Boom vang bolts seem too short for a locking nut.
Posted by Jay_Normous@reddit | sailing | View on Reddit | 19 comments
Hi there
I'm in the process of hooking up my Garhauer vang on my new to me boat for the first time and it seems like there is no way to attach a locking nut to the end of the bolt.
I have the bolt tightened all the way through the vang and boom/mast attachment points (the bolt hole is also threaded) but there is only a millimeter or two of bolt protruding through.
This seems odd that there would be this small amount of bolt sticking through right?
The bolts are the ones that were on the vang when the previous owner put the boat away, it just didn't have any nuts with it.
Is there something I'm missing here on how to attach these, or is this bolt just too short?
https://imgur.com/a/7fDjMsH
dwkfym@reddit
Good engineering says want 3 threads showing, but if people have been using it that way or it was designed that way and it has been fine, its fine.
carnalasadasalad@reddit
It would be weird to have a nut on tape. Tape it with e-tape to keep it from wriggling loose.
texasrigger@reddit
A) it won't wiggle loose B) wrapping it with electrical tape just holds moisture in and exacerbates corrosion.
carnalasadasalad@reddit
Okay maybe I should reframe:
Cruisers: go for mocktote. Racers: go for e-tape.
texasrigger@reddit
Racers shouldn't either. There is zero reason to tape this. At least, that's this mans opinion (rigger for 20+ years, actively raced for more than 30).
carnalasadasalad@reddit
Also like I grew up in a very choppy windy bay, and things always worked loose and I just don’t trust locktite I can’t see it. But I can see tape.
texasrigger@reddit
Same here. My home bay (Corpus Christi) is notoriously windy and choppy.
carnalasadasalad@reddit
2 reasons to tape:
You take the bang off pretty regularly and don’t want to reapply goooy stuff every time.
You want a quick visual signal that you are paying attention to details. It’s like the brown m&ms whenever I get on a boat and I see that clean fresh tape is on the bang and the cotterpins I know the owner is paying attention.
It makes me a cool racer.
texasrigger@reddit
Vang. Cotter pins shouldn't be taped either if they are bent correctly. Vangs arent being removed pretty regularly unless it's a smaller boat that is getting rigged down for travel. There is zero reason this bolt needs anything other than being snug, I only suggested loctite to alleviate OP's concers about it backing off (which it won't do). Tape should only be applied where actually necessary and where it is actually doing something.
texasrigger@reddit
I cant see your picture but an additional nut shouldn't be needed if the hole in the vang is threaded. If you are concerned about it working loose, put a little blue loctite on the threads.
carnalasadasalad@reddit
E-tape, not lock-tote. You want to be able to get it off quickly if you need to.
texasrigger@reddit
Blue loctite won't make it difficult to remove.
carnalasadasalad@reddit
I believe you.
Jay_Normous@reddit (OP)
Huh weird. Can you see these?
https://www.imgur.com/a/XFt9USl
Either way, I'll look into that. Thanks.
texasrigger@reddit
Yep, those I see just fine. Yep, thats completely normal. No additional nut needed.
Jay_Normous@reddit (OP)
Good to know, thanks for the insight!
greatlakesailors@reddit
That's totally normal for the Garhauer vang. It's not supposed to get an extra nut. The tip of the bolt should be flush with or just barely protruding past the threaded hole, exactly as in your photo.
Jay_Normous@reddit (OP)
Thank you. I appreciate it!
Successful_Cod_8904@reddit
Absolutely fine