We are considering two different 33 Cat Ketches. One has the original wishbone windsurfer type booms. The other has traditional booms with garhaur rigid vangs. Can anyone provide some real world guidance as the differing performance characteristics of those tow options? Any advise as the more desirable?
I have the conventional boom rig
Automatic tacking with the camber spar
Sails well in winds above 10 kts
Ist Reef in gusts over 20 kts in winter 22 in summer
Need to ensure the boom is midships by pulling the traveller over to otherside of companionway for close hauled
Minimal ropework once the sails are up
Mainly sail on the traveller
Thank you for that information. With the conventional rig, do you get enough downward pull from the vang to essentially sail wing and wing with the sails out 90 degrees to the boat?
Didnt read post properly mine is a single mast sloop with verysmall jib
Hi, sorry if off topic, but have you considered the junk rig? Your boat is a perfect candidate !
I own a Freedom 39 schooner, junk rigged, I love to be different ! 
Patrick
Hi Jim
They are overall different rigs, it’s not just the boom that is different, but also the sails, and the way they attach to the mast. Example: does the wishbone boom boat have the original 2-ply wrap-around sails? If not, do the masts have an aluminium track and batcars to attach the sail? Etc. A few pics would be illustrative if you need advice. The answer to your second question would also depend of the kind of sailing you anticipate doing, single/short handed or with a crew, etc.
I would definitely go for the wishbone booms and wrap-around sails. The advantage of the standard booms and sails on tracks is the possibility of greater sail area from a large roach as well as full length battens; nice for windward sailing and light airs. For every other reason the ‘windsurfer’ rig is more versatile, comfortable and easy to handle. There is no gooseneck, so gybing is safe and easy, the sails can be carried forward of the beam (and by the lee, in some cases) and the clew outhaul gives great control of the sail shape, from almost flat to very full bellied. Freeing the outhaul and sheet allows the sail to be reefed or handed without rounding up into the wind, and the wrapping of the sail around the circular section of the mast gives smoother and more efficient flow, especially off the wind.
We have the usual slab reefing, and the bunt of the sail falls into the wishbone, where it can be left unsecured, ready to raise again. The portion of the sail below the boom acts as the vang, maintaining the proper position of the boom, and is a last, low bit of sail in heavy weather.
Our sails have zipped pockets around the mast, about 1.5m deep, which makes them lighter then the double ply ones, but preserves the other advantages.
See the thread " Cat Ketch Mainsail forward of Mast" posted in September 2023 on this board for a couple of pictures.
Gerald
Here’s a short video of my 33KC with conventional sails/rigid vangs sailing wing and wing- without shrouds you can have the booms afore the beam like a V. less chance of gybing. BTW that was our first real sail in a nor’easter on a modified race course. We were doing 10 knots during this video. I don’t want to talk about the rest of the day…