[Rhodes22-list] Was Sails Now Boom Vangs

[David Culp]

Since you guys brought this up and not me.... I will tell you that there is
a way to have a "boom vang/preventer" type apparatus on the Rhodes 22 that
works with the pop top up or down and the boom up or down.  I have been
reluctant to mention it on this forum because it is an experimental,
personal project.  However, like Mark McQuire I have decided to "come clean"
with my Rhodes buds and budettes.   I built it this last summer for about $
150.00 dollars and have been testing it since then with good results.  It is
not a true boom vang, but it does accomplish the three main things that I
wanted:

1.  Keep the boom down and parallel to the deck running downwind with a
possible performance gain.

2.  Prevent an accidental gybe.

3.  Not interfere with the pop top or ingress/egress from the cabin and
works in either boom position.

An unintended result of having it installed is my new ability to sail the
boat backwards.  I did this initially to test
the structural integrity of the setup.  Then it became a joke.  You get some
very interesting reactions from power boaters as you go by them sailing your
Rhodes backwards.  Perhaps even a few have given up drinking as a result
.... nah!  Anyway, I was going to video it and put it up on YouTube. Still
coming, but my videographer who also participated in some of the testing is
very sick right now and I wanted to give him a shot a being a part of it.

Issues:

True boom vangs can be tightened and swing the full 180 degree travel of the
boom.  My system has two attach points and the tensioning line must be
released to run in the blocks in either a tack or gybe and then you have to
move the snap shackle to the other side and re-tension.  However, it does a
great job of controlling boom rise working downwind and really the Rhodes
doesn't need a boom vang except downwind in my opinion.  In other words,
with a small, end-sheeted main, you really can't depower with a vang close
to the wind for a noticeable result.  The traveler is much more effective in
that regard.

Accidental gybes have been tested up to wind speeds of approximately 12-13
kts with good results but I wouldn't go much higher then that.  My target is
15 kts., but so far haven't gotten to test in a known steady 15 kt wind.
 The perfect system and there are some on the market, would allow a slow
release of the boom to gybe the boat.  Otherwise, there are some huge
transitional loads put on the rig, tensioning lines and hardware of this
system or any system for that matter.  Accidental gybes in a sailboat are
dangerous and never good for the rig regardless of what system is in place.
 This preventer will prevent an accidental gybe, but even better, it gives
you more time to recognize that possibility and recover your course before
it happens.

Should the normal Rhodes owner run out and put this on his/her boat?
 Leaving it up to you, but most probably don't care.  Would the manufacturer
of the boat recommend it? Probably not as presently designed.  Has it worked
well for me and been convincing to other sailors who have witnessed its
operation?  Yes!   Could you hurt yourself or damage your boat with it?
Maybe, if you are not paying attention and do stupid things in high winds.
 Of course, that holds true in any sailing situation; so it is not
inherently dangerous.

Now the most important thing:  Did it increase the speed of the boat?  Yes.
 My knot-meter tells me about .5 kts in winds 12-13 knots in relatively
smooth water.

Someone wrote on this forum sometime time back that when they manually held
their boom down by hand going downwind... that it was worth about 1/2 a
knot.      $ 150.00 dollars later, I can confirm that observation as being
pretty much true.  There are a lot of factors that control boat speed and
your results may vary.

In the final analysis; for most people, there are better ways to spend your
money for 1/2 a knot.  For instance, a whisker pole for the Rhodes costs
about $ 150.00 dollars.  If you want real performance downwind, put a
spinnaker on the boat.  I was more interested in increasing efficiency with
the sails I have.  I never have a crew and don't want a spinnaker, so this
is what I did. IT DOES WHAT I WANTED IT TO DO. Which is my definition of a
successful home project. If others are interested, post your comments and I
will build a webpage with photos fully explaining how to build it.  It's
actually fairly simple.  You will have to decide if it is worth it to you.

David Culp

Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:09:19 -0800 (PST)
From: Leland <LKUHN at cnmc.org>
Subject: [Rhodes22-list]  Was Sails Now Boom Vangs
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Message-ID: <27128980.post at talk.nabble.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii


Rummy,

Since you brought up the winter topic and unlike you I won't be able to sail
until the ice melts, how about them boom vangs?

Someone on this list has a removable vang that can be used with the poptop
down but I normally sail with the poptop up and am too lazy to take a vang
on and off.

I assume there is no practical means of keeping the boom down when the
poptop is up or Stan would have figured it out by now.  A reverse rigid
vang-like apparatus installed higher up on the mast could push the boom down
but would probably interfere with the sail.  You could tie the end of the
boom down using strategically placed cleats but that could involve a lot of
cleats and a safety issue.  Even less safe would be a bag of weights hanging
off the end of the boom--might be exciting during tacks and jibes.

Until someone comes up with a workable solution I guess I'll just keep using
Boomer to hold things down, but my wife doesn't particularly like the title
or the job.

Lee
1986 Rhodes22  At Ease
Kent Island, MD