The fact that pretty much every top guy (and gal) (Robert Schiedt being an exception, he used the 'old' style vang) uses a Harken vang should tell you all you need to know.
Very true. My husband has the harken vang but has adapted it to have slightly less purchase as he is strong enough he doesn't need it all so why have all the string in the cockpit. A few of the guys at my club have done similar.
The issue is the length of the control line. The 15:1 is very easy to apply and, as a consequence of the additional turning points and distance between them, you have to pull more line through the cleat to get the same tension on the vang. This leaves a long line in the boat when you're going upwind which needs to be managed (not a big deal but it usually ends up over the leeward side when I need to adjust it).Out of interest, why would you change the purchase to a 12:1 or a 10:1 when there is the opportunity for 15:1 which 15:1 which is better?
thats funny maybe we do get a different quality of parts because i dont know of anyone in the uk that uses a allen (holt) vang apart from the laser centre on their training boats the harken ones are the best they work and look good and the allen (holt) ones just seem cheep and i've heard they like to un cleat themselves however the harken vang is £195 as apposed to the £135 for the allen (holt) vang and you can sell a used harken vang but the allen (holt) vang's are hard to get rid of unless you sell it with a boat. thats why i baught a harken vang and mine has remained standard and works perfectley although i have heard from a lot of people that they like to rig them in different waysI think the Harken looks better but I have used the Holt for about 4 years racing every week and never had a problem with it. I am just noticing now that the cleat is starting to wear the sheet a little.
The many club owned Lasers I have sailed in the USA have all had Harken vangs (or else the original fittings). I may be wrong here but the Harken vangs used seemed to be slightly different in design to the ones I have seen in the Uk. I assumed they were just a cheap imitation and I certainly did not like them very much. I now take my own gear with me.
If these were indeed the genuine article I am pleased I bought Holt.