Boom vang for sailing vessel

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6520103
  • Patent Number
    6,520,103
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, December 21, 2000
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, February 18, 2003
    21 years ago
  • CPC
  • US Classifications
    Field of Search
    • US
    • 114 90
    • 114 97
    • 114 98
    • 114 99
    • 114 104
    • 114 106
    • 114 204
    • 114 218
  • International Classifications
    • B63H910
Abstract
A boom vang system for sailboats has a rear facing pivotal cam cleat arm hingedly connected to a rigid tang on the sailboat mast. When the boom vang rotates off the centerline of the boat, as for instance will occur when the boat is sailing downwind and the boom and sail are blow off the centerline of the boat, the pivotal connection of the cam cleat arm, to the tang allows for the cam cleat to be urged into alignment with the sailor regardless of his position on the boat. The cam cleat arm may rotate along an arc lying in a plane substantially parallel to the boat deck. Sheeves and pulleys may be rigidly connected to the rigid tang to prevent tangling of lines.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates to an adjustable boom vang for a sailing vessel.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




A sailboat boom vang is an adjustable device or mechanism secured between an intermediate portion of the mainsail boom and a location near the base of the mast. The forward end of the boom is connected to the mast and normally extends at right angles to the vertical mast. In other words, the boom generally rotates in a substantially horizontal plane about the mast. The leading edge of the mainsail is connected to the mast, and the foot of the sail is connected to the boom. Typically, the boom is connected to the mast by a swivel joint, allowing the rear part of the mast to be raised upwardly. The vang generally forms a triangle with the base of the mast and the boom.




A typical vang includes, especially for smaller boats, a multiple purchase block and tackle system including two or more blocks or pulleys attached to the boom, and a single line having one end secured to one of the pulley systems, with the line having a free end which is pulled out and released manually by the sailor. Especially when sailing downwind, air pressure against the mainsail causes the end of the boom to rise, absent any constraint. The vang may be adjusted to lower or adjust the angle of the boom and to control the shape of the sail, especially the trailing edge of the sail.




In the case of many small sailboats, the mast is unstayed, in that there is not external standing rigging to support the mast in an upright vertical position. In such cases, the base of the mast may extend into a reinforced well or pocket in the deck of the boat and is free to rotate around its longitudinal axis, as the boom rotates away from the centerline of the boat, without allowing the mast to tilt from a vertical position. One commercial example of such a sailboat is known as the Laser.




In most multiple purchase vang systems, a releasable cam cleat is provided at the base of to the system in the exit path of the control line, with the free end of the control line being led aft to the cockpit for control by the sailor. A cam cleat comprises a pair of opposed spring loaded jaws which grip the line and prevent it from slipping against the direction of load, or toward the boom. Cam cleats are conventional items, well known to those skilled in the art of sailing. The line can be released between the jaws by lifting the line upwardly and engaged by pulling on the line. One type of especially suitable cam cleat is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,453,486, assigned to the Harken Inc., incorporated herein by reference. The line can be released by manually raising the line out of engagement between the jaws and can be engaged by lowering the line under tension against the jaws.





FIG. 1

shows a prior art example of a multi-purchase block and tackle system


10


employed as a boom vang between the base of a vertical mast


12


and a horizontal boom


14


with the boom being connected to the mast by a swivel joint


16


. The vang


10


is connected to the base of the mast


12


and extends rearwardly and upwardly, with the upper portion being connected to the boom


14


and forming a triangle therebetween. The vang


10


comprises a lower multiple part block system


17


connected to the mast


12


and an upper multiple block system


18


connected to the boom. The bitter end


20


of a line


22


is secured to a stationary part of one of the blocks at


23


and is reeved between the block systems


17


and


18


to provide a mechanical advantage when pulling on the free end


24


of the line


22


, and in the example shown, is a four to one ratio or


5


mechanical advantage. The line


22


exits the lower block assembly


16


in alignment with a cam cleat


26


secured to the assembly having opposed jaws which are spring loaded to a closed position to grip the line against the direction of load, or toward the vang. Lower block


17


is attached to the mast by clasp


28


or other loose linkage. Additional blocks and longer lines provide higher ratios as may be desired. Examples of vang systems and component parts for small boats are shown on page 193 of the Harken Inc. 1999 catalog, available from Harken Inc., Pewaukee, Wis.




