New Owner?

[Lakesailor Capri 22]

Hello all. I am brand new to the forum and have some questions. I am a longtime lake sailor and am in the process of deciding which boat will be my next. I have sailed for 40+ years, mostly sunfish, comets. I owned a Montgomery 17 which was a great boat but was too slow for me. I sailed a friend's Pearson 25 for 2 seasons in the Long Island Sound. Great place to sail but I did not like the boat. Wasn't completely the boat's fault, owner had old baggy sails from a different boat and some other issues. Sailed an Ultimate 20 a few times, responsive and fast. The boat I keep focusing on is the Alerion 28. However, it is just too expensive for me. The Capri 22 would be used on Lake Winnipesaukee NH for pleasure sailing. My question pertains to the traveler setup. Is it possible to eliminate the traveler from the cockpit or at least move it to the stern area. The Alerion has a barney post in the cockpit floor and the traveler in the rear. Is there clearance under the cockpit floor to be able to install a barney post. Or is this something I shouldn't even consider.

Thanks in advance,


Kevin

 

[jerrymlewis]

As much as I love the Capri 22 and sing its praises whenever and wherever I can, your query regarding moving the traveler leads me to suggest you consider the Catalina 22 instead. It is set up more for cruising, easier to launch/retrieve with its swing keel and the traveler is mounted on the stern.

Good luck,
Jerry

 

[Lakesailor Capri 22]

Thanks Jerry for the reply. But I prefer the Capri due to its bigger cockpit and better performance. We really would only use the cabin for the potty.

Kevin

 

[bigpapaporsche]

Kevin, We had our 2006 Capri 22 (SRWK) for just one year and everyone that has sailed with me have been very impressed with the way it sails. It one "Lean mean Sailing Machine!" It points better than another boat I've ever sailed as glides with the least amount of wind, which on on small lake is a big deal. Its a joy to sail! I went through the same thought process as you last year. The Alerion and the Dana 24 were both on our list, but since we haven't won the Lottery yet we had to adjust our wishlist, enter the Capri 22. Unfortunately, due to health reasons we have to sell it. Give me a PM and I'll give you more info and comments on the boats performance.

 

[NewportNewsMike]

A number of decades ago, I owned (and thoroughly enjoyed for almost 20 years) a Tanzer 22 - a great sailing little boat. A little on the heavy side compared to the lithe Capri 22, but overall a truly enjoyable boat.

I bring up the T22 because it had a mainsheet that attached to the cockpit floor - no barney post, just attached to the floor of the cockpit. It was a very workable setup. No traveler, but once you get the hang of vang sheeting you can nicely without a traveler 95% of the time. Unless you are a serious racer, you will not even notice that last 5%.

For vang sheeting, in light air, you sail with a relatively loose vang, which allows the boom to rise and the sail to power up when you ease. As you get more powered up, the vang comes on, causing the boom to go out and but not up when the mainsheet goes out. So, set leech tension with the vang, and control boom position with the mainsheet.

For a visual on the T22 setup, take a look at around the 8:00 mark on this T22 video on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4J-sa17Jo_I

 

[jepomer]

Most of the time, the traveler position is not a bother.

My wife of short stature with short legs (and recently broken ankle) does have have difficulties especially if she needs to cross it quickly. I considered moving it to a mid-boom location but decided it wasn't worth the effort.

I nice advantage is that the traveler will keep most "passengers" in the forward portion of the cockpit helping the balance and staying out of the way of the tiller!

I also have an O'Day 19 (not the 192) that has a larger cockpit like the Capri 22. It has no traveler and it is easier for my wife to get to all locations. We use it when we want to travel to other locations and setup quickly. Great for lake sailing since it has a lightweight centerboard in addition to a shallow leaded keel — very easy to beach!

 

[Lakesailor Capri 22]

BigPapa,

Thanks for the reply.. I love the Dana, but too pricey and not really a lake boat. Will send you pm.

 

[Lakesailor Capri 22]

Newport Mike,

Thanks for the reply. I have heard of the Tanzer 22 but never checked it out. Will now.

 

[Curt]

Hey Lake.

Once you take the skin off your shin for the second time the scar tissue is tough enough to handle the next bump.

I was looking for an older Oday Mariner because we had one many years ago. Big cockpit, stable easy to trailer and the swing keel makes for easy beaching. Then I was turned on the the Capri 22 that has, well, none of the thing the Oday had except the cockpit. My only objection was the traveler! We have a standard rig, wing keel Capri 22 and like everything about it. When I do the pros / cons for the Capri the pros win hands down and the traveler is not nearly as big a problem as I thought it would be, after you whack your shin, a couple of times. As JEPomer said, it keeps the back of the boat free of passengers for the most part. The traveler does prove to be worth the effort when trimming the main even if you are not a gofast sailor. It is fun to tweak the sail using all the devices the capri has and see what makes a difference.

