Does anyone know of anyone retrofitting a hunter or for that matter any boat with a hunter style steel arch for the travller? I specifically interested in those hunters that happen to have the traveller between the cockpit and the companion way.
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Yup
Here's a 40 that just showed up in our marina with an owner added arch/traveler (see link.) It's a personal preferance thing. It certainly can be done properly but I wouldn't do it. Our 40 has the traveler on the bridgedeck. When we bought the boat we weren't sure we'd like it. After 5 years and several thousand miles I wouldn't move it. When we sail it's like having a big dinghy. The main is right at hand. We can quickly adjust for quick puffs and shifts. If we had to get up, remove it from the self tailer (or worse, mount a winch handle and crank) we'd miss the shift, already be on our ear or wouldn't bother and just live with poor trim. The other consideration is that being a major installation, at resale time it may not be to other's liking. I can't tell from your post, but if you're concerned about a cockpit traveler being an issue, I'd say sail with it for a while. Then make your decisions. We're glad we did.
Here's a 40 that just showed up in our marina with an owner added arch/traveler (see link.) It's a personal preferance thing. It certainly can be done properly but I wouldn't do it. Our 40 has the traveler on the bridgedeck. When we bought the boat we weren't sure we'd like it. After 5 years and several thousand miles I wouldn't move it. When we sail it's like having a big dinghy. The main is right at hand. We can quickly adjust for quick puffs and shifts. If we had to get up, remove it from the self tailer (or worse, mount a winch handle and crank) we'd miss the shift, already be on our ear or wouldn't bother and just live with poor trim. The other consideration is that being a major installation, at resale time it may not be to other's liking. I can't tell from your post, but if you're concerned about a cockpit traveler being an issue, I'd say sail with it for a while. Then make your decisions. We're glad we did.
Me too
I posted a similar question earlier this month. It must be the January Question. I think there are some nice fiberglass arched boats for sale out there at reasonable prices, but the buyers prefer the aesthetics of SS. Methinks there could be a cottage industry for a sailor with fabrication skills! If you decide to try this, I would advertise on this website!
I posted a similar question earlier this month. It must be the January Question. I think there are some nice fiberglass arched boats for sale out there at reasonable prices, but the buyers prefer the aesthetics of SS. Methinks there could be a cottage industry for a sailor with fabrication skills! If you decide to try this, I would advertise on this website!
Someone in our marina added a second S/S arch
with davits to his Hunter 466. He had it custom and made/installed in Ensenada. The quality was so good you could not tell the difference between the stock arch and the second one. Anyone in the west coast may want to look into that. abe
with davits to his Hunter 466. He had it custom and made/installed in Ensenada. The quality was so good you could not tell the difference between the stock arch and the second one. Anyone in the west coast may want to look into that. abe
Depends upon the boat.
My 1979 H37C has the traveler on the bridgedeck. Hunter moved it to the cabin roof in 1982. Many owners have done the same on earlier models. I have seen lots of arches custom made for older boats including mine. But I have never seen one swept forward for that purpose. To put it up on an arch would require raising the gooseneck considerably, the boom is too low. That would raise the CE(center of effort), not something I would want. The next problem is design of the arch. If the boom is short like on my H37C then the arch will need to be very far forward. I guess it could be done but I think it would look funny. I agree with Rick, if you like to sail then end-boom sheeting in the cockpit is the way to go.
My 1979 H37C has the traveler on the bridgedeck. Hunter moved it to the cabin roof in 1982. Many owners have done the same on earlier models. I have seen lots of arches custom made for older boats including mine. But I have never seen one swept forward for that purpose. To put it up on an arch would require raising the gooseneck considerably, the boom is too low. That would raise the CE(center of effort), not something I would want. The next problem is design of the arch. If the boom is short like on my H37C then the arch will need to be very far forward. I guess it could be done but I think it would look funny. I agree with Rick, if you like to sail then end-boom sheeting in the cockpit is the way to go.
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