Carbomax Carbon Pneumatic Vang

The reasoning behind a pneumatic vangs is to support the boom without the need for topping lift improving the efficiency of the reef giving the sail perfect shape.

Normal rigid vangs are constructed from telescopic aluminium tubes with internally mounted pneumatic pistons or springs which support the boom.

You can find different types of vang, constructed differently but all based on the same principle and all very heavy.

Our idea is very simple, to take two light but strong carbon tubesand use them a a pneumatic cylinder which counteracts the with pressure the resistance of the boom.

Conventional vangs to meet the counter-force required increase the number of pistons or use larger springs or pre-tension the spring.

We simply increase or decrease the internal pressure by simply using a bicycle pump to obtain the required counter-force.

To better explain the concept, with one of our vangs with internal diameter 80mm and around 2200 mm long, a movement of 400mm can produce a force from 200kg to 750kg by simply changing the internal pressure from between 4bar to 15bar using a bicycle pump similar to the one in the photo. The weight of the vang is 7.3 kg.