There are plenty of boats out there that will fit your needs but don't dismiss the sporty Capri simply due to the traveler. OUrs is in the family until I can afford (win a lottery) and buy Catalina 275.

Happy hunting,
Curt

 

[Lakesailor Capri 22]

Curt,

Thanks for the feedback. Maybe I'm over thinking the traveler thing mid cockpit. My shins don't take well to banging, could use pads or old newspaper wrap. But seriously, I don't quite remember the setup on my Monty 17, but I don't think there was an adjustable traveler. The mainsheet went to a block that kind of just layed on the cockpit floor. It was not a barney post and didn't even have a spring to keep it upright. I think that over time, the cockpit floor probably would begin to get chipped up. Will be looking at a 22 Capri fin keel tall rig sometime next week. Nice looking boat, no roller curler.

Kevin

 

[jerrymlewis]

While under sail, the traveler is a nice boundary between helmsman and others - it happens to be just beyond the arc of the tiller so only the helmsperson has to avoid his/her tiller movements. When we take guests out, I point out that THIS section is like the airplane's cockpit and YOU are not allowed back here. You can go anywhere else on the boat, but...

 

[drewlamparello]

Has any one ever installed a second set of winches in line with the traveler? This would mean the captain doesn't have to encroach on the crew/ passenger space or depend on them to deal with the sheets when tacking... would especially be helpful if your single handing. certai nly would cause less shin scrapes

 

[Tom2921]

Why not simply move the traveller forward in the cockpit? One of the previous owners of my old CP22 had moved the traveller forward about 10-12 inches. Still enough room in front of the traveller for 2 people to sit comfortably and tons of room for the driver behind it, especially with the "no one but the driver sits behind the traveller" rule. Also helps to get the weight forward in the boat and help get the stern end out of the water. Forward traveller also meant that the winches are easily within reach for singlehanded sailing.

Here is an old photo showing the original Fico traveller before it was replaced with a Harken windward traveller. In hindsight, the windward sheeting car system didn't work very well on the boat and would have been better replaced with a J22 style cleating system that was recently discussed. viewtopic.php?f=7&t=328

 

[drewlamparello]

Great suggestion especially about the weight distribution. I do however have an another motive. That is, given I have a furling Code Zero on a Sprint if the wind is a beam and lower than 8-10 knts I'd also Like to deploy the Genoa but I need another set of winches to handle the second head sail... So figured if I installed the second set of winches then when I'm just sailing alone from the back it would be easier to tack and if I'm sailing with the Asym/ Code Zero I could even add more sail...

 

[shnool]

For the record, the traveler grows on you... if you sail hard, and often you'll never consider a boat without a traverse traveler in front of the skipper... I'm now looking for larger boats that have this, sadly the best example cruising boat that had speed, that also has a wheel, is the J28. I'm on my 3rd boat with a traverse traveler, Capri 22, Capri 25, and now the S2 7.9... I owned a Capri 14.2 which JUST had a barney, and I was ALWAYS unhappy with sail shape, ie no way to get the boom UP, and centered at the same time. I'd also hate a self-tacking jib though, and REALLY dislike roller furling shape, so I'm probably JUST weird.

Anyway, the traveler is a huge boon to allow you to ease the sheet (raise the boom), but bring the traveler above centerline (boom still on or below centerline)... this induces tremendous twist, that vang sheeting just doesn't give you as easily.

Dumping the traveler is a quick way to depower, without inducing more heel (from added twist while easiing the sheet)... so puff comes you dump the traveler, once its on you, you can ease it back up, and power right back up again.

the mid cockpit position allows you to keep an eye on the winds forward, and sails while doing this. In my opinion the best designed sailors position for a traveler, especially in waters where winds vary wildly with 5-15 knot gusts.

I never understood the gashed knees, smashed shins argument. Maybe my vision hasn't deteriorated enough yet.

As to the positioning of the winches... I'm at a conundrum right now on my S2... the winches are way to far forward for the skipper to handle jib sheets, and I'd love to move them back, a 2nd set is a huge expense, but I'd consider it as well if money were no object.

 

[dave_ren]

Has any one ever installed a second set of winches in line with the traveler? This would mean the captain doesn't have to encroach on the crew/ passenger space or depend on them to deal with the sheets when tacking... would especially be helpful if your single handing. certai nly would cause less shin scrapes

I looked at a 22 that was set up with a second set in line or just behind the traveler as you describe, specifically to aid in single handing. Looked like a great set up (if you weren't the one shelling out the dough for an extra pair of winches). Probably should have bought that boat...