It may be seen that if the mast


12


and/or boom


14


rotates away from the center line of the boat, as generally illustrated in the plan view of

FIG. 2

, this will cause twisting of the lower block system


16


and the associated cam cleat


26


, such that the free end


24


of the line


22


is out of alignment with the center line between the jaws of the cam cleat. Also, when the vang system is slack, or when load conditions are variable, the cam can move around at an angle to the direction of pull on the line


24


. It will be appreciated that boom vangs of this nature can utilize up to a 8 or 9 to 1 ratio, and the forces involved are very substantial. These conditions can make it difficult or impossible for a single sailor, who is steering the boat with one hand, to release and engage the line


24


with the cleat


26


. Block


17


may twist or flex as line


24


is pulled on, making re-engagement with cleat


26


impossible. Additionally, movement of block


17


off the centerline of the boat as line


24


is pulled on can cause tangling of the line.




It will be appreciated that this problem exists not only for vangs used with unstayed masts that rotate with the boom, but also for stayed masts that remain stable while the boom pivots away from the boat center line. For these stable masts, the lower vang block will twist and turn in the direction of the pivoting boom, making engagement of the lead line with the block cam cleat difficult or impossible. Additionally, drawing on the lead line will tend to cause the lower vang block to twist away from the boom, sometimes resulting in a tangling of the reeved vang line.




There is thus a heretofor unresolved need in the art for a boom vang system with improved performance when the system is at an angle to the centerline of a boat.




OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION




It is an object of the invention to provide a vang base having a rigid tang and a pivotally movable cam arm.




It is a further object of the invention to provide a boom vang system having a rigid tang and a pivotally movable cam arm.




It is a further object of the invention to provide a boom vang system having a rigid tang hingedly attached to the mast, with a cam cleat arm hingedly attached to the rigid tang.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention comprises a vang base for attachment to a sailboat mast; with the vang base comprising a rigid tang for attachment to the mast and a cam cleat arm pivotally attached to the tang, with the cam cleat arm pivotal along an arc about the base. The tang has at least a pulley attached thereto, and the cam cleat arm has at least a cam cleat attached thereto. In a preferred configuration, the tang further comprises an adjustable jaw arm having a jaw, with a pin held in the jaw. The pivotal cam cleat arm further has an ear for pivotal attachment to the pin.




The present invention additionally comprises a boom vang system having at least a boom pulley for attachment to the boom, and a vang base for attachment to the mast. The vang base comprises a rigid tang for attachment to the mast, the tang having at least a pulley, and a cam cleat arm pivotally attached to the tang, the cam cleat arm rotatable along an arc about the tang. Preferably, the cam cleat arm is pivotal along an arc that lies in a plane that is substantially parallel with the boat deck. A cam cleat is attached to the cam cleat arm. A rope having two free ends passes through the cam cleat, through the tang pulley, and through the boom pulley, with one of the two ends connected to one of the boom or the mast.




In an additional embodiment of the invention, a boom vang's rigid tang is hingedly attached to the mast. The hingedly attached rigid tang has a pivotal cam cleat arm. It will be appreciated that this embodiment of the boom vang of the invention will be of utility for boats having a stayed, stationary mast.




