Preventer? Vang? Anyone know what this is?

[jwspeck]

New Pearson 323 owner here! Sorry for a newbie question...

On my hull #110 Pearson 323 that I just got I have some running rigging attached about half way along the boom that I'm curious if anyone knows about. I've attached a picture.

The main reason I need to know is because in last Saturday's 35 knot gusts on the bay the blue strap in that picture gave away at the bottom. From what I can tell though, it doesn't actually do much that the traveler doesn't already do.

Thanks in advance!
- John Speck

[Rusty Pelican]

I would call it a very poorly rigged boom vang. Don't need it

[selene]

i thought it a poorly rigged preventer!  Never seen anything like it.  I agree, I can see no obvious benefit from it, and many potential downsides.

I would say that a vang is useful.  You can consider a rope vang, or a Garhauer rigid vang - there is an article about installing one on this site.  I currently have a rope vang, and although it does help, it is not as easy to adjust as I would like.

FYI, I also have a preventer - a nylon line (to allow a bit of stretch), stowed until needed, which I clip onto the boom end-bale and take forward to a bow cleat.  It's crude but works for me.

[Rusty Pelican]

Could be a funky preventer as well. I only rig my preventer when i am sailing by the lee, and never with a strap

[jwspeck]

Thanks for the replies!

It's an odd thing and it looks like original equipment because it's got some dedicated blocks and cleats run back to the front of the cockpit.

I'm thinking it's probably a preventer for sailing by the lee or backsailing. I'll probably go ahead and fix the strap just cause it's there on the off-chance I use it.

[Alma]

That strap is a vang, preventer and boom brake all in one. It does none of those tasks perfectly. A preventer prevents an accidental jibe which can clock someone on the head and also damage the rig. Your strap is too far forward on the boom to be an effective preventer and that is why it parted. Don't bet anyone's skull on that arrangement.

The Gaurhaler solid vang is a great solution to control the main, BUT a line rigged from the boom end to the bow is the only safe preventer.
I often set up a small "handy-billy" block and tackle, like a small mainsheet setup that used to be my old vang, back at the mainsheet bail on the boom. It is attached to a ring on a car on the jib sheet track. I resist the temptation to attach it to the stantion base... It keeps the boom secured when wind is light and flukey and folks are walking about the deck.

The "handy billy" is not a proper preventer.  When the wind pipes up I rig a proper preventer line or harden-up so there is no chance of an accidental jibe.

A solid vang will flatten the main when close hauled, support the boom when dropping the mainsail, and keep the sail from chafing on the aft lower shrouds when running. Although the traveler can help flatten the main- a vang flattens the main independent of the mainsheet. You will find many situations where this is seaworthy and faster.

You will have to remove and re-install the midships hatch turned 180 degrees facing aft to open the hatch with a solid vang installed. You will like an aft facing midships hatch because it is usable when spray would be coming into a forward facing hatch. At rest both hatches open provide cross flow ventilation.