Arch Traveler System

[Sky Cruiser]

Hello Hunters,

I'm not an owner, but just joined a membership club that shares a 2006 H-36. I don't have any experience with the overhead "Arch mounted" traveler arrangement, and wondered what owners think of it as compared to a more traditional "companionway/rooftop" rigging.

It looks like a much cleaner arrangement, and nice not to have to look through the blocks and lines while at the helm. But would still love to get some feedback on other pros and cons of this type of system. Either way, I'm looking forward to sailing the 36....thanks in advance!

Chris

 

[Terry Cox]

Main Sheet

Hi Chris, if you mean the main sheet traveler, they all work the same way regardless of their location. Ours is on the arch and it works just great for its function. I like it for being up and out of the way.

 

[Sky Cruiser]

Yes, sorry. I meant the mainsheet traveler. Arch mounted as opposed to rooftop mounted. Sorry if that wasn't worded properly. I can see the benefits, but wondering about any negatives with it mounted on the arch, or even pros/cons of having an arch in general.
Thanks.

 

[Capt jgw]

I never liked the look of the arch, looks like they're trying to be a go fast powerboat. But they are functional, with the traveler system, a good solid place to anchor a bimini top, stereo speakers, etc.

 

[ALNims]

Chris,
I just installed a traveler on the arch of my hunter. The arch traveler is safer for two reasons in my humble opinion. First the boom isn't slamming around back and forth from winds shifting due better control. Second, as you stated a clean arrangement, because you have less equipment on the deck to maneuver around while operating the boat. In both cases operationally it is a big plus over the more traditional deck mount.
Andrew

 

[Scott B]

I'm sure Nick will chime in here... he also has a H36 and absolutely loves it.

Upside to the traveler on the arch, I can stand at the helm with a cockpit full of people and reach the traveler without having to jump over a multitude of people, boom is high and out of the cockpit so I don't have to worry about wacking people in the head with each tack, makes a great place to have cockpit speakers, light and attach bimini.

Downside, I can't clear the cockpit of unwanted guests with an "accidental jibe", it leaks when it rains with a multitude of holes and brackets.


Powerboat ???? hardly.

 

[quadrille38]

I never much cared for the look until the opportunity for a brand new Hunter 38 came our way. In exploring and sailing the boat I discovered how great it was to have the traveler and associated sheets up and out of the way. You actually use the traveler cars to adjust the main more than the main sheet and it's easy to de power and repower the main with the convenient arch mount. Another advantage was that unlike our previous boat, a Catalina 34 (that we'd early loved by the way) the arch gives you end boom sheeting without the traveler being in the middle of the cockpit. The Catalina had mid boom sheeting which makes the sheeting angles a bit more difficult. With mid boom when you haul in you tend to pull down on the sail and it flattens it. That's not to say mid boom is bad, just that you need to adjust differently. Biggest advantage with the arch is that it gives a fabulous structure to connect a dodger and Bimini combination. And in my case with a wife who cannot be in the sun (Irish skin and family history of skin cancer) it insures we have adequate shade to protect her which means we go sailing more. The looks have definitely grown on me. And when Hunter changed from the fiberglass arch (looked like a power boat) to the stainless arch it really changed the look.

 

[Terry Cox]

Main Sheet

Our boat came equipped with a SS arch. One of the best features of this model. Serves a variety of purposes. Sound system speaker box with cockpit and sun deck lights, bimini canvas attach point, camera mount, main sheet, boat hook mount, etc.

 

[seadaddler]

Super great

I purchased my first Hunter with arch in 2001 and loved the arch so much we purchased our 2007 H-36.
The arch is great with the travalar over head and winches next to the arch
makes adjusting the travalar easy from the helm and it's great for install of Bimini and connector to dodger and pretty nice to grab when sailing in ruff
weather.
I also mounted solar panels off the arch and the H-36 is a dream to sail and pretty fast too and we cruise for 3 weeks here in Florida and even race here too.
I think the arch is the best thing ever and that is why a lot of other sailboaters are adding stainless arches to their sailboat.
Nick

 

[David in Sandusky]

End of boom sheeting a big plus

Mid boom sheeting is less efficient, harder to adjust, and puts much more stress on the boom.

I think the arch is brilliant design! All pluses, and can't see a negative.

 

[Benny17441]

Works well, accessible from the helm and not in the way in the cockpit. On the h326 the mainsheet clutch is not really accessible from behind the wheel but in some real foul weather I was able to negotiate a long and tight channel by adjusting the traveler to spill air during strong gusts.

 

[ALNims]

Re: Super great

Nick,
Some really great photos. Looking good.
Andrew

 

[bdegouw]

I agree with all that the arch is the way to go.
If there is one downside it would be that the boom ends up being pretty high to manage sail covers, etc., otherwise all is good.

 

[seadaddler]

Racing Today

Just to let you inmast Hunters my 2007 H-36 was racing yesterday
and the leech webbing for the outhaul ripped off the sail yesterday
but the UK sail repair guy here in PG fixed as late last night so we can do the last race today in the Charlotte Harbor Conquistador Cup Regatta.
Nick

 

[Panamax]

I purchased my first Hunter with arch in 2001 and loved the arch so much we purchased our 2007 H-36. The arch is great with the travalar over head and winches next to the arch makes adjusting the travalar easy from the helm and it's great for install of Bimini and connector to dodger and pretty nice to grab when sailing in ruff weather. I also mounted solar panels off the arch and the H-36 is a dream to sail and pretty fast too and we cruise for 3 weeks here in Florida and even race here too. I think the arch is the best thing ever and that is why a lot of other sailboaters are adding stainless arches to their sailboat. Nick

Do you have any shots of your solar installation? Additional info would be appreciated.

 

[Sky Cruiser]

Thanks for all the info gents.

Nick, great pics and love the hat! Good luck with your race.

Sounds like the only " minor" negatives might be the aesthetic appeal (which everyone seems to get over quickly enough once realizing the benefits), and one person mentioned some rain leaking in.

I'm still waiting for someone to mention the convenience of mounting fishing rod holders for trolling under sail. ?

 

[Rockywater]

I'm a little late, but am very new to sailing, recently bought a 450 CC with fiberglass arch. I had sailed some 42's with SS arches during my boat search. My opinions:

Benefits of traveler on the arch are........end-boom sheeting, gives you a bit more leverage. However, this comes at the cost of additional turns the mainsheet needs to take on its way back to the cockpit. I'm not experienced enough yet to know if this results in any significant advantage over mid-boom sheeting, but I'm assuming it IS an advantage.

The traveler can thus be controlled at the helm, sure. But the mainsheet and boom vang controls are still all forward. And unless you have your primaries back far enough to be worked from behind the helm when tacking upwind, the advantage of "traveler control from the helm" is not necessarily significant.

Arches, in general, ARE VERY desireable IF they are stainless tubing and NOT fiberglass. Reasons enumerated in posts below-------particularly for hand holds and attachment points. Immensely valuable. In fiberglass, the arch's only function is a holder for traverler and perhaps place to attach some canvas enclosures. That's about it.

If you're going with an arch, make it SS tubing if at all possible, I say. Without hesitation. Regarding traveler on arch or not: if you're not already set up for singlehanding, it's six of one, half dozen of the other.