No Traveler?

Jun 7, 2016
315
Catalina C30 Warwick, RI
Been looking at Boat porn lately and I've noticed that some newer boats do not have a traveler and instead a single point main sheet. Aside for reducing clutter I can't figure out why the manufacturer would forgo a traveler. I know there are several but two that I can think of off the top of my head are the Catalina 545 and the Oyster 565.

Anyone have any insight as to why?
 

PaulK

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Dec 1, 2009
1,222
Sabre 402 Southport, CT
Makes it easier to move around in the cockpit. It's also cheaper to build. They perhaps figure that the boom vang can control leech tension and that the boats with the single-point sheet are not looking to race much, if at all.
 
Jun 7, 2016
315
Catalina C30 Warwick, RI
I get the racing part, cost, and clutter, but using the traveler is great for balancing the helm.
 
Jul 7, 2004
8,402
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
From Oyster: "There is currently no option for a traveller. Adamson believes that, for most owners, clear access to the cockpit is paramount, and a powerful vang was chosen to control the main instead. ". Oysters are definitely not cheap.
 
Last edited:
Dec 28, 2015
1,837
Laser, Hunter H30 Cherubini Tacoma
I’ve considered moving my traveler to on top of my cabin for a way of access but I dismissed the idea because I use it so much for balance under heavy wind conditions.
 
Jun 7, 2016
315
Catalina C30 Warwick, RI
From Oyster: "There is currently no option for a traveller. Adamson believes that, for most owners, clear access to the cockpit is paramount, and a powerful vang was chosen to control the main instead. ". Oysters are definitely not cheap.
So is hauling the vang tight and then easing the main sheet have the same effect of just adjusting the traveler?
 
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Nov 22, 2011
1,192
Ericson 26-2 San Pedro, CA
So is hauling the vang tight and then easing the main sheet have the same effect of just adjusting the traveler?
The vang will tighten the leech but it can't serve the function of pulling the boom to windward. Of course, the mainsheet pulls it to windward to a point, but there are many times when the traveler car needs to be pulled up high enough so that the resulting boom position is around the boat's centerline.
 
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Likes: SailingLoto
Jul 12, 2011
1,165
Leopard 40 Jupiter, Florida
Ya' only need all those sail controls if (1) you know how to use them and (2) you're actually going to use them. Not that I would ever condone improper sail trim, but I've got "a friend" that will go out on a lazy Saturday sail, and just leave the traveler centered 'cause it's a pain to put down the beer every tack and haul it to the right spot. Betcha' that my "friend" has more smiles per miles than those up-tight racers that can't stand a little belly in the main. :beer:
 
Nov 22, 2011
1,192
Ericson 26-2 San Pedro, CA
Ya' only need all those sail controls if (1) you know how to use them and (2) you're actually going to use them. Not that I would ever condone improper sail trim, but I've got "a friend" that will go out on a lazy Saturday sail, and just leave the traveler centered 'cause it's a pain to put down the beer every tack and haul it to the right spot. Betcha' that my "friend" has more smiles per miles than those up-tight racers that can't stand a little belly in the main. :beer:
I'm not racing these days, but speaking for myself, I have more fun sailing my boat when it is properly balanced. A traveler is one tool for accomplishing that.
 
Jul 19, 2013
384
Pearson 31-2 Boston
I would not buy a boat without a traveler but I have to say the light wind conditions where I feel it worth trimming the traveler above the centerline are one in a dozen
 
Sep 25, 2008
7,075
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
Ya' only need all those sail controls if (1) you know how to use them and (2) you're actually going to use them. Not that I would ever condone improper sail trim, but I've got "a friend" that will go out on a lazy Saturday sail, and just leave the traveler centered 'cause it's a pain to put down the beer every tack and haul it to the right spot. Betcha' that my "friend" has more smiles per miles than those up-tight racers that can't stand a little belly in the main. :beer:
Why does he bother sailing? I've heard there are places he can go to drink beer.
 