Rather than securing the lower portion of the tackle and cleat system directly to the mast, the vang base and the boom vang system of the present invention thus contemplate the provision of a pivotally mounted cam cleat that allows for rotation along an arc about the vang base. As the mast and boom may swing from the centerline of the boat on boats with an unstayed, rotating mast, the rigid tang statically connected to the mast member prevents or greatly reduces any twisting or flexing of the cleat under various load conditions. The cam cleat arm pivotally attached to the rigid tang allows the control line to be remotely engaged and released from the cleat, since any hauling pressure on the control line will bring the centerline of the pivotally mounted cleat into alignment with the rearwardly extending direction of the control line regardless of the position of the rigid member. Pivoting along a plane parallel to the boat deck further enables easy engagement and disengagement of the lead line from the cam cleat. For boats with a stayed, stationary mast, the embodiment of the vang invention having a rigid tang hingedly attached to the mast allows the vang base to pivot with the boom. The pivotally attached cam cleat arm will allow the cam cleat to easily be oriented in line with a sailor when the lead line is drawn tight.




The boom vang base and the boom vang system of the invention thereby completely eliminate the problems referred to above and allow easy adjustments of the control line, including release and engagement with the cleat, regardless of the position of the boom and regardless of the position of the sailor in the cockpit aft of the mast. The vang fitting for a multipurchase system is especially useful on small boats which are sailed by a single sailor, where any unnecessary movement by the sailor solely to control or adjust the vang line is difficult, inconvenient or impossible, especially under racing conditions.




The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features and advantages of the present disclosure so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood, and so that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining the embodiment of the disclosure in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for description and not limitation.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a side elevational view of a prior art block and tackle vang system.





FIG. 2

is a plan view of a boat with a vang system of the prior art with the boom oriented outward from the centerline of the boat.





FIG. 3

is a side elevational view illustrating a first embodiment of the boom vang system of the present invention.





FIG. 4

is a perspective view of a boat showing a plane of rotation of an embodiment of the vang of the invention.





FIG. 5

is a detailed side elevational view of an additional embodiment of the vang base of the present invention.





FIG. 6

is a sectional top plan view of the embodiment of

FIG. 5

viewed downwards along the line


6





6


of that Figure, and showing the adjustable jaw arm and pivtoal cam cleat arm of an embodiment of the vang base of the invention.





FIG. 7

is a side view of an additional embodiment of a boom vang of the invention.





FIG. 8

is a sectional bottom plan view of the embodiment of

FIG. 7

viewed upwards along the line


8





8


FIG.


7


.





FIG. 9

is a side elevational view of an additional embodiment of a vang base of the invention.





FIG. 10

is an exploded bottom plan view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG.


9


.





FIG. 11

is a side elevational view of an additional embodiment of the vang system of the invention shown with a reeved rope.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS





FIG. 3

is a side view of an embodiment of the improved boom vang system


50


of the present invention. Boom vang system


50


generally comprises a rigid tang or rigid member


52


for attachment to the mast


54


(shown in dashed line), and a cam cleat arm


56


pivotally attached to the rigid tang


52


. In the

FIG. 5

embodiment, the tang


52


is substantially rigidly attached to mast


54


, so that it remains substantially static with respect to mast


54


. It is noted that as used herein, the term “rigidly attached” may be considered to refer to a condition of being substantially stationary with. It is intended to be contrary to a condition of being “flexibly attached”, such as would exist when using a flexible connection mechanism such as a rope, spring, or pivotal shackle. As will be appreciated by those knowledgeable in the art, however, even a “rigid attachment” as used herein may allow for some flexing or slight movement.




A block


58


is attached to tang


52


, and a cam cleat


60


mounted on pivotal cam cleat arm


56


, which is pivotally connected to tang


52


via hinge


61


. A second block


62


is attached to the boom


64


(shown in dashed). It is noted that as used herein, the term “block” is intended to refer to an assembly of one or more pulleys or rotatable sheaves. For present purposes, then, the terms may be considered to be generally interchangeable.




