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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Cockpit mounted main traveller

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deastburn
Captain

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USA
334 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/28/2002 : 21:32:26

Enough already... I have done the dance, and I have seen the light. Light winds. Main flops around when running. Main sheet reaches out from here to Dublin. Time to gybe. Mile-long main sheet wraps around skipper four or five times. With the traveller on the transom, there is just no way to not get tangled up in it. Most embarrassingly with guest aboard, using up the space you'd normally escape to.

So... Where to move the traveller? I figure directly aft the companionway, mounted on a bridge spanning the cockpit seats. Possible problem: mainsheet whacks against my GPS, mounted on the bulkhead, as said mainsheet pays itself out for a run. Easy solution: mount the GPS on a hinged mount and keep it safely tucked in the cabin, out of harm's way. Maybe on the same hinged mount as the VHF, which is otherwise useless when single-handing.

What have others done to relocate the traveller? Without moving to a mid-boom traveller (too much potential stress IMHO). Or spending the price of a Laser buying Harken track and blocks etc. What is the simple solution to my dilemma (read "cheap")?

Thanks again.

Dave Eastburn
david_eastburn@hotmail.com
Wood Duck #2616

PS. What a great boat for the money the C25 is!

Edited by - on

Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2002 : 21:50:39

Dont move the traveler. Eliminate the problem. When you jibe or tack use the comands (Ready to whatever) if you not ready dont jibe or tack untill you are ready. If your ready to jibe bring in the main sheet as you jibe dont leave all that line out there to cause a problem. Sheet in as she comes about. Sheet out once she is heading onto her new course. If you have a lot of line out and you dont sheet in as you change course it wont mater if its on the cabin roof or the stern it will tangle on something. Not much worse than watching a boom swing across and slam to the other side uncontroled. It not only damaging to the rig its dangerous to the guests.

Doug&Ruth
Wind Lass
Tacoma Wa.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/28/2002 : 23:11:32

If your running and your main is flopping you might want to rig a preventer to the boom to keep it from doing a accidental gybe.

Don Lucier, Northstar
C25 SR/FK

Edited by - on

Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2002 : 02:48:34

Dave, This has been a subject discussed here before, but not for a while. After all is said and done I have concluded that the original setup most suits the original purpose of the C25, a user friendly, entry level mini-cruiser. If Catalina had been designing a racer the traveller would have been located as you have discribed or even on the cabin top. With the traveller forward, a sudden gibe could catch a guest, crew member, or small child and cause serious damage. Once again we have to compromise.

Ed Montague on 'Yahoo'
1978 #765 SK, Stnd, Dinette ~_/)~

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2002 : 08:38:05

Dave,

I agree with you, the traveler location stinks. Its a pain to trim, and takes out the skipper on gybes. I myself haven't moved it yet..but check out this set up located in the tech tips.

http://c25c250.best.vwh.net/restricted/bonbon.html

This idea still keeps the cockpit free, but also gets it out of your way.

Douglas also mentions using verbal commands, you want to do this wherever the traveller is mounted. It gives your crew a chance to say, no we aren't ready if there aren't and it also tells your guests to watch there heads!

To further Don's comment: On long downwind legs we take our boom vang off and clip it to a stanchion (the mast end is a snap shackle) to act as a preventer works great and removes the bounce and the fear of decapitation.

As for the CHEAP thing. Now your talking right up my alley. Check Ebay (www.ebay.com) for starters. Then call up a few of the repair yards in your neighborhood. Not everyone does thier boat repair work by themselves, as a matter of fact, most don't. The yard usually keeps the leftover parts and will get rid of them at a nice discount.

Also check your online sites (sailnet, pyacht, defender, boat us, Harken online.) Give this place a call too, they have boat parts like Fred G. Sanford had Junk. http://www.minneysyachtsurplus.com/index.html

Lastly, you mentioned in your other post about costing a grand for a full setup for a spinaker. You can probably shave some dough off of that by going to http://www.cruisingdirect.com/InStockCatalinaSails.htm
They have a gennaker (cruising spinaker) for 600. A new halyard and some blocks shouldn't cost much more than 200 bucks, saving you some $$. (www.sailnet.com usually has inexpensive line)

Take the extra and reallocate the funds to a new project such as this traveller idea. (side note: I have found that after 4.5 months of marriage that if you have approved funds allocated for boat use, do not put the surplus back into the general fund for use by the oversight committee in doing so you risk a new bathroom renovation that you will wind up being the lead contractor on.)

dw

Duane Wolff
"The Flying Wasp"
C-25, #401 std,sk
Chief Measurer C-25/250 National Assn.
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b2dc20b3127cce9cd2f45b211a0000004010" border=0>

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2002 : 09:30:17

Duane,

As Chief Measurer, you should caveat your modified traveller suggestion with the fact that a modification, as to a change in location, of the traveller is illegal for racing according to the Catalina 25 Design Class Rules. Section H(Running Rigging), Item 2 states that;

"Travelers must remain on the transom and will be limited so that the mainsheet attachment point may not travel past the point at which the factory installed traveler bar intersected the transom. No rope or wire travelers will be permitted."

