Selden Hydraulic Boom Vang — Owner's Manual

Before You Start

• Installation by a competent installer with marine hydraulics experience.
• Use only hydraulic hoses and connectors suited to the marine environment and to 345 bar working pressure; keep impurities out of the system.
• The vang joins an existing hydraulic system (hoses, pump station and tank: Seldén manual 597-145). Have the hose with the right fitting ready near the mast kicker bracket.
• Before fitting, pressurise the vang and run the piston rod in and out a few times to bleed air and lubricate the seals.
• Split pins on the clevis pins: see Seldén manual 595-540.

Step by Step

1. Cover the working area under the boom with protective sheets.
2. Remove the transport cover from the vang.
3. Support the outer end of the boom with a topping lift, halyard or other support.
4. Mount the vang fork on the mast kicker bracket with clevis and split pin.
5. Connect the hydraulic hose to one of the two ports in the fork; the unused port stays closed with the factory plug (integrated seal).
6. Adjust the boom support until the end-cap hole lines up with the boom kicker bracket; fit clevis and split pin. Alternatively pressurise the vang very carefully until the holes match – keep fingers clear.
7. Run the vang through its full stroke 5 times to bleed air. Check the boom does not hit the spray hood or coach roof when fully compressed. Standard: boom lifts ~10° and lowers ~5°.

Maintenance

• Rinse with fresh water regularly; rinse off all detergent (most contain elements that corrode aluminium). Silicone-free wax protects the surfaces.
• Grease the clevis pins at the end cap and fork regularly (Omega 95 recommended) – a small amount on the contact surfaces.
• Have the vang serviced at least every five years in normal use; more often for charter or circumnavigation.
• Inspect the hydraulic hoses at every service and replace if worn. If contaminants are found, change the oil of the whole hydraulic system.
• Storage: keep stainless parts (halyard wires, standing rigging) off the aluminium to avoid galvanic corrosion; store dry with air circulating, never wrapped in plastic.

Releasing the Nitrogen Gas

Danger of death – asphyxiating atmosphere. Release only in a well-ventilated area or outside, never in a confined space. Wear hand, eye and ear protection.

1. Remove the plug in the cylinder end with a 6 mm hex key (it may be pressurised).
2. Push the ball down with a small screwdriver or 2 mm hex key without damaging the o-ring seal.
3. All the gas takes about one minute to come out.

Removing the vang: lift the boom end until the boom-bracket clevis pin is unloaded, remove the pin, release the hydraulic pressure and let the vang extend fully, disconnect and plug the hose and the port, then remove the mast-bracket pin.