A rope


66


is reeved between block


62


and


58


for providing mechanical advantage between the two blocks. A first free end


68


of rope


66


passes through cam cleat


60


on pivotal cam cleat arm


56


for pulling. A second free end of rope


66


is attached to either block


58


or block


62


. As will be appreciated by those knowledgeable in the art, it does not matter which block the second free end of rope


66


is attached to. Further, the second free end could likewise be attached directly to the boom


64


or mast


54


. By way of example, rope


66


could have its second free end attached directly to tang


52


, which would comprise a “connection to” mast


54


as the term is used herein.




It may be seen that when the boom


64


and mast


54


rotate horizontally relative to the centerline of the boat, as generally illustrated in

FIG. 2

, rigid tang


52


of

FIG. 3

will rotate away from the centerline. When free end of line


68


is pulled from a remote rearward location in the boat, cam cleat


60


will become aligned in the direction of pull do to the hinged pivotal connection of arm


56


to tang


52


. In other terms, cam cleat


60


is able to be aligned in the direction of the sailor regardless of the orientation of boom


64


and mast


54


. Preferably, pivotal cam cleat arm


106


is capable of rotating at least 180 degrees. Thus, even if the rigid tang


102


and adjustable arm


104


rotate up to 90 degrees from the centerline of the boat, pivotal arm


106


can still rotate to an angle required for adjustment of the control line. Assuming that the boat is sailing downwind, the boom will be out to fill the sail, causing the rear end of the boom to lift up. The vang can be easily engaged, hauled in, and released or otherwise adjusted by a simple pull on the line from any remote location, i.e., a location in the cockpit aft of the mast.




As illustrated by the perspective view of

FIG. 4

, the cam cleat arm of a vang base of the invention preferably pivots along an arc lying in plane


53


that is substantially parallel to the boat deck


55


. Without the rigid member and hinged cleat, the cleat will be disposed at an angle to the line, and the entire assembly may be twisted due to the high forces involved. The vang base and vang system of the present invention thereby solve heretofore unresolved problems in the art discussed herein above.





FIG. 5

is a side view of another embodiment of a boom vang base


100


of the invention. It generally comprises rigid tang


102


, adjustable jaw arm


104


, and pivotal cam cleat arm


106


. Rigid tang


102


is comprised of two sideplates


108


and


108


′, with only sideplate


108


visible in the sideview of FIG.


5


. Sideplate


108


′ is substantially identical to plate


108


, and lies parallel to and directly behind plate


108


as illustrated in FIG.


5


. Sideplates


108


and


108


′ are held together by a plurality of bolts


110


. Sideplates


108


and


108


′ also rotatably hold at least one, and preferably two sheaves


112


(shown in dashed) therebetween. Sheaves


112


rotate about an axle comprised of bolts


110


and


116


, as illustrated, and may comprise bearing means and other rotating sheave components as are generally known in the art. Commercial examples of rotating sheaves are shown in the Harken catalog referred to herein above. At least one pulley, and preferably a plurality of pulleys


114


, are also attached to tang


102


.




As illustrated, preferably sheaves


112


and pulleys


114


are rigidly attached to tang


102


, that is they are rotatable, but will not pivot, twist, or bend relative to tang


102


. Sheeves


112


have their axles held between sideplates


108


and


108


′, while pulleys


114


are held within a frame that is rigidly attached to tang


102


. This provides an improvement over vang bases and vang systems of the prior art, in that tensioning of the lead line will not urge a twisting or movement of the pulleys


114


or sheaves


112


. This reduces the incidence of tangling of the reeved vang line, and further allows for the reeved line to be drawn tighter than is allowed with boom vang systems of the prior art. It will be appreciated that two sheaves


112


and one set of two pulleys


114


have been illustrated in

FIG. 5

for illustration purposes only. More or fewer sheaves and pulleys could be attached to tang


102


to provide greater or less mechanical advantage, as may be practical for a particular boat being sailed.




