Regarding the Alerions, they were never intended to be a class when originally designed. "Alerion" was Nat Herreshoff's personal sailboat, and he designed it for himself to sail in his later years. It is now on display in the small boat shed at Mystic Seaport.
Mass production boats started with the cold-molded, Gunter rigged boats built on Nantucket in the late 1970's. A while later, Halsey Herreshoff drew up plans for a full-keel boat like those pictured above. As they aren't really considered one-designs, they can be made with a multitude of rigs from a Gunter, to a Gaff, to a Marconi to I suppose a wish-bone.
As regards to a Boom-Vang, I suppose it all depends on the rig. I have one on our 12 1/2, but we can't use it while racing. Still, it's a handy thing to have in sloppy conditions off the wind.
Jon
