Traveler Blues

[mashenden]

The past couple of weekends have turned out to be absolutely wonderful sailing weather here in Virginia. The only hiccup being my traveler stop was not pushed completely into the hole so in the course of performing a jibe, the traveler stop, the plastic end piece and a few pieces from the traveler car ended up about 45' down. I am just glad the car did not hit anyone as it exited stage starboard. All things considered, I can't say I am too upset, given how the stock traveler is/was not much to talk about.

I have read up on the various full replacement options, and favor the Garhauer MT-UB-2, but wanted to consider a few alternate ideas, as follows:

• Does anyone have parts left over from their FICO replacement that they would be willing to sell?
• Has anyone tried modifying the FICO traveler by adding Garhauer control ends to the existing FICO track, and then attaching a double pulley on either side of the FICO traveler car.

The idea being to make the existing system adjustable when under load - a serious weakness (impossibility) on the stock design.

Edited to include link references:

• http://www.capedory.org/board/viewtopic.php?t=22710
• http://www.capedory.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=27536
• http://www.capedory.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=29701
• http://www.capedory.org/board/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=29700

[tjr818]

...Has anyone tried modifying the FICO traveler by adding Garhauer control ends to the existing FICO track, and then attaching a double pulley on either side of the FICO traveler car.[/list]

The idea being to make the existing system adjustable when under load - a serious weakness (impossibility) on the stock design.

This has been done and it is in this forum somewhere, I just can't seem to find it. It was when I was first thinking about the conversion so it must have been back around 2010 0r 2011. We ended up going with the Garhauer traveler and have been very happy with it.

[bottomscraper]

Before we replaced our traveler with a Garhauer I looked into purchasing a control end conversion kit from Rig-Rite but the parts were more than a complete new custom bent traveler from Garhauer.

[tjr818]

Here is the link to that previous post, it was by Zeida:

http://www.capedory.org/board/viewtopic ... er#p160459

[mashenden]

Before we replaced our traveler with a Garhauer I looked into purchasing a control end conversion kit from Rig-Rite but the parts were more than a complete new custom bent traveler from Garhauer.

Here is the link to that previous post, it was by Zeida:
http://www.capedory.org/board/viewtopic ... er#p160459

Thanks guys. I had not seen the post by Zeida. Good info.

From what I can gather from reading the various posts on travelers is that its hard to beat Garhauer's price & quality. I concur that it would be better to go with Garhauer than the pieces and parts from others. The difference I wanted to consider was getting Garhauer control ends and pulleys, as compared to an all out Garhauer replacement.

Has anyone tried that?

[Doug Jesseman]

I have a Lewmar midboom traveler, Size 2, that was never designed for an arch type traveler, that I would love to sell. $400 takes all. It was a great idea but somewhere I missed out on the details.

[Polly]

I recently replaced the traveler on my CD 30. I installed a harken model - it's dramatically better than the original fico.

[Steve Laume]

"The difference I wanted to consider was getting Garhauer control ends and pulleys, as compared to an all out Garhauer replacement"

This is exactly what I did on Raven. I found an original traveler car with blocks in it at the consignment shop. I bought control ends from Garthauer that I thought would fit right onto the track. I turns out they were the wrong size but instead of sending them back, I made aluminum extensions to my track, that were then bolted to the risers in tapped holds. This gives me the full range of the original track and looks fine.

I think the ends cost me about $90.00.

It works a whole lot better than trying to set the travelers stops before tacking or man handling the car over to change things, Steve.

[mashenden]

"The difference I wanted to consider was getting Garhauer control ends and pulleys, as compared to an all out Garhauer replacement"

This is exactly what I did on Raven. I found an original traveler car with blocks in it at the consignment shop. I bought control ends from Garhauer that I thought would fit right onto the track. I turns out they were the wrong size but instead of sending them back, I made aluminum extensions to my track, that were then bolted to the risers in tapped holds. This gives me the full range of the original track and looks fine.

I think the ends cost me about $90.00.

It works a whole lot better than trying to set the travelers stops before tacking or man handling the car over to change things, Steve.

Now we are talkin', figuratively speaking of course! Thank you!!

Do you have any pictures?

[mashenden]

I have a Lewmar midboom traveler, Size 2, that was never designed for an arch type traveler, that I would love to sell. $400 takes all. It was a great idea but somewhere I missed out on the details.

Thank you, and tempting, except I want to stay with a curved traveler, and if I understand you correctly that is not an option with your Lewmar.

Most likely I will either go with 1) a new Garhauer replacement or 2) fixing up the FICO car and making it controllable using Garhauer control ends etc.

The used parts that I am interested in would need to be from a leftover FICO/Nicor system.

[Polly]

Annapolis Performance Sailing custom bent the curve into my new Harken traveler track. http://www.apsltd.com/

[Maine_Buzzard]

I'll discourage trying to modify the Fico track and cars for adjustment under load. The old wheels will barely turn as it is, I'd hate to see them as you crank the car windward.

Hands down, this is the best upgrade done to Guppy. Easing on a puff and you feel the helm lighten up.

I used Garhauer 8" risers and Harken 2:1 piecebuilt system. Works well, and holds up under a strong blow...
6" risers would have worked well too. It is about 4" shorter than Harken's limit for tall track clear span.

[Steve Laume]

I will admit that the car doesn't exactly glide along the track with my set up. It does seem strong enough and about half of the load is being taken by the fixed eye and block in the original CD set up. If I was racing, where I had a dedicated crew member playing the traveler, I would do something different. For my cruising needs where I tend to set the traveler and leave it, for hours at a time, I believe the original car and track with the new control ends, is adequate.

There is not only a great deal of expense but also labor involved in replacing the traveler. I am pretty happy with my solution, even though it might not be right for everyone, Steve.

[Maine_Buzzard]

No trolling here! (at least today...) I'm all for letting everyone experiment what works for them, and let the ocean decide what's right.

With the full batten main and boltrope foot on Guppy, my sail trim is already constrained. I find that the traveler is the first line I reach for when trimming, and being able to come up or down with the car is a great help. I rarely adjusted with the old Fico setup, so it's probably a matter of internally justifying a shiny toy for me.

On a 36, those loads get mighty big, and a 5:1 might become necessary too. Dropping a full Boat Unit on a traveler is not a spur of the moment decision, but it's totally worth it for sailing pleasure for me.

Matt, either way will work, if you order the Garhauer, you will not be disappointed.

[mashenden]

...Matt, either way will work, if you order the Garhauer, you will not be disappointed.

Thank you all for the different perspectives. That is exactly what this forum is about. One thing that is clear - I'll have Garhauer in the solution. I've used their products before and am sold on their value and quality. Still not sure if I'll go with control ends vs a whole system but I'll update this post once I decide.

The decision has been a bit slow on account of my daughter getting married this past weekend. The ceremony was on the American Rover (135' schooner) as it sailed (not motored) in the Norfolk harbor. Very cool!! The reception was held at the Rebel Marina on the Willoughby Spit. If anyone followed the posts while I brought Nautica (pka Parfait) back to sailing condition, you may recall that her now husband, Beau, proposed to Mariah in Fishing Bay (Deltaville) as they brought the boat from Oriental, NC to Urbanna, VA for me.

Good times!!! We could not be more proud of them both.

BTW - that is Mariah at age 3 or so in my picture to your left. At that time (1994ish) she was at the tiller of my wooden sloop, Ishmael (a 30' Seychelles built by American Marine in Hong Kong). Little did I know how much that would influence our lives.