H16 boom vang?????

Hi, Why does my H16 boom has an angled bail about a foot and a half from the gooseneck like it was meant for a vang??

Did early H16's use a boom vang?

thanks!

Older 16's did have a tang for a boom vang.

Nobody uses one anymore and the new boats do not have the tang.

Thanks!, Ill just drill the rivets out to remove it.

Good call - I have to remove mine, it's a good place for the crew to smack their head on.

Last weekend, I wish I'd had a boom vang on the H17 I was sailing. About two gybes after rounding the A mark on a long-distance race, PWANG the blocks were no longer attached to the traveller! The pin had come out. I manage to tie the blocks to the traveller but it meant I couldn't adjust it and was stuck with it centered. I made a slightly slower return trip than I'd liked - if I'd had somewhere to tie a line I'd be able to make an improvised vang...

I think the lesson is more "check the ring-ding on the main traveller" more than get a boom vang bail, but still...

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Tim
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