Cal35C Traveler Car

[jssailem]

Ok you sailors of old boats. I have a traveler car that is showing it's age (gouges on both sides of bale). I want to have a backup so that if it wears through the bail I am not totally at a loss securing the Main.
Specs:
Looks to be Chrome over bronze. The bale is 13mm thick - where it is not gouged out from years of wear.
Overall Length 58mm Width 40mm. Track width 34mm and 6mm space to slide over track.
Bale inside dimensions are 32mm by 20mm high.

Track is bedded in cockpit seat which limits the overall length of the car to install. The track is flat, about 32mm wide with rails about 4.5-5mm thick.


Any ideas of ways to repair or source a replacement are most welcome.

 

[Joe]

You really need to familiarize yourself with the many online sailing hardware sites.... or get a catalogue from West Marine. The basic T track is either 25mm (1") or 32mm (1.25 inch) wide. That particular piece looks a little weak for the task of managing a 35 foot boat's mainsail handling. It looks more like a track slide that you'd install on the mainsail luff. I'm no expert here, but that kind of wear is unusual.. there should be a swivel of some sore to prevent it.

Here's a picture of the traveler system on a Cal 35 '84 mkII . I know it's a later model than yours... but it's the same size boat. Does that surprise you?

Here are a few resources to get acquainted with sailboat hardware. http://www.mauriprosailing.com/us/category/2-Sailboat-Hardware.html http://www.westmarine.com/sailing http://www.defender.com/category.jsp?path=-1&id=118
and there are hundreds of others.

 

[jssailem]

Thanks Joe. I have been looking on the internet and our local consignment store. Yes the schafer model mid boom looks beefier. It has to be. It is trying to control the sail from mid boom. The rig I have is the original by Call. It is end of boom. While I'm open to alternative ideas the rig has worked for 42 years. Still looking at ideas. Not sure I'm ready to invest in a conversion to a mid boom arangement.

There is a swivel attached to the main block. That is what made the grooves in the bale.

Thank you for the links. If anyone recognizes the traveler car or knows what Call used back in 1974 I be thankful for the information.