a former SFO sailor,

It sounds like your Boom Vang has an issue as it should easily support your boom and sail when raising and lowering the sail.

Also, the topping lift should always be off under sail. Mine is actually removed from my boat.


Andrew Santangelo

C320 "Dawn Treader"
#333
Holland, MI

J22 "Blitzkrieg"
Elephant Butte, New Mexico

[Marek Fluder]

I have recently took possesion of new to me hull #1028 and I am
wondering about the need for a topping lift. Can someone explain why
we need one while a rigid boom vang is also installed?
Marek
#1028 Hamilton, ON

[Robert Sloat]

Steve-The boom vang is spring loaded on my hull 894 and yours is probably the same. I use the topping lift for the Dutchman flaking system. The vang easily holds up the main without the need for a topping lift so your vang must be broken or maybe there is some adjustment for loading the vang spring. I think it is Gaurhauer and they may have some input on adjustment or repair. When the solid vang is working.

Bob Sloat
Savannah 894 (2002)
Waukegan Harbor, IL

[clb...@gmail.com]

For those of us with Dutchman flaking system and a Bimini, the topping lift is essential. It carries the guide lines for the Dutchman and when tensioned properly with the mainsheet, keeps the boom from swinging laterally while keeping it off of the Bimini. I've never had a wrap issue with it and suspect that you may be flying it a bit too loose.






Fair Winds
Chris Burti
Commitment
Catalina 320, #867

[Stephen Kaplan]

Definitely getting the believe that my vang has never worked properly. Appreciate the input.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Sloat <res...@comcast.net>
Sender: "C320-list" <c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com>
Date: Thu, 29 May 2014 21:17:14
To: C320...@Catalina320.com<C320...@Catalina320.com>
Reply-To: C320...@Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Boom Vang Hydraulic Spring

[Stephen Kaplan]

My recommendation is if the boom vang properly supports the boom, I.e. doesn't allow the boom to drop into the cockpit, and avoid using the topping lift.
Steve
Saline
Hull 980

[wfl...@aim.com]

I'm not near the boat to look at it but if memory serves, the vang can be installed with different length settings. Yours might be too long so it doesn't work right.

Bill
#1146

[Bill Hutt]

In my case the topping lift supports the dutchman lines. It must be loosened
when sailing and I give it a tug before dropping the main. My solid vang
will support the boom even with the topping lift loose.
Bill Hutt
Caribbean Soul #570
Cleveland, Ohio

-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Kaplan

[mill...@aol.com]

I loosen TL to sail... no problems.
I am on a mooring at the mouth of a river to to LI sound. I like the Topping lift
as it gives me an "almost solid " 3 pt. lock on the boom, when securred to prevent any motion
while idle on the mooring (no gear wear). I do add a short line off the back of the boom to
a cleat or winch.
art
#680

[Warren Updike]

So far, all of the Boom Vang related posts are from hulls 600 and later. I
suspect these hulls all have the Selden mast/boom. We have 62 with the older
(non-Selden) mast/boom and our vang has never supported the boom. I'm
wondering if it ever did. Can anyone with the original mast/boom tell me if
I should expect the vang to support the boom? If so, has anyone had to
replace the internal spring mechanism?
Thanks,

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62

[thar...@innovations-plus.com]

I am in agreement with Warren. I have hull 424 with the same issue.

The boom vang does not support the boom.

I think it should. The boat is new to me at thought it was my lack of understanding!

Ted

Sent from my iPhone

[Allan S Field]

I may be one of the few who really like the Dutchman, especially when
single-handing, so need the topping lift for that!

Allan S. Field
Sea Shadow - #808
Columbia, MD

[Jeff Hare]

Hull 809 with Garhauer boom vang easily supports our boom with the sail on
it. When released it springs up fairly high. So, it's likely that the
attachment point on the boom is further aft on yours than ours.

There was a discussion way back where there was a discussion of removing the
black cap(?) and stop from the vang, sliding in a short section of pvc pipe
to change the spring tension and/or limit the amount of downward travel
allowed. I believe Garhauer weighed in on this. I was considering it
because I wanted to be sure that my boom couldn't be pulled down so low that
it would hit the dodger when tacking or gybing across a run or broad reach
in heavy air.

