Oday 30 Mainsail Traveler

[tmcp51d]

Forgive my lack of Knowledge on this as I am not sure of the Correct terms...My Mainsail traveler assembly is mounted in the cockpit and being the "Part Time" Sailor that I am. I dont Race and find it somewhat obstructive in the Cockpit....Question is Can it be Moved to the top of the cabin?....How hard is it to do?....It there a "Kit" for this?....I have seen this on other Oday 27-32's and wanted to do the same to mine

Thanks for the Help...

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Yes, you can do that, but think on this before doing it. First of all the closer it is to the helm the easier it is for the helms person to reach. To mount the traveler on the cabin top you need an arch (called a horse) to bridge the sliding hatch which has to be mounted where the seahood/sliding hatch meet so that it is not a head knocker going down to the basement. The other thing you are doing is moving the mainsheet attachment point on the boom farther forward which puts more strain on the boom (it is not as long as a lever arm now as before). I assume the existing arrangement is mid boom sheeting rather than end boom sheeting, but moving the attachment forward gets it closer to the boom vang attachment location and you want to make sure you are not weakening the boom with too many holes close by and make sure the boom can take that extra stress. Schaefer Marine used to have traveler horse parts as did Spartan Marine. These might work.

 

[tmcp51d]

Thanks for the Response....I will post some Pics of the Current mounts on the Boom.

Does it have to be an "Arch"?...I have seen the flat on used on other boats at our Club...I could us the current "Flat" one that is in the Cockpit if I mounted it on stand-off's mounted to the Cabin...

 

[Sprega]

Thanks for the Response....I will post some Pics of the Current mounts on the Boom.

Does it have to be an "Arch"?...I have seen the flat on used on other boats at our Club...I could us the current "Flat" one that is in the Cockpit if I mounted it on stand-off's mounted to the Cabin...

IMHO flat is better than arched as mainsail twist does not change when adjusting angle to wind with the traveler. Last fall I moved the traveler on my 27 from mid cockpit to cabin top. I did use a slightly arched hatch bridge as I didn't want the traveler too high. I love it out of the cockpit.

 

[tmcp51d]

IMHO flat is better than arched as mainsail twist does not change when adjusting angle to wind with the traveler. Last fall I moved the traveler on my 27 from mid cockpit to cabin top. I did use a slightly arched hatch bridge as I didn't want the traveler too high. I love it out of the cockpit.

That's What I want to Do....Was it a "Kit" or did you make it Yourself?

 

[Sprega]

Another photo. Note that it is important to spread the sheet load to more than one attachment point when you move your traveler that far forward.

 

[Sprega]

That's What I want to Do....Was it a "Kit" or did you make it Yourself?

I had a friend make the bridge for me. He is a fabrication engineer at a welding shop. He was able to use material left over from a large contact, so that part cost nothing. I bought the harken traveler assembly, complete, at a used marine hardware shop for $125. Soooo, I got a real good deal.

 

[tmcp51d]

I had a friend make the bridge for me. He is a fabrication engineer at a welding shop. He was able to use material left over from a large contact, so that part cost nothing. I bought the harken traveler assembly, complete, at a used marine hardware shop for $125. Soooo, I got a real good deal.

How did you attach it?....Nut and Bolt through the Cabin roof?...Did you need to use inserts's or Backing Plates?...

 

[Sprega]

How did you attach it?....Nut and Bolt through the Cabin roof?...Did you need to use inserts's or Backing Plates?...

I through bolted it with backing plates. I don't think I have a pic of the backing plates. I'm going to the boat today. I will try to remember to take a photo of the them. No guarantee on that however. This photo shows the backing plates uninstalled.