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Just purchased a 2001 26X and am going over the inventory. The boom vang doesn't exist. I called the previous owner and she told me it wasn't necessary to have one, she didn't know what I was talking about at first. Here is my plan. The mast raising system has a pole with a block and tackle which I plan on using for the boom vang and replacing that with a small brake winch. What do you think?

The fiddle blocks that came with the Mast Raising System (MRS) doesn't have the cam cleat built into it like the vang does, but they're otherwise the same blocks, if memory serves. But that's not necessary if you lead the vang line back to the cockpit, of course.

And just so you know, and because I happen to know off the top of my head, the MRS for the boats, which many owners also use, and which is the only system Bluewater Yachts (BWY) sells now, uses the Dutton-Lainson DL350A brake winch. Not that you have to use that particular one, but it's 350 lb rated (which is what I got for winch line pull when I did a static analysis on the mast with genoa on a furler), and of course being a brake winch, it will hold the load automatically.

The setup on the mast raising pole looks identical to the mainsheet, the blocks may even be larger.

You could certainly rig one up easily.

I don't have one and frankly don't want one. I guess if I were sailing "pure" I'd install one, but I rarely care about perfect sail form. It's not a J boat and a vang isn't going to make my sailing experience much better.

Go sail the boat and if you feel the need for a vang, then do as you described.

And welcome to Mac ownership and the forum.

--Russ

I've never used the vang as a vang. I sometimes use it as half of a dual mainsheet, with the mainsheet rigged to the port cabin-top stanchion and the vang rigged to starboard. Keeps it out of people's way in the cockpit and works as a preventer. Should have been the stock rig on the Tattoo 26 IMHO, with pad eyes just forward of the winches next to the companionway instead of the mainsheet going down to the cockpit.

Thanks Russ, I don't plan on sailing pure, actually I'm not pure in anything, we just want to have fun. My dad is probably turning in his grave about now, to be precise, he is probably tuning over in Puget Sound. We aren't too far from you, we live just south of Spokane.

Thanks Tomfoolery for your info.

Do+fus1 wrote:Thanks Russ, I don't plan on sailing pure, actually I'm not pure in anything, we just want to have fun. My dad is probably turning in his grave about now, to be precise, he is probably tuning over in Puget Sound. We aren't too far from you, we live just south of Spokane.

Welcome again. You should update your profile with your location. Lots of great help on this forum.

The Mac is not a "pure" sailboat. It's a powersailer and by which doesn't sail real well and doesn't powerboat real well. But it is a lot of fun and safe. Tons of 'em out there and plenty of people enjoying boating on them. It's also the largest 26' boat on the water.

South of Spokane? Where are you going to use your boat? I'm dying to visit Coeur d'Alene lake. Drove around it and it is gorgeous.

Russ, I would like to go to Lake Roosevelt on the Columbia, then start from Lewiston, Id and go to Astoria, OR to get the best fish and chips ever. Pend Oreille, Flathead Lake, the San Juans and who knows where else.

Do+fus1 wrote:Russ, I would like to go to Lake Roosevelt on the Columbia, then start from Lewiston, Id and go to Astoria, OR to get the best fish and chips ever. Pend Oreille, Flathead Lake, the San Juans and who knows where else.

We keep our boat on Canyon Ferry. Closest access for us and we can be there in 90 minutes.

Would LOVE to go to those places as well. My neighbor has a cabin on Flathead. Gonna have to go up there soon.

I upgraded my main sheet blocks to the airblocks when I was at BWY. It was a cheap upgrade and it freed up my old main sheet blocks, which work perfect for the vang. I only had to get the little bail to attach to the boom. Because it is the original main sheet block, it has the cams set up perfectly. Every line on my boat is led aft, including my spinniaker lines. however I just left the cleats on the vang and ran the line into the doger.

First lake I ever went in with my boat was Pend Oreille when I was towing my boat home to British Columbia from Seattle. What a beutifull lake, we actually got morrage in Sandpoint at the city beach after being on the waiting list. Our first plan was to moor for the summer there last year, however we backed out and moored just over the border in Kootenay lake.

Have fun!

David

The mast raising system that came with my S had a block setup just like the mainsheet, with cam cleats on the fiddle block. Will serve as vang if i want it to. Not sure if that was added or upgraded or stock.

Tomfoolery wrote: And just so you know, and because I happen to know off the top of my head, the MRS for the boats, which many owners also use, and which is the only system Bluewater Yachts (BWY) sells now, uses the Dutton-Lainson DL350A brake winch. Not that you have to use that particular one, but it's 350 lb rated (which is what I got for winch line pull when I did a static analysis on the mast with genoa on a furler), and of course being a brake winch, it will hold the load automatically.

I wish I'd known that when I built my own MRS last year. Does that one brake in both directions? Mine only brakes in one...

Cougar wrote:

Tomfoolery wrote:And just so you know, and because I happen to know off the top of my head, the MRS for the boats, which many owners also use, and which is the only system Bluewater Yachts (BWY) sells now, uses the Dutton-Lainson DL350A brake winch. Not that you have to use that particular one, but it's 350 lb rated (which is what I got for winch line pull when I did a static analysis on the mast with genoa on a furler), and of course being a brake winch, it will hold the load automatically.

I wish I'd known that when I built my own MRS last year. Does that one brake in both directions? Mine only brakes in one...

Not sure what you mean, but you don't release anything to lower the load; just crank the handle. That's important, as if using a ratchet type winch, you have to manually release the ratchet pawl, and once it's off, if you let go or lose the handle, the load runs away. If you try to stop it, you can end up with busted knuckles or worse, and whether you break your fingers or not, the mast will fall. A brake winch, by contrast, just stays wherever it is when you stop, up or down. That's what makes them different.

Tomfoolery wrote:

Cougar wrote:

Tomfoolery wrote:And just so you know, and because I happen to know off the top of my head, the MRS for the boats, which many owners also use, and which is the only system Bluewater Yachts (BWY) sells now, uses the Dutton-Lainson DL350A brake winch. Not that you have to use that particular one, but it's 350 lb rated (which is what I got for winch line pull when I did a static analysis on the mast with genoa on a furler), and of course being a brake winch, it will hold the load automatically.

I wish I'd known that when I built my own MRS last year. Does that one brake in both directions? Mine only brakes in one...

Not sure what you mean, but you don't release anything to lower the load; just crank the handle. That's important, as if using a ratchet type winch, you have to manually release the ratchet pawl, and once it's off, if you let go or lose the handle, the load runs away. If you try to stop it, you can end up with busted knuckles or worse, and whether you break your fingers or not, the mast will fall. A brake winch, by contrast, just stays wherever it is when you stop, up or down. That's what makes them different.

I see what you mean. The problem is that small braked winches are almost impossible to find in Europe. The smallest I can find has a 1,000 lbs rating. So I ended up with a ratchet type winch. The only downside is that I have to wind off the rope completely and wind it up the other way round, depending on if I want to raise or lower the mast.