Does anybody know what this is for?

I have a tang on the boom about 2 feet aft of the mast. It looks like a connection for a vang or something but I'm not sure. I'd like to remove it because it looks like a good way to slice my head on an unplanned jibe.
Anybody know if I will ever need this?

It is indeed a bom vang connection point .

In the old days- late 70's it was used in very light wind, downwind, either hooked to the corner casting at the front to hold the boom out, or wrapped around the mast and hooked to the main or jib cleat as a mast rotator.

I see no reason to use one if you are not racing, and I understand the racers don;t use them anymore either.

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Raced extensively as a kid (against Matt Bounds!!), just bought a 20 year old 16 and am refurbishing it.

Sail # 21888

one of our local 16 sailors has tied a 6 inch to 8 inch loop of line thru that tang, and on light air days, when the crew is on the leeward side of the boat she has the crew hold on to that loop to help keep the boom and the sail from flogging about in the chop.

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If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

You are right, it is dangerous!

Take it off!

When I first set up my Hobie, I had the boom vang all set up, but it got it the way of crew moving around on the tramp. Then, after taking the line out of the vang I got nailed in the head with the tang a few times.

So, for safety, I took mine off.

Looking at parts diagrams, it seems they don't even have them anymore.

James

Don't remove it, that is where you are supposed to hang the jug of wine. If you take that off, you just have to hold it and that makes it hard to sheet and steer at the same time.