[quote=jonathan162]Yeah, I get the "pulleys supply mechanical advantage" thing (I'm an engineer as well as a longtime sailor, so that doesn't really need to be explained). My point is that considering that most of the upward/sideways load that the boom experiences is carried by the mainsheet (out on a much longer lever arm than is the vang), and that the vang is a rather small control element not carrying much of the load, I see little advantage in such a clumsy and space-consuming arrangement vs. a couple of small blocks. Even back then.
As for the "no modern cats" thing, you may have missed that this is a 50-year-old boat that I'm piecing together.[/quote]
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