Plastic Classic Forum

Trying to figure out how to add a vang to the Sea Sprite. All my previous boats have used bails on both the mast and boom. I can get a bail that fits the boom, but not the mast (or not easily). None of the pics of any other SS30s that I can find have a vang on the boat. The spar has an internal track (it's a Hall rig). Any ideas for what kind of fitting I should be looking for?

Brodie,

Not trying to be a smart a$$, but have you tried contacting Hall Spars? i have found the folks there to be very knowledgeable and helpful.

Good luck and we can't wait to see pics of your sweet vessel under sail. :-)

My mast has a slot for the hanks, gooseneck and as it goes all the way to the deck, a fitting for the vang. You might try to find such a fitting for your mast.

Hirilondë wrote:My mast has a slot for the hanks, gooseneck and as it goes all the way to the deck, a fitting for the vang. You might try to find such a fitting for your mast.

My mast has the slot that goes all the way to the deck too. I drilled 2 hole in the slot (when the mast was down) and attached a stainless steel U bolt near the bottom of the mast. That's where my vang and down haul attach.

I posed the same question to the yard, we'll see if they have any ideas. But yes, I guess contacting Hall would be a good place to start! (Why is it that sometimes the simplest answer is the hardest to come up with sometimes??)

Trust me, I CAN'T WAIT to post some sailing pics! Hopefully that will happen June 1st, next Wednesday!

I just saw this post, you may have solved the problem already.... On Artemis , I simply wrapped 8-10' of old 3/8 halyard around the mast base and tied a square knot tight to the mast, then hooked the snap shackle of the lower block around one loop. This has been working fine for 5 seasons and no additional holes into the mast!
Hope this helps.

Funny, that's almost exactly what I ended up doing....a sail tie looped around the two conveniently mounted cleats on either side of the mast. Vang angle is shallower than ideal, but it worked and is certainly a lot better than nothing. I guess I was too busy sailing to ever get back and post about my solution!

Next time out, try 3-4 wraps of a line at the bottom of the mast, it shouldn't slip and the angle will be improved; at no additional charge!

Thanks, I will add that to the list of boat projects for the spring...see how it goes.

Don't know about everyone else but there's just something about all that nice orderly spaghetti in that picture that makes me happy :-)