Mainsheet Travler for H 26

[George H260]

Has anyone with a H 26 installed a real Mainsheet Travler with car track and did away with the U-Bolt system? On my 23.3 Hunter it had a Mainsheet Travler in the capanion doorway and I miss the upwind performance that a real Travler with car track can give. I find in sailing the H 26 getting the boom/mainsail closer to the center of the boat when sailing would add upwind sailing performance. It looks to me that a travler-car rail could be installed across the cockpit floor where the U-bolt is attached. It would be an easy job to reinforce the car track with a aluminum backing plate underneath the cockpit. Even though some may say the track would be in the way, I would gladly trade the peformance for the possible inconvenience of the track.

 

[Wanderer138]

You probably won't need a backing plate

If you buy the box-section track (not the T-track) you should be OK. This track is pretty stiff to begin with and the bolts are placed about 4 inches apart, so the load from the mainsheet should distribute itself along the track and into the deck. Of course, it's always good to have some reserve strength built in, so the backing plate is not a bad idea.PeterH23 "Raven"

 

[Chris Haake]

traveler location

Saw one H26 traveler mounted on the small step just in front of the companionway.

 

[Jim Durrett (Dirtyjim@charter.net) Windancer]

In process of travler on 23.5 Hunter

I have purchased a windward sheeting Harken 247 that I am in the process of installing on a H235. I have measured the step and have determined that I have 5/8" of actual fiberglass to work with. Have consulted both Hunter and a Hunter dealer that I trust and have a plant to use 1" SS warshears every four inches. I have found some 1 inch plastic plugs for the hull liner which will give a finished appearance. I will begin this project in about three weeks --- Will post pictures for general interest -- any questions ---dirtyjim@charter.net

 

[Jim Covey]

Comtemplating this also

A traveller is on my list of things to do for my H26 as well. I've thought about the step in front of the companionway but I believe this area is too narrow to provide decent results. On the cockpit floor I don't know if the mainsheet will end up banging into the seats or not but at least you'll have a few more inches of track.I'll be watching this thread!Thanks

 

[John Scharer]

Have Traveler on 260

I have a Harken windward sheeting traveler located on the cockpit floor about 2 inches behind the compaionway step. It works great.

 

[GailForce]

Poor Man's Traveler

Occasionally during light air I would attach the main sheet to the base of the stanchion near the winches on our old H26. It improved our preformance quite a bit. We used this attachment point all the time while on the hook or at the dock. With the tiller pushed over and the main sheet out of the way we could fully appreciate the huge cockpit.JeffS/V Gail ForceH33.5 1993

 

[Michael Bell]

Move it aft?

I’ve been giving the traveler idea some thought as well. I have noticed quite a difference in the angle your can point the H26 to the wind (in lite air). You can test this by simply holding the main sheet lines over to windward. Didn’t care about the thought of a track in front of the cabinway door, but was considering aft of the U-bolt. There’s a flat section of floor until you reach the fuel storage lid. The area underneath is accessible from the rear berth via a removable panel in the headliner. That would put a tripping edge as you head out towards the swim ladder- but I guess I would rather fall into the water than down into the cabin.