Outhaul and traveler basic help please

Aug 7, 2025
3
Catalina 22 Boston area
Hi all,

Trying to get my 84 Catalina 22 on the water for the first time and struggling with clear guidance for basic rigging instructions. Though I see lots and lots a guidance on tweaks and tuning in the forums and Technical Manuals.

Two basic questions please...

1. Outhaul
As shown in the photo, I have an eye strap and a block at the end of my boom. There's a clam cleat (jam cleat?) on the starboard side of the boom further on. The clew of the main has a line that just has a stopper knot on it (sorry the picture doesn't show the actual knot on the other side).

Simplest approach for outhaul seems to be running it from the stopper knot at the clew to the block and then back to the clam cleat, with the stopper knot holding the outhaul to the mainsail. Does this seem like the way it was intended to be done, at least by the previous owner?

Unsure of this because (1) stopper knot seems like a surprising way to attach, and (2) pad eye at end is unused. But I guess that last pad eye is just for the pigtail from backstay for boom lift.

2. Traveler
Have attached a photo of my traveler bar. I just tie lines to the loops at the left and right bases of the traveler bar, route each through its side of the traveler and then back through the fair leads and cam cleats on the inside of the transom? I assume it doesn't matter much, but any recommended knot for tying to the loop at the base of the traveler bar?

Thanks!

Boom - Aft end
boom end.jpg


Boom - Port side
boom-portSide.jpg


Boom - Starboard side
boom-starboardSide.jpg


Clew with stopper knot on other side
clew.jpg


Traveler Bar:
TravelerBarPhoto.jpg
 

AaronD

.
Aug 10, 2014
742
Catalina 22 9874 Newberg, OR / Olympia, WA
Your traveler routing sounds about right to me. I didn't want to tie line through the sharp-ish holes in the little tangs, so I tied them around the vertical bars instead, securing them to the tangs with a shackle, so it can't slide up off and around the corner. Maybe gains a 1/2" of traveler travel - or not :)

Outhaul: One possibility - you could try tying the bitter end to the eye strap at the end of your boom. From there -> Through the sail cringle -> back to block -> cleat. That gains just a bit of purchase on the line - in theory, 2:1, but with friction through cringle, probably only 1.2:1 or something.
 
Aug 7, 2025
3
Catalina 22 Boston area
Thanks! That's reassuring. Am seeing that what I think are the traveler lines (though they're around 20 ft. long!) also have a stopper knot in them so will try that approach to at the tang to reduce the abrasion.

Another question... What's the secret to loosening this type of turnbuckle?? (And yes I'll need to get a straight one eventually!)

Thanks!
17546835622572731787772904709972.jpg