Vanguard Pico Quick start guide

Rigging Manual
Vanguard Sailboats
200 Highpoint Avenue
Portsmouth, RI 02871
For the dealer
nearest you call
800.966.SAIL

Getting Started
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Unpacking and preparation
Unpack the major parts listed below and lay them out on a soft piece of ground free of sharp objects.
To avoid damaging contents, do not cut into packaging. You will need two adjustable wrenches and
knowledge of the following knots.
1. Hull
2. Mainsail
3. Line package (all lines are labeled)
4. Block package which includes:
Small traveler block
Large traveler block
Outhaul hook
Large vang block
Snap hook
Line package
4 Brummel hooks
5. Rudder
6. Tiller/tiller extension
7. Daggerboard
8. Mast kit which includes:
Top section
Bottom section (larger diameter)
Boom (with blocks attached)
9. Pico Plus Box (optional): jib sheet, jib
Top Section
Bottom Section
Boom
Rudder
Tiller
Mainsail
Daggerboard
Small Travellar Block
Large Travellar Block
Outhaul Hook
Large Vang Block
Snap Hook
Small Vang Block
Line Package
Hull
Tiller Extension
To rig your Pico the first
time, you will need the
following:
Knife
White electrical tape
2 adjustable wrenches
and/or pliers
To o ls
bowline
square knot figure 8 stopper

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Before you launch
Check to make sure the hatches and stern plug are secure. Lock the
rudder up and attach it to the boat by passing the tiller under the
traveler and lining up the rudder pin with the pintles. The bottom
groove should fit into the bottom pintle, and when you push down
on the spring loaded pin, the top groove will slide into the top pintle.
Release the spring to lock the rudder in place, making sure the rud-
der is securely connected to the boat at both top and bottom.
Once in the water, slide the daggerboard into the daggerboard
trunk. (You will have to turn the boat sideways to the wind to keep
the boom clear.) Drop it down as much as depth permits. As soon as
it is deep enough, push the rudder down until it locks in place. NOW
YOU ARE READY TO SAIL. FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY, WEAR APPROPRIATE
CLOTHING AND OBTAIN PROPER TRAINING BEFORE SAILING. HAVE FUN
AND DON’T FORGET YOUR LIFEJACKET!
Furling
To reduce sail area for lighter crews or stronger winds, slack off the
vang and unclip the larger v-cleat block from the mast. Uncleat the
outhaul line and pull slack in it to release the tension on the foot of
the sail. Rotate the mast one full turn in the direction of the furling
arrows. This rolls the sail around the mast, reducing sail area (which
is called reefing), which makes the boat easier to handle. Recleat the
outhaul and pull it tight. Resecure the vang and tighten.
Unrigging
When approaching shallow water, pull up the daggerboard as much
as possible without obstructing the boom. After you hop out of the
boat, remove the daggerboard and place it in the boat, leaving the
safety line attached. Pull the rudder up until it locks and leave it
attached to the boat. Once the boat is on land, unhook the vang
from the mast and release the clew from the outhaul hook. Roll up
the sail, following the arrows, until the entire sail is furled, then clip
the furling strap around the sail and mast. Make sure the sail is furled
tightly so that it doesn’t unroll on its own. If the boat is staying put,
you can leave everything else on the boat; simply rehook and snug
the vang, and tighten up the mainsheet to keep the boom from moving
around.
All gear should be washed with fresh water, if sailing in salt water,
and the sail should be allowed to dry before it is rolled up.
Launching
Turn to Furl

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Rudder & Daggerboard
Rudder assembly
Attach the rudder to the tiller using the supplied bolt, nut, and
washers. The washers sit between the tiller and the rudder, one on
each side.
Daggerboard
Locate the daggerboard and the short line labeled daggerboard
handle. Pass the two ends of the line through the two aft holes in
the top of the daggerboard and tie stopper knots, so that the line
forms a short handle on top of the board.
Place the daggerboard in the boat, close to the mast. Pass the
daggerboard safety line through the third (smaller) hole in the top
of the daggerboard, forward around the mast, and attach the brummel
hooks to the shock chord with stopper knots. Then connect the two
brummel hooks. This line keeps the daggerboard with the boat and
should be secured at all times while sailing, to prevent loss of the
daggerboard.
Daggerboard Trunk
Daggerboard
Handle
Brummel Hooks
Rudder & Tiller
Assembled and mounted