Adjustable cam cleat arm


104


is connected to rigid tang


102


by upper bolt


116


and lower bolt


118


. Adjustable cam cleat arm


118


is adjustable in its orientation to rigid tang


102


by adjustment of the placement of lower bolt


118


along receiving slot


120


. Adjustment of arm


104


by loosening of bolt


118


, pivotal movement of arm


104


, and re-tightening in a different position within slot


120


is desirable to allow the cam cleat arm


104


plane of rotation to remain substantially parallel to the boat deck, as generally illustrated in FIG.


4


.




Adjustable cam cleat arm


104


has jaw


122


near its end. Removable pin


124


spans substantially vertical jaw


122


. Cam cleat arm


106


has a pair of ears


125


for receiving pin


124


in a hinged fashion, so that arm


106


is able to rotate in a substantially horizontal arc about adjustable arm


104


, as best illustrated by the dashed arc line shown in the plan view of

FIG. 6

taken along a portion of line


6





6


of FIG.


5


. This provides advantage over boom vang systems of the prior art that comprise a cam cleat rotating along a plane that is coincident with the boatdeck. As discussed herein, it may be difficult to engage and disengage the lead line from these prior art boom vangs.

FIG. 6

also shows rotating sheave


112


rotating about upper bolt


116


between tang sideplates


108


and


108


′.




Referring to both FIG.


5


and

FIG. 6

, cam cleat


126


is at an end of pivotal arm


106


. Substantially U-shaped line guide


128


sits on top of cam cleat


126


so that a rope may be disengaged from cam cleat


126


and held proximate thereto within line guide


128


for convenient re-engagement with cleat


126


. In other words, when the line is released from cleat


126


, line guide


128


constrains the line from additional upward and sideways movement. Cam cleat


126


and line guide


128


are as generally known in the art, with example configurations shown in the Harken Catalog referenced herein above, and available from the Harken Corp., Pewaukee, Wis. An additional substantially U-shaped line guide


130


is mounted on the top of jaw


122


.




In order to effectively solve the problems of the prior art, it is anticipated that different embodiments of the vang of the present invention will be of use with both boats having a stayed, stationary mast and with boats having a rotating mast. Accordingly, the embodiments of the invention as illustrated in

FIGS. 3 and 5

and discussed above are for use with a rotating mast, as is found for instance on the Laser sailboat. These embodiments are attached to the mast in a substantially rigid manner that does not allow for rotation of the tang with respect to the mast. Referring to the sideview of

FIG. 5

in particular, mounting bracket


130


may be provided with holes


132


through which bolts, screws, or rivets may be used to rigidly attach vang base


100


to the mast. Preferably bracket


130


has an arced shape that closely matches the boom shape. Bracket


130


is attached to vang base


100


with a plurality of bolts


110


.




Additional embodiments of the vang base and vang system of the invention are provided for use with boats having a stationary, non-rotating mast.

FIG. 7

is a side elevational view of such an embodiment of the boom vang system


50


′ of the invention installed on a non-rotating mast


54


′ (shown in dashed) and boom


64


′ (also in dashed). Boom vang system


50


′ is substantially identical in all respects to the boom vang system


50


illustrated in FIG.


3


and discussed herein above, except for its attachment to mast


54


′. In an identical manner as discussed for system


50


above, pivotal cam cleat arm


56


′ allows for pivotal rotation of cam cleat


60


′about rigid tang


52


′, and therefore for free end


68


′ of line


66


′ to be readily engaged and disengaged from cam cleat


60


′ regardless of the rearward position of a sailor. System


50


′ thereby realizes all of the advantages of system


50


over prior art boom vangs as discussed herein above.




The difference between vang system


50


′ and system


50


relates to the utility of system


50


′ for use with stationary, non-rotating masts. This difference is the hinged mounting bracket


300


that hingedly attaches or connects system


50


′ to mast


54


′. This hinged connection allows for rigid tang


52


′, which carries the pivotable cam cleat arm


56


′, to pivot in response to pivotal movement of boom


64


′. This double pivoting rotation of boom vang system


50


′ is best illustrated in the bottom plan view of system


50


′ of

FIG. 8

viewed upwards along the line


8





8


of FIG.


