Water pooling by traveler on H23

[Volkswatson]

Hey all, whilst cleaning my new-to-me h23, I noticed there is a lot of pooling in between the traveler and companionway area. While there is a very small drain area on either side of the traveler, it's so slow that a lot of junk collects there.

Has anyone raised or relocated their traveler to help alleviate this issue?

- Ben Watson
Tyler, Texas

BTW, I am a brand new sailboat owner, and excited to connect with this community!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

clean out the leaves and any residue around and under that traveler. When you say a small drain, are you talking about the area at the end of the traveler or under the traveler bar? Clean out and take another photo

 

[Volkswatson]

clean out the leaves and any residue around and under that traveler. When you say a small drain, are you talking about the area at the end of the traveler or under the traveler bar? Clean out and take another photo

I have already cleaned it out. Due to the weather, it just filled up with leaves. Yes, the small area near the corner of the seat. It drains, but it is very minimal.
Is relocating it a bad idea? I'll try to snap cleaner a pic tonight with some water standing to show you what I mean...

 

[drewsyntax]

I have the same issue on my h23. I "think" there is a small drainage area under the traveler tracks. The previous owner had the same problem and told me to simply dry out that area after "washing" the boat.

That is the only area that collects water on the whole boat from what I can tell.

 

[Kermit]

Relocating it will just relocate the same problem. But you’ll have the added bonus of having to deal with extra holes. Or you could buy a gutter guard system.
https://www.kguard.com/

 

[isaksp00]

There should be two shallow drainage channels in the glass under the traveler, about 1/4 of the way in from each end. These get clogged with debris, or a previous owner may have put caulk in there. Poke something through. Should help.

 

[Will Gilmore]

I don't know your boat. A traveler across the companionway threshold seems awkward to me but it is done. Maybe this would help. Place under each screw/bolt to give the whole traveler a little more height.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000TXZL4S/ref=pd_aw_lpo_267_tr_img_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PFGV4PE92YH6NM586SVW
or something like these.
- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Will Gilmore]

BTW, welcome to sailboat ownership. I'm sure you'll be happy with your new lifestyle. Just be sure to spend more time sailing than fixing. Get your boat in sailing shape and take her out. You can get the details done anytime. Don't sweat them.
- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[Paladin27]

I don't have a solution either, but as a fellow H23 owner, I have the same issue. You can see the little "gutter" in your photo that is supposed to drain the water out. But ANY debris gets caught in those gutters (there's one on starboard and one on port). I just wipe that area with a rag pretty much everytime I get on the boat. It's not optimal, but short of raising the traveler, I haven't figured out any easy fix.

 

[Jalepeno]

I had a 1987 h23 a few years ago and raised the traveler lightly by removing it, counter sink drill the deck holes for butyl tape calk and used fender washers as spacers before reinstalling it. Simple and it worked.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Jalepeno made a good suggestion. Boy my brain failed on this one as I use to that. Thank you sir. It is refreshing good suggestions are coming out from others.

 

[drewsyntax]

Hi volks
Curious -Did you ever do this?

So a couple weeks ago I almost pulled the whole traveler out to do something like this but stopped myself - it seems like a hornets nest of problems - also theres about 20 nuts and bolts holding on the traveler thru into the cabin.

 

[isaksp00]

I removed mine to install a better system for the main sheet attachment. You have to peel back the mouse fur covering a bit and have 2 people, one to hold the nuts inside and the other in the cockpit with a screwdriver. Assuming no one glued your track down it is easy to remove. I used either Boat Life Caulk or maybe butyl rubber (I cant recall) to seal the screw holes when I reinstalled it.

 

[E.Elder]

We have the same problem and it rains a lot in Florida. I put strips of rubber under the hatch parts so they aren't in the water. No matter how often you clean out the tiny drain holes under the traveller the water still pools under it. Also, our boom was so violently moved during the last storm it broke the pin on the car and the shackle was separated from the car. Need to buy a new car and to replace it will have to remove the traveller. Not looking forward to that. BTW what is the size of the car? Does anyone know? Is it 22mm?

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

There is a difference as one boat 23 wing keel and the 23.5 water ballast are different. I need both of you go inside and look at where the nuts are. Is the cabin ceiling pulled in. Please advise as this would be indicative the head liner has a void between head liner and deck. Can you supply photos