Sail Controls
Vang
The vang system consists of two blocks, a snap hook, and a vang line.
The smaller block attaches to the eyestrap on the underside of the
boom close to the jaw end, using the small pin and ring. The larger
block (with the v groove cleat) attaches to the snap hook, which will
clip into the eyestrap on the mast once the boat is rigged. Lay out the
smaller block to the right of the v-cleat block, leaving about two feet
between the two. Tie one end of the vang line to the becket on the
smaller block, run it through the nearest sheave of the v-cleat block,
back through the sheave in the smaller block, through the second
sheave of the v-cleat block and out through the cleat. Tie a stopper
knot in the free end, and make sure the line runs without crosses
between the two blocks.
Traveller
Locate the traveler line and two traveler blocks and tie the line to the
padeye on one side of the stern. Thread the other end of the line
through the smaller traveler block and tie it to the padeye on the
opposite side of the stern. Clip the larger block into the smaller block.
Mainsheet
Lay the boom on the boat so that the block closest to the end of the
boom is even with the stern and the jaws point toward the bow.
Thread the mainsheet through the ratchet block in the bottom of the
boat AGAINST the ratchet, through the forward block on the boom,
aft along the boom, and through the aft block. Lead it forward
through the larger traveler block, back up to the block on the aft end
of the boom, and secure it to the becket with a stopper knot.
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Large
Vang Block
Vang Line
Small
Vang Block
Stopper
Knot
Large
Traveller Block
Small
Traveller Block
Traveller Line
Main Sheet
Ratchet Block
Snap Hook
Pad Eye

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Mast Assembly
D Ring
Cunningham
Cleat
Outhaul
Locate the outhaul, outhaul cleanup shockcord, and clew tie down
from the line package. Thread the clew tie down line through the eye
in the outhaul hook (from the block package) and secure it around
the aft end of the boom, in front of the fairlead at the outer end. Tie
the outhaul to the blue fairlead at the end of the boom, pass it
through the eye in the outhaul hook, back through the fairlead, and
lead it forward along the boom and through the fairlead at the
forward end. Thread the end through the small eye in the brummel
hooks and tie a stopper knot. Secure one end of the outhaul clean up
line to the eye in the outhaul hook. Pass the other end through the
small eye in a second brummel hook and tie a stopper knot; then clip
the two brummel hooks together. Now the outhaul is under tension
and out of the way.
Mast, sail and boom
Insert the collared end of the mast top section into the bottom sec-
tion until the collar is tight against the aluminum (VERY IMPORTANT:
Make sure the cunningham cleat on the bottom mast section lines up
with the eyestrap on the top section).
After checking that there are no sharp objects in the area, unroll the
sail. Slide the sleeve of the sail over the mast, aligning the slot in the
sleeve with the eyestrap on the forward side of the top section
removing any twists in the sleeve. The head of the sail does not
rotate easily on the masthead, so double check that it is not twisted
before stepping the mast. Locate the cunningham from the line
package and attach one end to the metal D ring at the bottom of the
sail sleeve. Thread the line through the roller on the cunningham
cleat and back through the D ring, then pass it out through the cleat
and snug the line. Tie a stopper knot in the loose end.
Clew Tie Down
Fairlead
Becket
Outhaul Hook
Outhaul Hook
Brumel Hooks

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Stepping the mast
Make sure the bow of the boat is pointing into the wind and that
there are no overhead electrical wires in the area. Also make sure the
mast step hole and mast butt are clean; any sand or dirt in the mast
step will grind into the hull and eventually damage the boat.
Remove the mast gate pin and open the gate. Place the butt of the
mast into the mast step and push forward until the mast gate closes
around it. Do not let go of the mast until the pin is reinserted into
the gate, locking it closed. Make sure the tab at the bottom of the
mast gate pin is pushed into the 90 degree “locked” position.
Push the boom jaws onto the mast just above the mast collar until
they snap in place. (You may need to hold the boat to keep it from
sliding forward.) . Make sure the main sheet will run free, and hook
the clew of the sail into the outhaul hook. (Also make sure that the
two ends of the furling strap, used for securing the sail around the
mast after sailing, are clipped together.) Tension the outhaul, passing
the line through the cleat on the boom to secure it. Attach the vang
to the mast by hooking the snap hook to the eyestrap just above the
mast gate.
Mast Assembly
Mast Gate
Mast Step
Hole
Mast Gate
Pin
Bow

Pico Plus
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Pico plus
The Plus option adds a forward sail or jib to the standard Pico rig.
Unroll the jib and clip the head (the corner near the narrow part of
the sail) to the eyestrap on the forward side of the mast top section.
If the mast is already stepped, tip the boat over by pulling down on
the mast and lifting on the opposite side of the hull, until the eye-
strap is within reach. Attach the jib tack (the other corner with a clip)
to the eyestrap on the bow of the boat. If this is difficult, release
vang tension and push the end of the boom toward the top of the
mast, to push the mast forward. Locate the jib sheets (one line, located
in the Plus kit) and find their halfway point; this is where they will
attach to the sail. Feed the midpoint through the clew grommet as a
loop and pass both tails through this loop, so that when tightened,
the line is securely attached to the sail. Lead the nearest end back to
the fairlead on the near side of the boat. Lead the other sheet in
front of the mast and back to the opposite fairlead. Tie a stopper knot
in the ends to prevent them from pulling out when the wind catches
the sail. NOTE: The sail can not be reefed when the jib is attached.
Jib Head
Jib Sheets
Jib Tack
Jib Clew
Jib Cleat
Jib Fairlead