Gauerhauer Traveler
- Thread starter JohnVTX
- Start date
John, the "trick" is to avoid "being a slave behind the wheel" and letting your autopilot steer the boat. When I need to adjust my traveler often is going upwind. The boat should be reasonably balanced, reefed early, and the traveler "played" when necessary. During those times I'm always in front of the wheel. Going to beam or broad reach and downwind, the traveler is down anyway and needs no adjustment.
You might be interested in this topic, especially reply #16 by John, who uses his mainsheet. He'd also suggested making the traveler lines longer to reach the wheel in other discussions. I just odn't think it's necessary.
Single Handing 101 http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5445.15.html
You might be interested in this topic, especially reply #16 by John, who uses his mainsheet. He'd also suggested making the traveler lines longer to reach the wheel in other discussions. I just odn't think it's necessary.
Single Handing 101 http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,5445.15.html
I I'm only behind the wheel when docking I am usually next to it or in front of it. I do not have an autopilot
i for one made my traveler lines longer but mostly they just got in the way in the cockpit so i gave up the idea and also use the autopilot. if you don't have an autopilot try using the wheel brake for short times to adjust the traveler.
And if you use the wheel brake, resist the temptation to crank it down as hard as you can. Just tighten it enough to get a small amount of resistance. That's all you need if your sail plan is balanced, and has the advantage of not only allowing you to move the wheel, but makes the brake last longer.
Here's why I ran my traveler lines back to the wheel. Previously, my wife would complain the boat was heeling and asked me to get it back on it's feet. My response was for her to take the wheel while I adjusted the traveler. Here response was she'd take the wheel after I got the boat on it's feet!!! Anyway, lines to the helm solved that problem plus using the traveler is the quickest way to get the boat on it's feet in a gust. After the gust, you just reset the traveler to its previous position and go merrily on your way,
I just changed out the lines and made them longer to reach the wheel. The Garhauer straight track traveler (I got rid of the curved track traveler after a modification try to make it work) made adjustment easy -- I could release tension on the lines with a flick of the wrist and snap them back to lock quickly. I also had Garhauer make me a 2' winch handle (yup, I mean 2 foot) so I could trim the jib without leaving the helm. Those mods made my wife happy -- she didn't have to do anything but sit back and "catch ray's"!!
This also depends on how your boat is designed. My traveller is behind me at the helm of my center cockpit. I have the c ontrol lines at the ends of the track, just off either elbow when sitting at the helm. Mainsheet is also right there. The 2 primaries for jibsheets are on the coaming just a few feet away, also close to the helm.
I have the same Garhauer setup. Where do you lay the lines, outside the coaming?
Ooooops...I get posts via 'new posts'. Did not see it was in the "catalina center cockpit haters group" 
(that is a joke, guys!)
(that is a joke, guys!)
JohnVTX: Mostly along the seats -- I needed them where I could easily get to them. 90% of the time it was just my wife and myself. If we had guests on board I'd leave the setup on the cabin top in hopes the guest would want to play with the sail trim -- most did but my wife would start on me when we left the home driveway to shut about about sail trim because no one gives a crap about it. As a result I never brought up the subject of sail trim unless the guests asked. Sometimes I'd try to bring it up but I'd get that "evil eye" that only gals can give!!!
Here are some suggestions with graphics from the Harken site..... moving the cleats to the edge of the cabin... or even routing them closer to the helm... would make it easier to set and release. http://www.harken.com/content.aspx?id=3914
I also use my traveler alot (especially while racing) and made the lines long enough for me to reach while sitting near the wheel. I rarely sit behind the wheel cause I can't reach the primaries even with a T cockpit. Traveler lines just lay on the cockpit floor. I have thought about putting cam cleats at the edge of the coach to make it easier to release but haven't yet.
it's clear that each of us uses his boat differently. i have a large destroyer wheel and steer the boat with one hand while i sit on the coaming, making don's system impractical - i've tried.
Everyone hears a different drummer but I don't see where my suggestion is impractical in your situation. I'm trying to picture your situation. Without the traveler lines within easy reach you've got to get off the coaming and move forward to adjust the traveler. What I'm suggesting is get off the coaming, stand behind the wheel or in front of it, flick the lines to make the adjustment and then go back to sitting on the coaming.
don, i really haven't thought about it because i use my autopilot. by the way i laminated the sail trim charts you sent me and used angle section to mount them on the bulkhead(?) either side of the main hatch so that they're very handy.
I installed a new traveler in the cockpit just forward of the locker. I can seat on the coamming, steer, trim main and main fine tune and play the traveler or the genoa sheet. It has a wheel.