Mounting a new traveler ...
Several years ago I spent close to $500 for the 6-bearing traveler car and a pair of traveler controls with the dual sheaves and cam cleat. I bought this from Schaefer because the boat was rigged with Scheafer hardware and the traveler track is a 1-1/8" Schaefer track. Unfortunately, I soon discovered that the flange for the cam cleat doesn't clear my locker openings because the ends of the track stop about an inch short of the coaming. My traveler track is mounted very similarly to Radico's.
Well, now I'm re-motivated to carry this project through and I believe that I can solve my problem by buying 5' length of Scheafer traveler track and custom cutting it down to fit snugly up against the coaming. Then, the controls can be mounted at the end with just enough clearance so my lockers aren't impeded. But, I liked Radico's set-up because the working end of the control lines are at the traveler car. With mine, the working ends are at the outboard ends of the track with the fixed controls. I looked at that windward-sheeting Harken system and was liking that because they advertise that you don't have to release the leeward side when raising the windward side. What a great system for my wife! Besides, it seems like the Schaefer system may be slightly awkward because the sheeting system is not right in front of you when you are sitting in the cockpit.
In any case, I am faced with the dilemna of thowing out the money I already spent on the Schaefer components in favor of the Harken system which I like (and I have to look very carefully to make sure the profile of the track matches the profile of my current set-up - I can't go with low profile because the track is recessed). Installing a new Harken track will probably be a lot more work since it is not likely that any holes will match. It might be good if I could match the Harken components with my Schaefer track, but I believe that would be Metric units (Harken) to English (Schaefer) which doesn't give me much confidence. If the Harken traveler car clears my lockers when the lockers are closed, this may work because the flange for the cam cleat is on the traveler car which could be centered when I want to open a locker.
In any case, this upgrade may make my wife happy because I get the dirtiest looks when I ask for adjustments to the traveler - far dirtier a look than for any other control.
Several years ago I spent close to $500 for the 6-bearing traveler car and a pair of traveler controls with the dual sheaves and cam cleat. I bought this from Schaefer because the boat was rigged with Scheafer hardware and the traveler track is a 1-1/8" Schaefer track. Unfortunately, I soon discovered that the flange for the cam cleat doesn't clear my locker openings because the ends of the track stop about an inch short of the coaming. My traveler track is mounted very similarly to Radico's.
Well, now I'm re-motivated to carry this project through and I believe that I can solve my problem by buying 5' length of Scheafer traveler track and custom cutting it down to fit snugly up against the coaming. Then, the controls can be mounted at the end with just enough clearance so my lockers aren't impeded. But, I liked Radico's set-up because the working end of the control lines are at the traveler car. With mine, the working ends are at the outboard ends of the track with the fixed controls. I looked at that windward-sheeting Harken system and was liking that because they advertise that you don't have to release the leeward side when raising the windward side. What a great system for my wife! Besides, it seems like the Schaefer system may be slightly awkward because the sheeting system is not right in front of you when you are sitting in the cockpit.
In any case, I am faced with the dilemna of thowing out the money I already spent on the Schaefer components in favor of the Harken system which I like (and I have to look very carefully to make sure the profile of the track matches the profile of my current set-up - I can't go with low profile because the track is recessed). Installing a new Harken track will probably be a lot more work since it is not likely that any holes will match. It might be good if I could match the Harken components with my Schaefer track, but I believe that would be Metric units (Harken) to English (Schaefer) which doesn't give me much confidence. If the Harken traveler car clears my lockers when the lockers are closed, this may work because the flange for the cam cleat is on the traveler car which could be centered when I want to open a locker.
In any case, this upgrade may make my wife happy because I get the dirtiest looks when I ask for adjustments to the traveler - far dirtier a look than for any other control.