7


. As boom


64


′ rotates, rigid tang


52


′ can follow as it is attached to mast


54


′ with hinged mounting bracket


300


. Likewise, when the lead line is drawn tight, cam cleat arm


56


′ can pivotally rotate away from the orientation of tang


52


′, and come into alignment with the sailor, regardless of the orientation of tang


52


′.





FIG. 9

is a side elevational view of a stationary, non-rotating mast vang base


100


′ of the present invention. Vang base unit


100


′ is substantially identical to vang base unit


100


as illustrated in FIG.


5


and discussed herein above, except that base unit


100


′ has hinged mounting bracket


400


for hinged attachment to a mast. Bracket


400


comprises mounting plate


402


with holes therethrough for attachment to a mast (not illustrated) with bolts, screws, or the like. Plate


402


preferably has an arced shape to fit a mast, as best illustrated in the partial plan view of FIG.


10


. Plate


402


is connected to hinge


404


. Hinge


404


comprises a hinge as is generally known in the art, with at least one ear


405


for rotatably receiving a hinge pin, and with the ears connected to tang


102


′. As illustrated in the bottom plan illustration of

FIG. 10

viewed upwards along the line


10





10


of

FIG. 9

, hinge


404


allows for rigid tang


102


′ to rotate along an arc about the mast. Preferably, the rotational arc is substantially perpendicular to the mast.





FIG. 11

illustrates a preferred stationary mast embodiment of the boom vang system


500


of the invention, with hinged mounting bracket


400


for hinged attachment to the stationary, non-rotating mast. As discussed herein above, it will be appreciated that vang system


500


as illustrated is similar to an embodiment of the boom vang system of the invention shown generally in

FIGS. 3-5

for use with a rotating mast, except that the rotating mast embodiment will have a non-hinged mounting bracket for attachment to the mast, as generally illustrated as bracket


130


in FIG.


5


.




Boom vang system


500


comprises base


100


′ as shown in greater detail in FIG.


9


. Ropes are reeved between sheeves


112


′ and pulleys


114


′ to boom blocks


502


and


504


. Block


502


is for attachment to a boom (not illustrated), and hinged base


400


is for attachment to a mast (not illustrated). As illustrated, a first rope is reeved between pulleys


114


′ and boom block


502


, with block


504


attached to an end of this first rope. A second rope is then reeved between reeves


112


′ and block


504


, with a free end for manipulation by the sailor and a second end attached to block


504


. It will be appreciated that a wide variety of reeving schemes can be used with the boom vang system of the invention as may be desirable to achieve various mechanical purchases.




With the vang base


100


and vang system


300


of the invention, pivotal cam cleat arm


106


is capable of rotating at least 180 degrees. Thus, even if the rigid tang


102


and adjustable arm


104


rotate up to 90 degrees from the centerline of the boat, pivotal arm


106


can still rotate to an angle required for adjustment of the control line. Hence, a simple pull on the line will cause the arm


70


to be brought into alignment to enable engagement with the cleat.




Assuming that the boat is sailing downwind, the boom will be out to fill the sail, causing the rear end of the boom to lift up. The vang can be easily engaged, hauled in, and released or otherwise adjusted from any remote location, i.e., a location in the cockpit aft of the mast. Without the rigid member and hinged cleat, the cleat will be disposed at an angle to the line, and the entire assembly may be twisted due to the high forces involved. The vang base and vang system of the present invention thereby solve heretofore unresolved problems in the art discussed herein above.