Jun 7, 2016
315
Catalina C30 Warwick, RI
The vang will tighten the leech but it can't serve the function of pulling the boom to windward. Of course, the mainsheet pulls it to windward to a point, but there are many times when the traveler car needs to be pulled up high enough so that the resulting boom position is around the boat's centerline.
Sorry I was only thinking of heavier winds and having to ease the main. This past summer we saw more high wind than anything else and were constantly adjusting because we were over powered, so that is kind of stuck in my head at the moment :biggrin:
 
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Jan 11, 2014
11,321
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
The Catalina does not a traveller, however it has a two sided main sheet (I'm sure there is a fancy name for this). If you look closely the mainsheet can be trimmed for with windward or leeward. By adjusting the tension on the mainsheet, the boom can be controlled. The leeward mainsheet will control how close to the centerline the boom gets, the windward mainsheet controls the tension on the leach. Functionally this is the same as a traveller with fewer parts.

Is it as effective as proper traveller, I can't render an opinion. J Boats apparently does have an opinion. The latest JBoat, the J 9, does not have a traveller.

 
May 17, 2004
5,026
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
I’ve always preferred using the sheet to de-power the main anyway. Unless the traveler is well designed (and some certainly are) it’s likely not as fast as dumping the sheet, and/or not as fast to haul back in. De-powering with the sheet also has the advantage of adding some twist to de-power the top more than the bottom, which is generally what you want anyway. I leave the vang preset to prevent too much twisting.

To me the bigger downside is not being able to bring the boom all the way to centerline. There is no way to compensate for that with just the sheet (except the dual sheet setups Dave mentioned). But in the case of some boats that slight loss of upwind performance is worth the trade off for more open space. That only hurts when you’re close hauled, which many cruisers work to avoid anyway.
 

BarryL

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May 21, 2004
1,000
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Mt. Sinai, NY
Hello,

Many new boats from Beneteau, Jenneau, Hanse, etc no longer come with a traveler. I have sailed on plenty of boats where the owner never adjusted the traveler. So I understand why some boats don't come with one. Personally I would not consider purchasing a boat without a traveler.

Barry
 
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Jan 19, 2010
12,362
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Anyone have any insight as to why?
No but I can give you insight as to why not. I bought an H26 in 2015 and the H26 does not have a traveler. It also does not have genoa cars. The genoa block is rather inboard so the foresail always pinches the slot unless you are pointing high. And I found I was fighting the helm a lot...

So!!! I added a traveler. It is not high tech but now I love my boat even more...also did a reverse barber hauler type thing to ease out my genoa sheet
genoa sheet.
Traveler1.jpg
traveler2.jpg
traveler3.jpg
. I
 
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Feb 26, 2004
22,759
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
I’ve always preferred using the sheet to de-power the main anyway. Unless the traveler is well designed (and some certainly are) it’s likely not as fast as dumping the sheet, and/or not as fast to haul back in. De-powering with the sheet also has the advantage of adding some twist to de-power the top more than the bottom, which is generally what you want anyway.
I’ve always preferred using the traveler to de-power the main anyway. Unless the mainsheet tackle is well designed, it’s likely not as fast as dumping the traveler, and/or not as fast to haul back in. De-powering with the traveler also has the advantage of avoiding adding any twist to the mainsail and changing its shape, which is generally what you want anyway because you dump the traveler in a gust and ease it back up with the same shape in the main.
 
Nov 22, 2011
1,192
Ericson 26-2 San Pedro, CA
I’ve always preferred using the traveler to de-power the main anyway. Unless the mainsheet tackle is well designed, it’s likely not as fast as dumping the traveler, and/or not as fast to haul back in. De-powering with the traveler also has the advantage of avoiding adding any twist to the mainsail and changing its shape, which is generally what you want anyway because you dump the traveler in a gust and ease it back up with the same shape in the main.
Precisely!
 
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Jan 11, 2014
11,321
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Given a choice between adjustable Genoa blocks and a traveller, I'd take the adjustable Genoa blocks, especially if they are adjustable under load.

In puffy situations, dumping the traveller is preferable to easing the main. It is quick to dump and quicker to trim back in.
 
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