Traveler for CD 26

[Vern/Lenore Durkee]

Hello, everyone--Our first summer has been spent getting used to sailing Quetzal II and learning how to enter our slip without scaring everyone in the vicinity. It has been wonderful. However, we have NOT been able to get comfortable with the mainsheet system. As you know, there is no "traveler" as such on the 26 and there's a lot of mainsheet length to deal with. A CD 25 here has a traveler right where the lid to the engine access is on our boat, so that's not an option. Our local boat yard has mentioned installing a traveler, but the only possibility might be over the cabin or--as we have seen on a McGregor moored nearby--on the deck at the entry to the cabin. I see problems with either arrangement. Any suggestions? Or should we just trim 10+ feet off both mainsheets and leave it at that?

Thank you.

--Lenore Durkee, Ithaca NY

[Joe Myerson]

Hi Lenore:

I'm not that familiar with the 26, but you might consider mounting a mid-boom traveler on the bridgedeck, just aft of the companionway. That's the way my boat came, and it does give me nice control of the main--including the ability to tweak the boom to windward when sailing to upwind.

One of Creme Brulee's previous owners installed this traveler, perhaps so he/she could mount a Bimini. The PO said it was there when he bought the boat.

However, this system has considerable drawbacks: Namely, it makes getting in and out of the cabin difficult while under way, and it severely limits sitting space.

In fact, I've been considering going back to the original traveler configuration on my 25D, which does have a track aft of the tiller. It looks like an old genoa track, and I'm not sure what I would use for a traveler car.

Still, if you're looking for a traveler and have no place to mount one abaft the cockpit, this might be worth considering.

--Joe

[George Shaunfield]

Lenore,

I only have one mainsheet on my CD26. On the starboard side it is knoted at the deck-level block. Guess I cannot see any benefit to having both ends adjustable. I have a good deal of excess length, but never checked to see how much. I often put the excess on the lazerette lid when sailing, if not too much heel.

It will be interesting to see what you come up with.

George

[Steve Zwicky]

Hi Lenore, I have a CD 26 and had the same frustrations with the mainsheet. Several years ago I bought a Harken track and mounted it on the bridgedeck. I got the mid-boat size which has blocks on either end to control the movement/location of the car. It gives me much better control of the main and allows us to sail with the bimini up. I fastened a teak board in front of the track to make it more comfortable to step below. It is one of the better improvements I've made to the boat.

[drysuit2]

Lenore,

I’ve been sailing the CD 26 for 20 some years now. And while that triangle mainsheet configuration is “different”: it has its advantages.
Yes, it’s a lot of line; but that line gives you a lot of mechanical advantage, and is especially forgiving under heavy loads [like accidental jibes]. During controlled jibes, I just grab a hand full of mainsheet to ease the boom across the deck, instead of sheeting in & out through the blocks. The design spreads out all that stress to the boat [no point loading, like a mid boom, or traveler system].

You do have to pay attention to all that extra line. [I just pay it out on the cockpit sole, on ether side of the tiller]. True, it is a bit of a pain when easing the sheet in light air, . You will however, will appreciate the ability to sheet in or out from windward or leeward when single handling.

Lastly, with the CD’s balsa cored deck, adding hardware like a traveler requires major surgery to reinforce the attachment points. Something I would prefer not to do.

I would give it till the end of the season before I decided to start drilling holes.

Hope this helps,

Frank