Douglas Eugene Drake

US Patent:

6520103, Feb 18, 2003

Filed:

Dec 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/747074

Inventors:

Greg Hartlmeier - Whitefish Bay WI
John Christianson - Milwaukee WI
Douglas Drake - Milwaukee WI

Assignee:

Harken, Inc. - Pewaukee WI

International Classification:

B63H 910

US Classification:

114 97, 114 90, 114218

Abstract:

A boom vang system for sailboats has a rear facing pivotal cam cleat arm hingedly connected to a rigid tang on the sailboat mast. When the boom vang rotates off the centerline of the boat, as for instance will occur when the boat is sailing downwind and the boom and sail are blow off the centerline of the boat, the pivotal connection of the cam cleat arm, to the tang allows for the cam cleat to be urged into alignment with the sailor regardless of his position on the boat. The cam cleat arm may rotate along an arc lying in a plane substantially parallel to the boat deck. Sheeves and pulleys may be rigidly connected to the rigid tang to prevent tangling of lines.