Spring or Gas strut Vang/Kicker

[mikehibb]

Thinking of fitting one of the above, looking for any advice from any others that have done so already.

I have looked at both Sailspars and Z-spars units and the installation guides.( thinking of sprung version at the moment)

I will be at the boat in a couple of weeks time and appreciate that I will need some carefull measuring to make sure that I go for the correct length/angle (30 degress is mentioned)

The Sailspars small model has 150kg lift and uses a 10mm pin, but the Z-spars small is 100 kg 8mm pin, medium is 250kg 10mm pin.

Orignal mast is sailspars and they recommend their small unit. Which tends to sound about right, subject to me double checking the measurements.

Any pitfalls to watch out for ( yes I know to include the tangs). Boat is a Gibsea 33, fully battened main with stack pack type sail cover.

As always thanks in advance for any help.(or any other suppliers to look at)

Mike

 

[PetiteFleur]

On a Jaguar 27 I had an unknown make of 'spring' loaded vang which needed a new spring so when I was at Z-Spars getting a new boom they let me rifle through their stores and found a spring I thought would fit and got it at a reasonable price. I had to fit a nylon spacer to make it work correctly but was very satisfied with the result.
My friend on a Contessa 28 has a Barton Boomstrut which is very good and has the benefit of being VERY simple - nothing to go wrong once set up. It's on my wish list. AND it's the cheapest on the market.
I wouldn't go for a gas spring, they eventually lose their gas and need replacing. Spring ones are simpler but the Barton Boomstrut is even more simpler - so go for the Barton!

 

[mikehibb]

Thanks all.

I had forgotten about the boomstruts, even better is that they have Barton dealer in Turky. Think that is the way that I will go.

Cheers, Mike.

 

[Greenwichman]

Agree ...

.... Barton Boomstrut every time. Fit and forget.

 

[Dan the man]

I saw the insides of a gas strut some years back....glorified gas strut that holds the boot lid up on a car.

 

[mikehibb]

Update:

I spoke to the Turkish dealer (representative of Barton in Turkey) in Istanbul earlier this week regarding the Barton Boom Strut,
He did not have my size in stock but ordered one for me from Barton anyway, even before I had arranged payment.

So one is now apparently winging its way to Istanbul, then by local courier to Yalikavak (delivery within Turkey is included in his price, what it says on his price list is what you pay, delivery from UK also included as his price list is his in Turkey price)

Great service from them, I arranged internet bank transfer and informed them when my transaction had gone through, two days later he informed me that money was recieved etc.

Will be over in Turkey weekend after next, and hopefully will have a boom strut to install.

Looking forward to not have to pop up to the mast for the topping lift.

Will keep you all informed of progress as it happens.

Thanks again for your advice.

Mike

 

[mikehibb]

Boomstrut arrived in Istanbul last week, was couriered down here. Had a nice package waiting for me in the Marina office.

It will be fitted tomorrow hopefully.

 

[rudolph_hart]

I wouldn't go for a gas spring, they eventually lose their gas and need replacing. Spring ones are simpler but the Barton Boomstrut is even more simpler - so go for the Barton!

Good advice, but I think the length and weight of the boom is the deciding factor. C28 & C32 both have very short booms compared to the OP's boat, and they will weigh considerably less - even with stack-pack.

I fitted a spring-based unit to my previous Dehler 34, and because it had a stack-pack and 4x full-length battens, the spring just wasn't strong enough to handle the weight. The supplier (Sailspar) quickly converted it to gas strut at no charge, and it performed well for the remaining 5 years of my ownership.

Fitted one to current Dehler35CWS (even longer boom with stack-pack and 5x full length battens). The unit Sailspar recommended uses a gas strut. 6 years later it's still working well.

Another factor to consider is that the finite amount of travel between full compression and full extension that a rigid vang provides is less than a tackle-based one.