How to Attach a Boom Vang

A boom vang is part of the running rigging on a sailboat that holds down the main sail's boom. The vang counters the force of the wind striking the sail, and keeps the sail from pulling up the boom and collapsing. On large sailboats, the vang is a complex piece of rigging that uses a block-and-tackle system to manage the sail. On smaller sailboats, the vang is often just a single line that ties off to the boom. Properly attaching the boom vang keeps it from working loose while the boat is underway.

Instructions

    • 1

      Locate the attachment point for the boom vang on the boom of your boat's mast. On most sailboats, the boom vang attaches to a bail, or U-shaped hook, on the underside of the boom. Depending on the design of your sail, the bail could be located anywhere from the middle of the boom to near the boom's aft end. On very small sailboats, the vang is simply tied to a peg that extends from the top and bottom of the boom.

    • 2

      Center the boom directly fore-and-aft. Pull up the vang rigging and hook it over the bail. Make sure the opening in the S-hook or C-clip faces aft, so that the forward stress of the boom are placed against the closed end of the attachment. If your vang is a single line that ties on to a peg, secure it in place with a bowline knot on the aft side of the peg.

    • 3

      Pull the vang line snug with the block-and-tackle rigging. If your rig is a straight line, rather than a block-and-tackle, run the line through the vang cleat on the mast. Tie two figure-eight knots in the end of the line so it won't pull back through the cleat.