• Untitled Document

    Join us on March 29rd, 7pm EST

    for the CBEC Virtual Meeting

    All EYO members and followers are welcome to join the fun and get to know the guest speaker!

    See the link below for login credentials and join us!

    March Meeting Info

    (dismiss this notice by hitting 'X', upper right)

Disengaging Gerhauer vang to remove boom

windblown

Member III
Pulling the mast for the first time, and curious about how to disconnect Gerhauer vang to remove boom. Our vang has a pin at mast base (bottom) and a bolt where it attaches to the bracket on the boom (top). Here's what I'm thinking:
1. Use main halyard to support boom as vang is disengaged. (We also still have a topping lift to end of boom because we have a Dutchman flaking system.)
2. Keep tension on the vang line ( to avoid the piston from rising/pushing out when relieved of boom weight).
3. Gather friends/crew to support boom
4. Remove bolt holding top of vang to boom bracket.
5. Lower boom vang to cabin top.
6. Release pin from bottom of boom vang at mast.

20201014_184917.jpg
20201014_184937.jpg
 

windblown

Member III
My apologies for the poor quality of the second image. The more I look at the vang connection to the boom bracket, the more it looks like that bolt is not just a connector; it’s critical to the pulley structure. Would it work to keep the vang connected to the boom and just disconnect it from the mast at the base? How does one manage the compression on the pistons through all this?
 

Dave G.

1984 E30+ Ludington, MI
Mine is a spring loaded vang but may work similarly. I lift the boom with topping lift until the load on the vang is relieved, then pull the pins and remove the vang. I can't tell from your pics if there are adjustment/stop pins on the vang ? Seems like there has to be or it would be pretty tough to install and set up. In any case if you lift the boom until the vang is fully extended you should be able to see where that sweet spot is.
 

windblown

Member III
Mine is a spring loaded vang but may work similarly. I lift the boom with topping lift until the load on the vang is relieved, then pull the pins and remove the vang. I can't tell from your pics if there are adjustment/stop pins on the vang ? Seems like there has to be or it would be pretty tough to install and set up. In any case if you lift the boom until the vang is fully extended you should be able to see where that sweet spot is.
That was the ticket, Dave G. We used the main halyard to lift the boom, relieving the load on the vang and letting the piston rise until it stopped. We then removed the bolt near to top of the vang, lowered the vang to the deck, and we were able to work out the cotter pin at the base. The main halyard supported the boom while we unbolted at the gooseneck. We didn't know how heavy the boom might be, but it was easy for two of us to handle.
Boom and vang are safely off and stowed.
Thanks again.
 
Top