Block Comparison

[Prairie Schooner]

This is how Ericson originally set it up from the factory, and it’s likely the . . .
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Long term, I’d like to replace the rod kicker with a proper boom vang assembly. I considered doing that as part of the re-rig, but ultimately decided against it at the time due to the additional cost alongside the other work.
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What don't you like about the boom kicker, Nick?

 

[Nick J]

the rod kicker works, but it would be nice to have a unit that incorporates the boom vang so I don't have 2 separate attachments on the boom and mast. Since it's working and my only concerns are basically cosmetic, this is really low on the priority list.

 

[N.A.]

Missing out on potential purchase isn't a big deal with the 4:1 because it's run to a clutch then to the main cabin top winch. There may be some concern about directing the loads to two points on the boom instead of 3.

In my recent re-rig, the rigger added a 2:1 purchase to my vang, taking the 5:1 to 10:1.

Looking at your picture (post #17) it actually looks like this is what you have on your vang too? 5 lines to boom = 5:1... I always got confused on that. And then looks like you have the extra 2:1 also? You mention using the cabintop winch, but with 10:1 you shouldn't need that at all.

Anyway, going to 10:1 on my vang has been transformative; before it was just too hard to adjust much by hand, but now at 10:1 I can easily play it / adjust it any time I want. Adding the extra 2:1 obviously reduces the scope of vang motion by two, but I have not noticed this to matter in anything I do.

I'm not clear on the distinction between the vang and a kicker, except that looks like you have a rigid vang there (inboardmost on the boom) as well; I will call this the 'kicker' below. Obviously nice to keep the boom up; I have no idea whether/how yours is adjustable or rigid; maybe it's springy and you use the regular vang to adjust? In that case, again, doubt you need the winch -- 10:1 is a lot.

Re: loads on boom from two points instead of three:

If your kicker is rigid (or for a hydraulic vang that is rigid to motion in either direction once you set it): if you then apply a seond vang the likelihood is that you would use the line-vang to pull down against the rigid/hydraulic vang (which at that point would be resisting/pushing up) straining your boom and everythign else for no good reason. Seems like a great way to break gear. But if your kicker/"rigid" vang is actually fairly springy then I think you're OK.

If your kicker is springy: in that case whichever is pulling down will be providing the bulk of the force on the boom (in the image, looks like your regular vang is quite taught, so there probably it is providing that force.) Unless the upward force from the kicker can get very large (as for a rigid one), using it to hold the boom up, and your regular line-controlled vang to pull it down is fine; the line-controlled vang just has to provide some extra force to compress the (springy) kicker. That shouldn't be any issue unless the kicker is not very compressible.

The main sheet to the boom just provides extra downward force (with usually better lever-arm),so it doesn't figure in all this (unless you have a rigid vang/boom, at which point that must be strong enough to handle any downward force from the main sheet, e.g. when close-hauled.) This is not the case for Ericsons unless your kicker/vang is rigid.