Traveller on Catalina 16.5

[Oldskoolguy]

The traveller block obviously connects to the traveller line above the tiller. The block can move right to the edge of both sides of boat. Is there some mod to restrict that traveller block going that far to the side. Or am I just being a bit anal in my over thinking for my rec sailing? Thanks

 

[dlochner]

Why would you want to limit the traveller movement? When it is at the ends of its range, the traveler exerts downward pressure on the boom, keeping it from rising when running downwind.

 

[Joe]

Why would you want to limit the traveller movement? When it is at the ends of its range, the traveler exerts downward pressure on the boom, keeping it from rising when running downwind.

This boat does not have a track for the traveler. The mainsheet block runs on a piece of line, and the apparatus cannot be controlled in the same way as a track style traveler. So the only purpose the traveler has is to give the boom some stability. Angle of attack (the primary function of the traveler) is thus controlled by the vang and mainsheet. In this set up, limiting the range of the traveler is necessary to give the operator precise control of the mainsail and boom position.

I sailed a Laser in my younger days... you know, 40's and 50's (heh, heh,) and our "travelers" were set up like that... just a line with a stopper... eliminating the track is necessary because it would interfere with the tiller.

To answer Oldschoolguy's question, In the image of the owner's manual he posted, item #6 recommended tying stopper knots in the traveler line to restrict the movement of the mainsheet block.

 

[Joe]

..... am I just being a bit anal in my over thinking for my rec sailing? Thanks..........

Ha, Ha...... YES. Remember, you asked. The owner manual page you posted suggested tying in stopper knots, Go check out REI or some other outdoor sports stores for some inspiration.

 

[Oldskoolguy]

Why would you want to limit the traveller movement? When it is at the ends of its range, the traveler exerts downward pressure on the boom, keeping it from rising when running downwind.

With the set up in this boat as I found out today I cannot tack as close to wind as I wanted

 

[Oldskoolguy]

This boat does not have a track for the traveler. The mainsheet block runs on a piece of line, and the apparatus cannot be controlled in the same way as a track style traveler. So the only purpose the traveler has is to give the boom some stability. Angle of attack (the primary function of the traveler) is thus controlled by the vang and mainsheet. In this set up, limiting the range of the traveler is necessary to give the operator precise control of the mainsail and boom position.

I sailed a Laser in my younger days... you know, 40's and 50's (heh, heh,) and our "travelers" were set up like that... just a line with a stopper... eliminating the track is necessary because it would interfere with the tiller.

To answer Oldschoolguy's question, In the image of the owner's manual he posted, item #6 recommended tying stopper knots in the traveler line to restrict the movement of the mainsheet block.

. I am going to try moving the 2 knots closer to the center line 3” or so. That should help with a tack closer to the wind correct?

 

[Joe]

. I am going to try moving the 2 knots closer to the center line 3” or so. That should help with a tack closer to the wind correct?

Yes that's one way. In fact, isn't that what the owner's manual you posted suggested? What might be even better is to simply add a control line to each side and install cleats for them near the traveler line's anchor points. You could even add a small block to turn the line forward towards the helm making it easier to adjust. No purchase necessary. What you end up with is movable stoppers controlled by the cleated line, rather than tying knots in another line.

 

[Oldskoolguy]

Yes that's one way. In fact, isn't that what the owner's manual you posted suggested? What might be even better is to simply add a control line to each side and install cleats for them near the traveler line's anchor points. You could even add a small block to turn the line forward towards the helm making it easier to adjust. No purchase necessary. What you end up with is movable stoppers controlled by the cleated line, rather than tying knots in another line.

Thanks for the idea. I’m just a novice but I wanted to add something like you suggested to give me the flexibility to adjust the fiddleblock(?) for the main sail sheet.

 

[Oldskoolguy]

Yes that's one way. In fact, isn't that what the owner's manual you posted suggested? What might be even better is to simply add a control line to each side and install cleats for them near the traveler line's anchor points. You could even add a small block to turn the line forward towards the helm making it easier to adjust. No purchase necessary. What you end up with is movable stoppers controlled by the cleated line, rather than tying knots in another line.

Maybe a setup with the same principals as this without the aluminum slide. ?

 

[Joe]

Maybe a setup with the same principals as this without the aluminum slide. ?

That will work, of course, but I was thinking of it being even simpler. Just one line per side, no purchase. You can put a small block or a plastic fairlead near the traveler's anchor point to guide the line forward to a more convenient cleat location Time to be creative.

 

[Oldskoolguy]

That will work, of course, but I was thinking of it being even simpler. Just one line per side, no purchase. You can put a small block or a plastic fairlead near the traveler's anchor point to guide the line forward to a more convenient cleat location Time to be creative.

Thanks for the help. As I said just a novice so all advise is appreciated

 

[Joe]

good luck, it'll work fine.. whatever you do. Something like that is easy to tweak and modify.

 

[Oldskoolguy]

good luck, it'll work fine.. whatever you do. Something like that is easy to tweak and modify.

Next up is a broken tiller extension

 

[jssailem]

After viewing these guys sailing their Catalina 16.5, I think I would not worry about controlling the position of the traveler.

The guy at the helm during a blow is too far from the stern to have much control of the traveler. My guess is you are too focused keeping the boat going in a specific direction using the tiller extension, capturing the wind and adjusting the main sheet that fine adjustment of the traveler is not relevant. When racing a dingy like the Catalina 16.5 there were never long periods of time on a single tack where fiddling with fine adjustment of a traveler would be effective.

If anything I might test a small single line tied to the block to see if I could tweak the traveler. I think you would find it will just get in your way. The idea of two adjusting lines would be unusable unless they were accessible to the helm when they are hiking out trying to keep the boat level.

Good luck. And get out sailing on the boat.

 

[Joe]

After viewing these guys sailing their Catalina 16.5, I think I would not worry about controlling the position of the traveler.

The guy at the helm during a blow is too far from the stern to have much control of the traveler.

The suggestion was made in lieu tying in stopper knots to set the range of the traveler(suggested in the owner manual). No thought, at least from my point of view, was given to tweaking it when sailing, but rather set it for prevailing conditions. The idea was to improve on the slip knot method. In just about every dinghy I've sailed the experienced sailors never cleat the mainsheet anyway. Too easy to capsize otherwise.

That said, on my Nacra the track mounted traveler car was controlled by a single line lead through a swivel cleat on the middle of the cross beam...then the control line was tied to the end of the main sheet..so either were always reachable. FYI, I learned from the sailors in long beach to loop the mainsheet/traveler through the harness. If I fell off then pulling on the sheet ( it's long because we're always on the wire) will stop the boat. A single line traveler means you can't pull the car to windward, but that was never needed because so much of mainsail shape is controlled by cunningham and the 8:1 mainsheet, along with tweaking the batten tension before every heat. Sorry for the wandering off topic.... but I loved sailing that beach cat. Age and health issues have ended that era, but I've always kept it in good shape, waiting for someone to adopt it.... Free cool fast boat, includes everything...even spare tires for the trailer. I'll teach the new owner how to set it up and even throw in a basic sailing lesson.

 

[jssailem]

In just about every dinghy I've sailed the experienced sailors never cleat the mainsheet anyway. Too easy to capsize otherwise.

True That... I think I had a wet tee shirt from that error.

I raced the Lido 14s and the Flying Dutchman in San Diego and Mission Bays in the '60s. I loved the trapeze on the FD's. If you lost your footing, you were swinging.