If anyone is considering changing the location of the traveller, you may want to leave the original traveller in place so you can comply with the rules and if you go to sell your boat, it will be an easier sell if the next guy wants to race it.

Having said that, that cabintop mounted traveller is cool!<img src=icon_smile_cool.gif border=0 align=middle>

Don Lucier, Northstar
C25 SR/FK

Edited by - dlucier on 05/29/2002 09:48:32

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2002 : 11:12:02

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Duane,

As Chief Measurer, you should caveat your modified traveller suggestion with the fact that a modification, as to a change in location, of the traveller is illegal for racing according to the Catalina 25 Design Class Rules. Section H(Running Rigging), Item 2 states that;
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

Don,

Your right, I should have mentioned that. I personally don't like the traveller where it is and see no advantage to moving it (other than the skipper doesn't have to work the main.) But rules are rules, and I guess I am to be the enforcer...<s>(incidently, it isn't illegal until you get caught)...</s> oops did I say that out loud?

Anyway, I just remembered another traveller solution that I cant believe I forgot. All it requires is two fiddle block sets two padeyes, some backing plates, a boom bail and some line. On the cabin top you would bolt the padeyes (backed of course) One on either side of the sliding hatch, as far aft as possible. Put the boom bail on the boom and attach both fiddle block. We had this same set up on an oday 30 we used to tool around in. (the traveller on the oday is very forward in the cockpit which made it hard to come out of the cabin on certain points of sail)...Anyway, It takes some getting used to, because one line becomes a traveller, the other a main sheet and vice versa depending on the point of sail etc. You can however learn to trim this just as easily as a traveler. Incidently, if you leave the bar on the back, you can always hook it back up when you decide to race Catalina 25 One design!

Edited by - Duane Wolff on 05/29/2002 11:12:56

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3323 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2002 : 11:12:46

I didn't want to move the traveler (for obvious reasons!) but I did solve the impossible adjustment situation.
I used 3 small turning blocks and a small Harken cam cleat w/fairlead on each side of the cockpit, bringing the control lines to just forward of mid-cockpit - now the crew can adjust the traveler and it has become a valuable asset (even tho' it only moves about 6" in each direction!).
Derek on "This Side Up" C25 TRFK #2262

Edited by - on

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

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USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2002 : 11:16:03

Hi Dave,

Another thing to remember if you move the mainsheet forward is that you loose mechanical advantage as you do this. That's why the C25 has a 3 to 1 block and tackle while a Capri 26 (now Catalina 26) with cabin top traveler has to use a 6 to 1 pulley system. Also, with the 6 to 1, there is an awful lot more mainsheet line and additional friction every time the line makes one of those 180's around a block.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

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n5lfy
Deckhand

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USA
15 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2002 : 15:56:15

Dave,

This was on my boat when I bought it. I removed it and went back to the original. With the traveler track just aft of the companionway, we found that we were tripping over it going in and out of the cabin.

This setup is sitting in my garage. Make me an offer.

http://photos.yahoo.com/n5lfy/

--
Regards,
Stephen M. Nolan

Edited by - on

Steve
1st Mate

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USA
87 Posts

Response Posted - 05/29/2002 : 17:34:45

Dave, Stephen,

Stephen, if Dave isn't interested in your mainsheet setup, please send me an email at snobles@mobilepulley.com and I'll make you an offer. I've read all the threads about why not to do this, but here is why I would like to:

I have a tall rig. Since the boom is about 2' lower, my bimini is much lower than a standard rig. When the bimini was first installed, it was almost impossible to slide under it to go forward. I mounted the bimini on slides, so it now goes almost to the backstay. I can go forward now, but the mainsheet won't clear around the bimini. I don't normally sail with the bimini up, but it is nice on easy days when the sun's beating down on you. Anyway, if I went with cabintop or cockpit mounted mainsheet, I think the problem would be solved. I'd leave the original setup for the next owner, though if I'm lucky I'm never parting with this boat anyway.

Let me know,
Thanks
Steve.

Edited by - on

IndyJim
Navigator

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USA
130 Posts

Response Posted - 05/31/2002 : 01:04:25

Dave,

This is my first season with my C-25. I bought it in January and the PO had relocated the mainsheet traveler to just aft of the companionway. My first thought was that it would be inconvenient going in and out of the cabin. Since I've never had it on the transom, I wouldn't know which is honestly best, but I have wheel steering and I'd get tied up a bunch if it were behind me.

Consider me a newbie, but even though you may occasionally trip over it going below, I think you need to weigh your tolerance for getting wrapped up versus an occasional trip.

As I said, I can't evaluate both locations for your mainsheet traveler but I can tell you that I kinda like it up there. I have a bimini and there's nothing back there to interfere.... and that's a good thing.

Jim
"Itza Dew Sea"
'84 SK/TR #4525

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