I am looking to buy a 1978 Ontario 32. The boat is in excellent shape and appeals to me. It has a fiberglass dodger with the main traveller on the dodger. When I look around, this does not look very common. What are the negatives to this? To me, it seems like it would be a lot weaker compared to a traveller on the cabin or in the cockpit. It seems like an accidental jibe could do damage. Thanks for the help!
Main traveller on the dodger?
- Thread starter JohnnyP
- Start date
Your instincts are good. The important part is what's under the dodger and how the traveller is connected to the deck. There may be sufficient structure to the dodger and traveller to make this OK or not.
The other issue is how the mainsheet and traveller lines are run and whether they can be easily managed.
Overall, the Ontario 32 has a good pedigree. Rob Mazza designed the boat while working for C&C during the heyday of boat building in the Toronto and Hamilton Ontario.
The other issue is how the mainsheet and traveller lines are run and whether they can be easily managed.
Overall, the Ontario 32 has a good pedigree. Rob Mazza designed the boat while working for C&C during the heyday of boat building in the Toronto and Hamilton Ontario.
What Dave said. Also, I think it is worth observing that I don't think you can have a dodger and a traveler, without doing something like this. The good news is that, even if you find the structure lacking, there is a very good chance it could be adequately reinforced with modest effort and expense. I will say that my hunch is this:
Hard tops are relatively unusual and involve some expense and effort to build and install. It seems very likely that a previous owner did this ONLY (or primarily) because they wanted a dodger and needed a traveler solution. So, it is likely engineered for that purpose, rather than as an afterthought. Now, whether it was adequately engineered - I don't know. But, I would expect that this was purpose-built with the traveler in mind.
Hard tops are relatively unusual and involve some expense and effort to build and install. It seems very likely that a previous owner did this ONLY (or primarily) because they wanted a dodger and needed a traveler solution. So, it is likely engineered for that purpose, rather than as an afterthought. Now, whether it was adequately engineered - I don't know. But, I would expect that this was purpose-built with the traveler in mind.
Yea... what @Don S/V ILLusion said. If it has been field tested for many years, that is your best evidence.
Hunter, on some of their models, put travelers on the arch above the cockpit to keep the cockpit clear of a traveler to trip over and what all. If your arrangement was designed by the manufacturer or architect, I would assume it is just fine.