remove traveler and seal the holes

Mike B. · Jan 30, 2005

fellow daysailers,I have a 1980 daysailer that I bought a few years ago that came with with a mounted traveler. I don't race and the traveler is nothing more than a tripping hazard for passengers. I plan to remove it this spring and seal the bolt holes and the inspection ports the person that installed the traveler cut and drilled. While I'm at it; I want to add some sort of floatation foam under the seats should I ever capsize. Is there some sort of spray-in bouyancy foam? Sealing the inspection holes properly and neatly is one project I haven't figured out either, but what can I do to regain the bouyancy under the seats?If anyone is interested in the traveler, make an offer.thanks for any inputMike B.

Roger · Jan 30, 2005

already floatation under the seats

Mike there is already positive bouyancy under the seats. I have a 1974 version of the DS II and I'm attaching a picture of what it looks like under there.Also, I may be interested in your traveller. Is it a mid boom traveller, end boom triangle or hybrid, (typically called a Maclaughlan traveller) The Mac has a triangle at the boom end with the line led forward to the midboom and down to the cb top. The traveller I would be interested in is the midboom sited either on the cockpit sole or athwardships at the seat top level. If you have a picture send it by e-mail to roger02@mb.sympatico.ca It sounds as though you may have the midboom because you refer to it as a tripping hazard.

Mike B. · Jan 31, 2005

yes, it is a mid boom traveller

Roger,it is a mid boom traveller, I don't have a picture, it will have to wait till the snow melts. If you're from Manitoba, you won't be sailing for a while either. I can send one in March when I can uncover the boat. It is a Daysailor ll. I still want to add some bounancy if possible. If that cavity ever filled with water... it would be a bear to upright again. I'll keep your email address and send pics in the spring.Mike B.

Roger · Jan 31, 2005

sounds good Mike

For what its worth, I filled my bilge with water overnight once last year, during a storm, while at anchor, then in rough seas brought it to the dock for loading onto the trailer the next morning, whereupon it took on another 10 inches of water in the cockpit. I was still able to haul it onto the trailer, then drain it.Surprisingly during all this time, it stayed afloat just slightly above the waterline. Now that's not to say that it wouldn't be a bear to sail with that much weight, but at least is floats, and with my 200# in it. If you still feel the need to add additional floatation, I have heard of people putting in those foam noodles and essentially filling in the void. You could put in two access ports in the cuddy to get to that space then stuff them in through there. Here is a picture of where my access ports are, but, I have not added the additional floatation. (I had to access the backing nuts for the jib block track.)