Need help with moving main sheet

[cejewett7777]

Hi all,

I am getting ready to change my 79 Hunter 27 to wheel steering and at the same time want to move the main sheet from the back of the boom to over the companionway. Does anyone have pics, websites, part numbers etc.. that will help me figure out how I want to do that? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Tim R.]

Re: Need help with moving main sheet forward

I do not but the first thing you need to do is ensure that your boom is strong enough to handle the loads of a midboom setup on your particular boat.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Re: Need help with moving main sheet forward

Tim is right of course. But the old Kenyon spars really are pretty stout and lots of guys have made the conversion. In fact Hunter made two versions, one with the traveler on the bridge deck(end-boom) and another up on the coach roof. That version had no traveler, just blocks on each side of the companionway. Not end-boom and not quite mid-boom.

If you look at the '79s for sale on YachtWorld.com there are a couple that were converted. The best price-perfomer brand of traveler with towers is Garhauer I think.

 

[John Howitt]

Re: Need help with moving main sheet forward

Personally I like to be able to handle the main sheet from the wheel on my 29.5. But... I don't have a traveller. trade off.

 

[Benny]

Re: Need help with moving main sheet forward

The h27 Cherubini came with two different cockpit configurations, one for tiller and the other for wheel. The one for tiller came with two full cockpit benches while the one for wheel sported three benches, two short and one aft. The space division between the forward benches and the aft allows for walking around the wheel or for the installation of a larger wheel. The aft bench also serves as the helmsman seat. I'm not sure a conversion from one steering system to the other would yield satisfactory results in either direction. I can see where moving the mainsheet forward would make life in the cockpit a whole lot more comfortable when underway. The best configuration would be to add a traveller to the cabin top. The original booms used for those boats were overbuilt for the small mainsails used and can easily withstand the forces of a midboom setup. The real power in those boats was provided by the Genoa. The main sheet factory setup had three boom bails spaced apart at midboom with a block attached to each bail and blocks at each side of the cabin stringed with the mainsheet in a triangular way to povide purchase. It is a very innefficient system and that is why many have converted to a traveller. I;m sure some members can post some photos for you. Good luck.

 

[Manny]

here's a picture

I tried cropping the picture a little to hopefully make it easier to see the boom bails and the cabin top with the blocks on a spring base.

Manny

 

[BenDi]

Another Picture

Here is another picture.

 

[Alan]

I would have thought that end boom sheeting would be preferable with wheel steering. Having the main sheet more available to the helmsman would seem to be an advantage. It certainly is more powerful than mid boom. If you expect the same performance on mid boom sheeting you will need to increase the purchase.

 

[cejewett7777]

Great replies! Thanks! The pics of the rigging setup are useful. As for those who think the main sheet aft is still preferable with wheel steering, I'm not sure there is room to do that on a 27. The main sheet traveler is right where you would want to sit and if you could move it aft further you couldn't move it aft enough to keep it out of your hair. Maybe I am not picturing it right in my head but it doesn't seem to be doable that way.

I would love to hear from anybody who has made this conversion to wheel steering...

 

[Ed Schenck]

So where exactly is your traveler right now. You are converting a tiller H27 to wheel steering, right? I thought the traveler was on the bridgedeck, the step into the companionway. Here is a nice example of a conversion: http://www.sailingtexas.com/shunter27103.html .

 

[cejewett7777]

Mine is same as here:

http://newimages.yachtworld.com/1/9/0/3/2/1903274_19.jpg?1209518601000

 

[Ed Schenck]

Well that picture certainly explains your desire to move it. I had no idea that Cherubini ever did that. Where is the end of the boom in relation to the traveler? The boom must be quite long. This would seem to indicate that a traveler ahead of the companionway is forward of mid-boom. Then you will need at least 6:1 or better for any control at all.

 

[cejewett7777]

Thanks for the reply Ed. It does have a long boom that ends almost above the traveler. The main sail does not use the whole length of the boom though. The only pics I have seen so far on the net that shows the same boat with the same thing I am trying to do is attached.

 

[cejewett7777]

Anyways, It looks like I'm getting the idea of what I have to do to compete this modification. Thanks for everyone's help and keep the good ideas flowing!

 

[cbader]

Picture of track tower

Here is a picture of a track tower I had made by Gaugher. It is very strong and can be made with pullies and cam cleats for sail control. I just used it to replace a worn track for delta reefing on my jib. They can make it any hight from 3" to 12" to get over your companion way. They are hand made but very reasonably price give them a call.

Carl

 

[Brock Halbeisen]

Move the traveler to the coach roof. You will be fine.