Failed Traveler Part

J

JBS Mystic

.
Jun 9, 2024
5
Catalina Catalina 30 Tall Rig Larchmont
The central pivot of our traveler broke in a storm this weekend.
It’s for a 1984 Catalina 30 Tall Rig.
Any idea where we can find a replacement?
Or is it prudent to replace the entire traveler?
 

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Don Guillette

Don Guillette

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May 17, 2004
2,110
Other Catalina 30 Tucson, AZ
I'd replace it with the Garhauer straight track traveler. I think the curved track traveler was designed by someone at Catalina who never used one. It was not efficient and loaded with friction plus you were working against yourself with the effort of pulling the car downhill. It was the first thing I replaced. The second was the stationary jib cars.
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,955
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
You'll probably have difficulty finding a car to match your track. Replace the whole thing, track car, blocks, cleats etc.

Garhauer is one of the best deals out there, it's affordable quality and your are not paying for a lot of advertising. Harken tracks and cars are certainly sexier, so if you are looking sexy boat parts Harken is the place to go. My boat has a mix of Harken, Lewmar, and Garhauer.
 
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J

JBS Mystic

.
Jun 9, 2024
5
Catalina Catalina 30 Tall Rig Larchmont
Thank you both for the thoughtful replied. We bought this boat two years ago to see if we enjoy sailing. The cost of a new traveler that you kindly recommended is at least $1000. We plan to upgrade to a newer boat in a year or two. Is there an interim solution that will get us sailing again without investing in a new traveler?
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,955
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Now that is a bit of a dilemma. First, I'm glad you like sailing enough to invest in another boat.

By scouring the internet you may find a car that is compatible with your track, but I wouldn't hold my breath. It may be possible to MacGyver a solution, however that may well detract from the ability to sell your boat in the future. On the other hand, a new Garhauer traveller would be a selling point which might sell the boat faster or get a little higher price.

Always trade offs on boats.
 
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K

kbgunn

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Sep 19, 2017
231
2005 Hunter 33 Lake Lewisville, TX
It will be difficult to find a replacement mainsheet car alone. Catalina Direct has what they call an "upgrade" which includes the blocks and car:

C-30 Traveler Upgrade For End Boom Sheeting

Catalina Direct, publishers of the Catalina 22 and Catalina 25 Owner's Handbooks and the largest supplier of parts and Lewmar winches for Catalina Yachts in the country
www.catalinadirect.com www.catalinadirect.com

It's comparable to buying a straight Garhauer traveller and rizers. Your boat, your choice.
 
Don Guillette

Don Guillette

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May 17, 2004
2,110
Other Catalina 30 Tucson, AZ
The TRAVELER & MAINSHEET are the only 2 sail trim controls the control the angle of attack and you have neither at this point. You could probably "jerry rig" a set up that might work but wouldn't be too efficient and it would have to last for 2 years - or more - before you decide to purchase another boat. I assume you'd like to get top dollar for your boat but if I'm the buyer looking to purchase your boat and see the traveler set up you slapped together that's the first thing I'm going to be deducting from your selling price.

Unfortunately, boats are a hole in the water that you throw money into and when parts on older boats that can't be easily replaced break the hole and the money gets deeper so take Dave and my advise and replace the traveler. The money pain soon goes away when you start enjoying the efficiency of the new traveler and as Dave mentioned it's a selling point.
 
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higgs

higgs

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Aug 24, 2005
3,710
Nassau 34 Olcott, NY
Garhauer will bend the traveler to your specs. You are in a tough spot. Not having a functioning traveler will make it harder for you to sell the boat, but a new one won't increase its value.
 
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rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,565
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
What if you repurpose the body of a shackle? I tried to draw what I’m trying to describe but I was using my phone and my finger so it’s not a very great drawing But I think you can get the idea. You would need to find a shackle with the correct jaw width.

AD8FCD65-1FB3-47AF-AC84-7D1C5659EA05.jpeg


or you might be able to find a suitable bushing (SS or brass tube), then take a grinder or file and open that up a little bit more, and then use some JB Weld to glue the bushing into the channel

FE1A0665-83D1-41B7-907A-AB4A9EAC822A.jpeg


then run a shackle through the bushing to minimize chafe. McMaster-Carr sells bushings
 
M

Morgan donor

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Sep 17, 2012
110
Morgan 383 Fairhaven, NY
Garhauer was likely the OE supplier. Have you called them to discuss the issue? They are very helpful. Might have a suitable replacement part. You can try these used parts surveyors below. You do realize B.O.A.T. = break out another thousand?