With the topping lift, we never allow ours to flap. We always take up the
slack or release a little based on the set of the sail, so in 13 seasons,
there's only been one or two times it's ever hung up on the aft triangle.

-Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-lis...@lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of Andrew Santangelo
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2014 10:39 AM
To: C320...@Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Boom Vang Hydraulic Spring

Hello All,

Actually Dawn Treader is lower than #600 (mine is #333). The spring loaded
vang on her easily supports the boom and sail, and keeps it above the dodger
without a problem.

Yes, the topping lift on our vessel was used for the Dutchman system and
keeping the boom elevated higher than the vang normally does when at the
slip or under power. However since going to racing sails the Dutchman
system and topping lift were removed. Now we use the main halyard to keep
the boom elevated when the main is not in use.

Andrew Santangelo

C320 "Dawn Treader"
#333
Holland, MI

J22 "Blitzkrieg"
Elephant Butte, New Mexico

[Jerry Mickelson]

I have #118 and the vang has always supported the boom and keeps it off the dodger. I slack the topping lift to lower the Dutchman lines while installing the sail cover. I also love the Dutchman system which I just renewed.
Jerry

[Stephen Kaplan]

Thank you all for the excellent support. I will be investigating the vang
spring more closely this weekend when I visit Saline. As to proper topping
lift adjustment. I used to diligently adjust the topping lift just to the
point it almost starts to cause the leech to soften. Lifting the boom any
higher would definitely affect the main sail set. Despite this twice I had
wraps that caused damage. Must remember that San Francisco Bay especially in
the central bay area often has several foot swells, whitecaps, 15 -20+ knot
winds and chop. There are no gentle tacks.

But it does appear that the yard that commissioned Saline never adjusted the
vang spring properly or the unit was defective. I should have investigated
more closely after the first episode. What brought my attention to this
recently is I saw an advertisement for Boomkicker (www.boomkicker.com) which
is a cleaver fiberglass spring that is offered to keep booms lifted. In
speaking with their tech guru, Ted, and sharing a photo of Saline he
expressed surprise that my vang strut didn't provide the same benefit. This
has probably caused him a sale, but my appreciation of his honesty. If you
don't have a vang strut you should check out Boomkicker.

Again thanks for the help.
Steve

[clb...@gmail.com]

One can only guess about what is going on aboard a list member's boat, so allw ecan do is offer suggestions, not always solutions…fwiw the Pamlico Sound sailing is very similar to the Bay except that the shallow depth and crisscrossing wind channels from the rivers tends to make the chop particularly nasty…

Fair Winds
Chris Burti
Commitment
Catalina 320, #867

[Ken Geiger]

Just to add to this thread; our C320 has a Sparcraft Ocean solid boom vang that nicely lowers the boom into the cock pit.

So far an internet search has found precious little Sparcraft info except that the Ocean model seems to be spring only and should support 150 kg. No company internal drawings so far and no company adjustments. Found one thread where one was taken apart.

see http://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4319&PN=1&title=broken-vang

We have a Charleston Spars in mast furling set up. A C34 Mk2 across the dock, also with an in mast has the same Sparcraft Ocean. I note that the C34 Charleston spar manual found on line shows a solid boom vang and parts list including a spring, SMALL SIZE LONG VANG COMPLETE 37560010305, (The C34 across dock I find #37560010105), where as my manual that came with the C320 is silent.

It is not beyond my imagination that these springs weaken in time especially if kept compressed so it may be time for stretch or a replacement.

Ken Geiger
Northern Dream #765 2000

[Scott Thompson]

When I purchased Surprise (1999, #653) I found myself annoyed at the
considerable vang spring tension that made me put on a lot of vang in
light air to get decent sail shape. The springs were much stronger than
needed to support the boom and mainsail, and the boom rested rather high
if I did not put the vang or mainsheet under considerable tension. I
contacted Garhauer who sent me some softer replacement springs and I
have been happy with the vang ever since.

Scott Thompson