The advantages of the disclosed invention are thus attained in an economical, practical, and facile manner. While preferred embodiments and example configurations have been shown and described, it is to be understood that various further modifications and additional configurations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that the specific embodiments and configurations herein disclosed are illustrative of the preferred and best modes for practicing the invention, and should not be interpreted as limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A vang base for attachment to a sailboat mast and use with a boom vang system; the base comprising:a) a rigid tang for attachment to the mast; and b) a cam cleat arm pivotally attached to said rigid tang, said arm pivotal along an arc about said rigid tang.
  • 2. A vang base system as in claim 1, wherein the vang base is for use on a sailboat having a deck, and wherein said cam cleat arm is pivotal along a plane that is substantially parallel to the deck.
  • 3. A vang base as in claim 1, wherein said rigid tang having at least a pulley attached thereto; and said cam cleat arm having a cam cleat attached thereto.
  • 4. A vang base as in claim 1, wherein said rigid tang having at least one pulley attached thereto, having a line guide attached thereto; and wherein said cam cleat arm having a cam cleat attached thereto.
  • 5. A vang base as in claim 4, wherein said at least one pulley is rotatable relative to but rigidly attached to said rigid tang.
  • 6. A vang base as in claim 1, wherein said rigid tang is comprised of two sideplates, at least a sheave rotatably held between said sideplates.
  • 7. A vang base as in claim 1, wherein said rigid tang is hingedly attached to the sailboat mast.
  • 8. A vang base as in claim 1, wherein said rigid tang is rigidly attached to the sailboat mast whereby said rigid tang will rotate as the mast rotates.
  • 9. A vang base for attachment to a sailboat mast and use with a boom vang system; the base comprising:a) a rigid tang for attachment to the mast; and b) a cam cleat arm pivotally attached to said rigid tang, said arm pivotal a along an arc about said rigid tang, wherein said rigid tang having a jaw, a pin removably fitting substantially vertically in said jaw; and wherein said cam cleat arm having at least an ear for rotatable attachment about said pin.
  • 10. A vang base as in claim 9, wherein said jaw having a line guide thereon.
  • 11. A vang base for attachment to a sailboat mast and use with a boom vang system; the base comprising:a) a rigid tang for attachment to the mast; and b) a cam cleat arm pivotally attached to said rigid tang, said arm pivotal along an arc about said rigid tang, wherein said rigid tang further comprises an adjustable jaw arm; said adjustable jaw arm attached to said rigid tang by an upper and a lower bolt; said adjustable jaw arm having a receiving slot for receiving said lower bolt; said adjustable jaw arm orientation to said rigid tang adjustable by changing the placement of said lower bolt in said receiving slot.
  • 12. A vang base for attachment to a sailboat mast; the base comprising:a) a rigid tang for attachment to the mast; said rigid tang having at least one pulley attached thereto; b) an adjustable jaw arm attached to said rigid tang by an upper and a lower bolt; said adjustable jaw arm having a receiving slot for receiving said lower bolt; said adjustable arm orientation to said rigid tang adjustable by changing said lower bolt position along said receiving slot; said jaw arm having a jaw, a pin removably held in said jaw; a line guide on said adjustable jaw arm; and c) a cam cleat arm pivotally attached to said adjustable jaw arm; said cam cleat arm having at least an ear for pivotal attachment about said pin; said cam cleat arm pivotally rotatable along an arc about said rigid tang; a cam cleat on said cam cleat arm.
  • 13. A boom vang system for connecting a sailboat mast and boom with a length of rope; the boom vang system comprising:a) at least a boom pulley for attachment to the boom, the rope passing around said boom pulley; b) a vang base for attachment to the mast; said base comprising: i) a rigid tang for attachment to the mast; said rigid tang having at least one rigid tang pulley, the rope passing around said tang pulley; and ii) a cam cleat arm pivotally connected to said rigid tang, said arm pivotal along an arc about said rigid tang, said cam cleat arm having a cam cleat; the rope passing through said cam cleat.