Sailorman, Ft Lauderdale
Dons marine surplus Clearwater
Sailors Exchange St Augustine
 
D

dlochner

.
Jan 11, 2014
12,955
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
rgranger said:
or you might be able to find a suitable bushing (SS or brass tube), then take a grinder or file and open that up a little bit more, and then use some JB Weld to glue the bushing into the channel
Click to expand
How strong is JB Weld? How much shock loading can it tolerate?

Harken has a sail load calculator that might be helpful in designing a home-brew solution.

Mainsheet Loading Calculator | Harken Marine

The formula for mainsheet loading is not as widely accepted as that for genoa sheet
www.harken.com www.harken.com

Harken has several other load calculators. (The higher prices on Harken equipment help to support this kind of information.)

Calculators | Harken Marine

www.harken.com www.harken.com
 
Don Guillette

Don Guillette

.
May 17, 2004
2,110
Other Catalina 30 Tucson, AZ
I wasn't going to comment any further on this topic but I can't help myself. The traveler car you're dealing with is over 40 years old and the rubber rollers are probably shot making the devise difficult to adjust.

Think about this from a safety standpoint. You might encounter more serious conditions with the jerry rig fix that caused it to fail in the first place. If it fails it will fail at the worse possible time endangering yourself and anyone on board. and damaging other equipment. I wouldn't want to be dealing with a tall rig main flopping all over the place.

Seasoned sailors on the SAIL TRIM FORUM can tell you stories of owners who skimped on equipment or let rigging go beyond it's life expectancy and regretted it.

Over the years dealing with sail trim I was invited on many boats and I spent the first 30 seconds looking over the condition of the equipment. On a few boats it was no wonder he couldn't trim the sails. On others, the boat was in serious need of equipment replacement.- jib cars rusted in place etc On another, the corroded rigging looked like it was ready to fail at the dock - I had to decline going on board.

I always bought the best stuff I could afford - 95% Garhauer. Good marine equipment is expensive and even it can fail.. With boat ownership if price becomes the object the owner needs to find a new hobby.
 
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kloudie1

kloudie1

.
Nov 6, 2006
10,093
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
@Jan11 has a great idea .. find what holds the "roller saddles" to that block and remove it and copy the block out of a piece of stainless.. a simple block with a big hole for the pulley attachment and a small hole for mounting the two "roller saddles"..
 
rgranger

rgranger

.
Jan 19, 2010
12,565
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
dlochner said:
How strong is JB Weld? How much shock loading can it tolerate?

Harken has a sail load calculator that might be helpful in designing a home-brew solution.

Mainsheet Loading Calculator | Harken Marine

The formula for mainsheet loading is not as widely accepted as that for genoa sheet
www.harken.com www.harken.com

Harken has several other load calculators. (The higher prices on Harken equipment help to support this kind of information.)

Calculators | Harken Marine

www.harken.com www.harken.com
Click to expand
I don’t know the shock load or tensile strength of JB Weld so I googled….

Goog say 5020 PSI for tensile

I do know from experience that it is very tough stuff. Just last week and I was talking to a retired merchant Marine who told me a story about repairing a gouge in a cylinder of a diesel engine while they were at sea using JB. I said I was surprised it could Tolerate the heat

But he assured me it lasted long enough to get back to shore and make proper repairs. I’ve used it on all sorts of things and I’ve never had it fail yet.
 
D

dlochner

.
Jan 11, 2014
12,955
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
rgranger said:
I don’t know the shock load or tensile strength of JB Weld so I googled….

Goog say 5020 PSI for tensile

I do know from experience that it is very tough stuff. Just last week and I was talking to a retired merchant Marine who told me a story about repairing a gouge in a cylinder of a diesel engine while they were at sea using JB. I said I was surprised it could Tolerate the heat

But he assured me it lasted long enough to get back to shore and make proper repairs. I’ve used it on all sorts of things and I’ve never had it fail yet.
Click to expand
What about the adhesive strength?
 
Hayden Watson

Hayden Watson

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Apr 5, 2009
3,131
Catalina '88 C30 tr/bs Oak Harbor, WA
The only way to replace that part is to find some lucky C30 owner who is upgrading to the Garhauer flat track and is removing one that still has some life in it.
 
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