Hello:
Not sure if this question should be in this subsection or a sailing section:
My 2007 C36 II came with a downhaul and a Vang. I have sailed the boat on all points and can't see why I should keep the downhall rigged in place, with lines running back to cockpit and complicating my layout of jacklines on the deck. I am thinking of securing the line near the brake at the cockpit and stowing the downhaul under the v-berth. Are there wind situations where the downhaul performs better than the vang?
TIA
Gene
Sombre Del Viento
C36: Downhall and Vang-when do I need both?
Thu, 06/12/2025 - 10:34
#1
C36: Downhall and Vang-when do I need both?
When I think about down hauls' and cringles, I think about mainsail reefing more than tweaking sail shape. Do you have in-mast furling? Our vang is an adjustable length rod that Catalina experimented with. Adjusting it to control sail shape is not easy, so we just set the length so it angles the boom up slightly to better facilitate furling in the mast. We cruise and don't race. Even if you don't have an in-mast set up, I would think a vang would give you all the sail shape control you need.
Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B