  • 14. A boom vang system as in claim 13, wherein the system is for use on a sailboat having a deck; and wherein said cam cleat arm is pivotal along a plane that is substantially parallel to the sailboat deck.
  • 15. A boom vang system as in claim 13, wherein said at least a boom pulley comprises at least a pair of sheaves; and wherein said at least a rigid tang pulley comprises at least a pair of sheaves; and wherein the rope is sheeved about said boom pulley pair of sheaves and about said rigid tang pulley pair of sheaves, the boom vang system thereby achieving multiple purchase.
  • 16. A boom vang system as in claim 13, wherein said tang is comprised of two sideplates, at least one sheave rotatably held between said sideplates.
  • 17. A boom vang system as in claim 13, wherein said rigid tang is hingedly attached to the sailboat mast.
  • 18. A boom vang system as in claim 13, wherein said rigid tang is rigidly attached to the sailboat mast, whereby said rigid tang will rotate with rotation of the mast.
  • 19. A boom vang system for connecting a sailboat mast and boom with a length of rope; the boom vang system comprising:a) at least a boom pulley for attachment to the boom, the rope passing around said boom pulley; b) a vang base for attachment to the mast; said base comprising: i) a rigid tang for attachment to the mast; said rigid tang having at least one rigid tang pulley, the rope passing around said tang pulley; and ii) a cam cleat arm pivotally connected to said rigid tang, said arm pivotal along an arc about said rigid tang; said cam cleat arm having a cam cleat; the rope passing through said cam cleat, wherein said rigid tang having a jaw, a removable pin held in said jaw, and wherein said cam cleat arm having at least an ear for receiving said pin, said cam cleat arm thereby pivotally attached to said rigid tang.
  • 20. A boom vang system for connecting a sailboat mast and boom with a length of rope; the boom vang system comprising:a) at least a boom pulley for attachment to the boom, the rope passing around said boom pulley; b) a vang base for attachment to the mast; said base comprising: i) a rigid tang for attachment to the mast; said rigid tang having at least one rigid tang pulley, the rope passing around said tang pulley; and ii) a cam cleat arm pivotally connected to said rigid tang, said arm pivotal along an arc about said rigid tang; said cam cleat arm having a cam cleat; the rope passing through said cam cleat, wherein: c) said rigid tang further comprises an adjustable jaw arm, said adjustable jaw arm adjustably connected to said rigid tang by an upper and lower bolt, said adjustable jaw arm having a receiving slot for receiving said lower bolt; the orientation of said adjustable jaw arm to said rigid tang adjustable by changing the placement of said lower bolt in said receiving slot; said jaw arm having a jaw, a removable pin held in said jaw; and d) said cam cleat arm having at least an ear for rotatably receiving said pin, said cam cleat arm thereby rotatable along an arc about said adjustable jaw arm.
  • 21. A boom vang system for connecting a sailboat mast and boom with a rope; the boom vang system comprising:a) a boom pulley for attachment to the boom; said boom pulley having at least a pair of sheaves, the rope passing over said at least a pair of pulleys; b) a vang base for attachment to the mast; said base comprising: i) a rigid tang for attachment to the mast; said rigid tang having a rigid tang pulley; said rigid tang pulley having at least a pair of sheaves, at least a portion of said rigid tang comprised of two sideplates, at least one sheave rotatably held between said sideplates; the rope passing about said tang pulley, about said at least a pair of sheaves; ii) a jaw arm adjustably connected to said rigid tang by an upper and lower bolt; said jaw arm having a receiving slot for receiving said lower bolt; the orientation of said jaw arm to said rigid tang adjustable by adjusting the position of said lower bolt in said receiving slot; said jaw arm having a jaw, a pin removably held in said jaw; and iii) a cam cleat arm having at least an ear, said ear movably receiving said pin, said cam cleat arm thereby pivotally connected to said jaw arm, said cam cleat arm thereby pivotal along an arc about said jaw arm; said cam cleat arm having a cam cleat; the rope passing through said cam cleat.
CROSS REFERENCE

The present application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/189,748 filed Mar. 16, 2000.

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Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/189748 Mar 2000 US