Rhapsody's New Traveler

[barfwinkle]

Here are a couple of shots of the new traveler. I can't wait to go sailing!

Fair Winds

[Sea Hunt Video]

Bill:

Looks beautiful. And color coordinated

As your schedule permits, can you post a list of parts that you bought that you installed for the traveler Also, what is your mainsheet rigging gear (make, parts nos.)

Finally, have you previously posted a description of how you installed the traveler taking into account the curvature of the stern deck, etc. If not, could you do so

Sorry for so many questions and being so "needy".

Great job

[Doug Hill]

Wow, That really looks great. Now you have my juices flowing for a spring project on MEANDER.

I second the thought that the parts list would be very helpful. Also, any "AH HAH" moments that were unexpected?

Great post.

Doug

[Dick Barthel]

Very nice Bill! I share Robert and Doug's hope for some more info. I'll add a few more questions if you don't mind:

(1) What did you have to remove for access?

(2) Have you used it and is there any interference with the coaming?

(3) So it looks like you end up with two additional control lines to worry about and you have them secured somehow to the stern rail.

(4) I assume for cruising this is an occassional adjustment made after all other trimming and adjusting has been accomplished?

Now you can make the adjustment while underway vs. the old pin system which I think is the purpose behind the modification.

Dick

[barfwinkle]

All Harken Small Boat Traveler. Sorry for the crude annotations, but hey its all I have. The only thing I did differently was to add 1/4" of new teak to the bottom of the existing piece the traveler sits on and I moved the whole thing back 1/4" on the aft deck. This left plenty of room for the wider car and line controls. I filled and re-drilled all holes. This track has holes centered at 100mm spacing not 4". Bending the wood and then the track was not an issue at all. Accessing the underside of the screws was. I removed the engine control panel which allowed me to reach about 1/2 of the screws. Reaching the first two on the starb'd side I had to go through the starb'd locker, reach back and then is was a blind operation. The port side was easy with a helper in the locker. Cape Dory put two screws (one at each end of the teak) to bend it into place, then they drilled and bedded the holes on the track. Obviously, the holes under the teak were also bedded. Shocker was that the holes went all the way through the deck and there was no coring at that location. But I removed a cowl and there is bare balsa core there so now I have to seal the edges of the holes for the cowls. The track had to be cut to fit and that was a bit nerve racking but no big deal. JUST MEASURE NUMEROUS TIMES and cut twice (in this case-each end).

Also, I did several dry fits and I mounted the track on the teak while off the boat. Thats is when I drill the new holes in the teak. The new hole on the teak acted as a guide on the boat. The old fasteners were 1/4", the new track would only take #10 fasteners thus the fill & re-drill step (and I moved it back a bit).

It took me more time to brainstorm how I wanted it done than anything else. Others had used washers to "elevate" the track and others slightly cut the teak above the engine panel to allow for the wider car. I didn't want to do that so it took a bit longer (esp the brainstorming! My brain still hurts).

Robert, I bought the two blocks for the mainsheet on sale somewhere and have no clue what the models numbers are. They are Ronstan blocks.

Its raining dogs and cats today and I just completed the project yesterday, so haven't used this thing yet, but will report back when I get the chance.

Fair Winds

[barfwinkle]

Regarding the hardware. I called Jeff at Riggingonly (I like this guy) told him what I wanted to do, this is what came in the mail.

Fair Winds

[Doug Hill]

Great documentation and follow-up. Very helpful.

Can't get my hands on MEANDER until April 21 but this is gonna be on the list.

Look forward to hearing your post sail comments.

Thanks again,
Doug

[barfwinkle]

FYI to all: My mainsheet blocks are Ronstan RF 51500 and RF 51530. The numbers are stamped where I didn't expect to see them.

Fair Winds

[Dick Barthel]

nm

[frankfurder]

Barfwinkle;down here in Fort Worth, I installed a homemade traveller last fall and love it! I passed on the factory travellers and could not find a mainsheet car that would fit the 1"track (which I did not want to remove) so I gathered up some spare blocks and fashoned the end cars on aluminum plate, complete with cam cleats. Used double blocks attached to mainsheet car with shackles and away I went. It really works well with 4:1 purchase, only problem is the mainsheet car doesnt always move on it's own, but when the gust hits, just lower the main and it really helps control the heel angle.

Dont know how i survived for 15 years without it!

[gates_cliff]

Shoot, I'd love to do something like this but since I don't drink I couldn't accumulate the expired Bud Lights, guess I'll have to have someone else do the work.

[Dick Barthel]

Bill & the rest of the board,

I'm looking at a Garhaurer unit and the track is fairly thick (as in high). The rigger is recommending filling the old holes and installing the new unit right to the deck without the teak riser. I think the original unit had to have a riser to clear that teak piece running across the back of the cockpit. He's demontrated that it will function perfectly without the riser and says it will be a better install. It actually looks great too. You don't actually miss the teak piece and the cars don't stick way up which would be just something else to trip over when boarding from the stern. I want to give him the go ahead but thought I'd check with the board first. Is there something I'm missing?

Thanks,

Dick

[rollo_cd26]

Hi to all,
I was looking for a traveler solution for my CD26D and found this post from last year. I would appreciate an update from Barfwinkle et al, especially concerning the Garhaurer solution. From the pictures this looks like removing the old track would be easier on a 26D since the engine controls are on the port side and the aft locker opening reveals the back side of the hull.

Thanks!

[barfwinkle]

The aft locker would certainly simplify things. All I know to say is I really like the new setup. I obviously cannot comment on the Garhuarer system.

Dick Barthel I certainly hope I did not neglect to answer your question from last year If so I am very sorry

Fair winds

[rollo_cd26]

Bill,

Thanks for the reply, I was guessing that this job might not be too bad with the right parts and yours look great. Aren't you in Oklahoma on Grand Lake? I live in Russellville, AR and my CD26D is on Ouachita. I would like to look at your setup.

Thanx