A few pics for anyone who needs to rebuild their Sparcraft vang. The replacement gas shocks are available from Sparcraft. I got mine from http://www.americanriggingsupply.com/ for a reasonable price and quick service.
First step after taking the vang off the boom was to drill out the rivets at the mast end of the vang. On my vang the mast end was riveted and the boom end was screwed. This is apparently somewhat random on these vangs and you may have all rivets or all screws.
Pulled the mast end fitting off. The gas shocks are just held in by pins that easily push out.
Boom end unscrewed with the plastic cap slide up. This is the upper end of the gas shocks showing. They are also pinned in at this end like the lower end is.
The new shocks upper and the old ones lower.
Just in case you want to try and source the gas shocks without going through Sparcraft, here’s the part numbers (click to biggerate).
The vang put back together and now the shocks actually hold up the boom. The repair is quick and pretty easy. The longest time was spent drilling and tapping the lower end piece where the rivets were drilled out. I used machine screws instead of rivets to put it back together.
Paul
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Nice write-up - thanks! I too have to replace the struts - now I know how!
ReplyDeleteBill
Your explanation and picures made it easy for me to do the same repair. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteMarti Rijken, sy Arcadia, The Netherlands
Thank you so much, helps me also.
ReplyDeleteRobert, SY Pura Vida, Austria
I realise this post has been stagnant for a year now but I am doing the same repair and am having trouble finding a source for the gas shocks. It seems American Rigging Supply phone has been disconnected and the part number on the shocks has not helped either. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
ReplyDeleteTravis
Rig Rite has them in stock.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rigrite.com/
thank you so much you arevhelp me. siling boat Matamua
ReplyDeleteI purchased the shocks for my vang from H.A. Guden Co, Inc. in Rohkonkoma, NY Use their site to match the force (I needed 250 pounds) and distance (10 inch) with treaded ends. The zinc cast end piece is a separate item, to match the originals (mine were 0.325). Excellent service, quick delivery and total was under $100! Hope they don't figure out it for a boat ;)
ReplyDeleteany chance you recall the item(s) you had to purchase? i'm very close to ronkonkoma NY.
DeleteThanks for this write up. You helped me tackle the same problem on my boat. Now I just need to find a way to get the new struts to Vanuatu....
ReplyDeleteThanks, Paul - shocks on our OBY 46 failed completely after 3 season, should have replaced a year ago. Your blog helped! Bigger problem seems to be keeping the seawater out of the vang to prevent corrosion inside. any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteI found a supplier in Australia that builds shocks with a stainless steel body and shaft. These have lasted the longest.
DeletePaul
Hi Paul, I have just seen your post from August 2019. I am based in Melbourne Australia and need to rebuild my Catalina 42 boom vang. Would you please forward contact details for the supplier who builds shocks with ss body and shift. Much appreciated. Gary
DeleteTry these guys
Deletehttps://gasstrutservices.co.nz/
Is there an option to install these struts upside down? would this help wit the saltwater issues?
ReplyDeleteThere is a SMALL drainage hole in the lower casting (5mm) this can be increased to 7.5 without any problem with the slot for the mast toggle to fit in. Once a year at least disconnect the lower end of the vang and make sure it's not blocked.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this. Our Outbound's vang was rigged in a less than seamanship manner and it was good to see how it can be made cleaner.
ReplyDeleteLisa SV Luna Moth