Congratulations and Welcome to the Forum!
Rigging the Boom Vang is relatively simple - put a bail (D-shaped metal strap) as low as you can go on the mast, and another bail or a well-reinforced, beefy eye-strap on the boom, about 2-3' back from the gooseneck. Rig a pulley system between them.
Now, here's where it get's interesting, what pulley system should you use? The original Daysailer comes with a 3-1 pulley with a jam cleat, and that's OK (as in barely adequate) for keeping the boom from rising when running downwind - traditional use for vanging. However, on the DS, you can and should use Vang Sheeting. This is actively using your Vang when going upwind, which has several advantages. Main ones being that it allows you to flatten your mainsail in higher winds, and allows you to control twist. Read here for more details:
http://www.sailingbreezes.com/sailing_breezes_current/articles/Aug00/dell0800.htmUsing the Vang this way requires a pulley system with a fairly good purchase, at least 12-1. And you'll need to use a cam-cleat instead of a jammer. Not hard or very expensive to rig, just requires some planning. Here's mine, just to illustrate:
- 20-1 Vang
- Vang800X600.jpg (222.53 KiB) Viewed 2997 times
Apologies for being a bit out of focus! Anyway, this is a 20-1 cascade, that brownish blurry stick on the cuddy roof is a foot-long ruler, so gives you some scale. This page has some great schematics for various Vang systems:
https://www.ronstan.us/marine5/vang_systems.aspMine is Vang #6. I spent about $250-$300 on this, note that I did NOT use Ronstan gear, much as I love them. Instead I looked up the breaking strength for the blocks that they suggested, then scoured the Internet to get used, discontinued, etc blocks with the same specs at a more reasonable price. Ironically, most of the gear in my Vang is from FICO, originally the 'Big Dog" in nautical fittings, till Ronstan bought them out in '81. I splashed out a bit more on the ropes, as I needed light, strong, and low-stretch and wanted new, not offcuts - this combo costs money although not all that badly either. I used Dyneema for the cascades and New England Ropes Bzzz line for the pulley. I did my own splicing, so add a few bucks for the tools (reusable and you can use a coat hanger and needle-nose pliers instead). Also I spent freely - read new stuff and not cheap chinese crap - for the good stainless shackles, including 3 snap-shackles. The latter are not strictly necessary, but sure makes rigging/unrigging the mast a lot easier and quicker. Anyway, I really think that a robust vang setup like this is worth every penny and can be kept at a reasonable cost. And you can go in steps.. for instance, buy yourself a 5-1 pulley and set up the cascades later. Also, you may want to reverse the pulley, put the camcleat along the boom so that you can reach up to adjust it. GreenLake, on this forum does that, although I have no idea how he controls the tail.
And I'm lying a little bit about the $250ish that I've spend on the Vang. I've kept adding on (remember, start slow!) and now I've led the tail of my system below decks, along the centerboard and up to a swiveling cam. You can just see it behind the compass along my CB. This is so I can adjust the vang while sitting at the helm, especially good when I'm single-handing. I've lost exact count of the $$, but my Vang setup is easily the most expensive system on the boat (except the sails themselves, of course). Still worth every penny, when I'm going upwind in a good breeze I'll be working the Vang almost as much, if not more, than the MainSheet. This just to say how important this bit of gear really is, and it's worth really putting some thought into it and building in stages. This goes for both the system itself and your skills - it took me two years to figure out Vang Sheeting and I'm sill very much learning.
Bottom line, the DaySailer is a boat where it's easy, relatively cheap, and fun to experiment with your running rigging. Perfectly class-legal, as well - no restraints on your rigging setup. You know how they say that a boat is a hole in the water, into which you pour money? Well, the DS is a SMALL hole and the cash amounts (if done in small doses) will often survive the auditing powers of the SO - Significant Other or, in my case, the Right Honorable First Lady of the Exchequer. Overall, the Daysailer offers great "bang for your buck," mine has been a joy to own.
Fair Winds!