12ft skiffs develop a new boom vang setup

....look a bit closer luke lad.

Hey if there is too much strain at the root of this strut thing you could run a wire to an anchorage further back on the boom to take the forces!  Better still go for Gnav and with some good engineering you could get it to support the weight of the boom and lessen the leach tension in light winds.

Care to elaborate?

just for the techno-freaks this is what happens to all the loads compared to a normal kicker...

OK, Disadvantages of the compression vang. Bear in mind that not all of these apply to every boat and the extent to which these are issues varies from boat to boat. Sailboat design is always a compromise, and doubtless there are situations where the compression vang is the best solution. On a one design many of the disadvantages are irrelevant as all boats are the same.

1) Mast is pushed forward by the vang well above the gooseneck. This will require either staying or else a very stiff mast section. On a tension kicker the gooseneck can be off the mast, and thus the forward push taken out of the mast. In any case if the gooseneck require staying then the stays are much shorter and create less drag.

2) The compression strut affects airflow round the sail reducing power and creating drag. Even the Bethwaite dual luff setup (illegal on most classes) is a compromise and is also a pain to rig.

3) The arrangements nevcessary to stop the vang pushing the boom off the gooseneck are a nuisance

4) Its possible to arrange mast support with a tension kicker so that lowers are unnecessary, for instance with the mast stump used by some 12s and Cherubs, or the gooseneck on the front bulkhead like Moths. This reduces drag still more and makes it easier for the crew to position in front of the shrouds.

For balance, the chief advantages include
room under the boom
the boom can be as low as desired
no concerns about clearance for the kicker in internal layout.

RS300 is an example where the advantages probably outweigh the disadvantages, as the bend issues are less of a concern on an unstayed spar, and the very low boom with its aerodynamic advantages is made practical.

Edited by JimC