Hello All,
I have been following the threads on installing a rigid vang on an E38 with interest as I just purchased an E38 with a "soft" vang. Not knowing a whole lot about the advantages/uses of the rigid setup, and the removal/use of a topping lift I just have to ask....
1) I have a topping lift on my older boat as well as the new E38. After reading the rigid vang thread I am a bit confused. Are you supposed to disconnect the end of the topping lift and clip it to the pigtail on the backstay when the sail is up? I have always left the topping lift loose enough that it did not interfere with the action of the vang when tightened, leaving it to just flop around loosely behind the main. Hmmm, is this "incorrect", have I been committing some sort of sailing faux pas?
2) I am quite used to using the soft vang to shape the main on my "other" boat. The rigid vangs seem to be simply a solid/spring loaded assembly to support the boom at rest that telescopes out or in under pressure from a tackle setup to do exactly what the soft vang already does. So what exactly is the advantage to a solid vang over the topping lift, assuming you just leave the topping lift loose when the main is hoisted?
The E38 has a full batten Doyle main and the reason I ask about the topping lift and correctly securing it is I would assume that the full batten setup will make it more difficult for the topping lift to swing about. I would rather upgrade to a solid vang than deal with possible damage to the main by the topping lift or unclipping it and securing it to the backstay every time I hoist the main.
Forgive my ignorance but the E38 is a whole new world to me.... Thanks, RT
I have been following the threads on installing a rigid vang on an E38 with interest as I just purchased an E38 with a "soft" vang. Not knowing a whole lot about the advantages/uses of the rigid setup, and the removal/use of a topping lift I just have to ask....
1) I have a topping lift on my older boat as well as the new E38. After reading the rigid vang thread I am a bit confused. Are you supposed to disconnect the end of the topping lift and clip it to the pigtail on the backstay when the sail is up? I have always left the topping lift loose enough that it did not interfere with the action of the vang when tightened, leaving it to just flop around loosely behind the main. Hmmm, is this "incorrect", have I been committing some sort of sailing faux pas?
2) I am quite used to using the soft vang to shape the main on my "other" boat. The rigid vangs seem to be simply a solid/spring loaded assembly to support the boom at rest that telescopes out or in under pressure from a tackle setup to do exactly what the soft vang already does. So what exactly is the advantage to a solid vang over the topping lift, assuming you just leave the topping lift loose when the main is hoisted?
The E38 has a full batten Doyle main and the reason I ask about the topping lift and correctly securing it is I would assume that the full batten setup will make it more difficult for the topping lift to swing about. I would rather upgrade to a solid vang than deal with possible damage to the main by the topping lift or unclipping it and securing it to the backstay every time I hoist the main.
Forgive my ignorance but the E38 is a whole new world to me.... Thanks, RT