This is a question for all, but looking especially to Alan and his 35.5 experience. My '92 35.5 was one of the Liberty Cup boats, and one of the enhancements was putting the traveller into the cockpit. The Admiral has expressed interest in putting it back up to the cabin top, giving us some more room in the cockpit (standard cruising crew is my wife and I plus 4 kids - 7,9,11,13). I don't race a lot, more for the fun and and experience than for the trophies, but have visions of being as competitive as possible. I guess what I'm wondering is how much I am going to sacrifice performance and how much more difficult making adjustments while singlehanding is going to be. I know it's all about keeping the admiral happy, but I don't want to make a change that I'll regret later. Moving the traveller also offers the potential benefit of adding a pedestal guard to mount a few toys on as well as someplace to fashion a table of sorts for cruising mode versus racing mode. So, your thoughts? Keep it where it's at? Move it? Thanks as always - T J
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Cabin top traveller
I will defer the performance arguement to Alan and do not race my 35.5 but I have the cabin-top mounted traveller. I sail singlehand frequently and do not find it a problem with the traveller where it is. It also opens up the cockpit, preserves the shins, and if you ever want to install a bimini or cockpit enclosure makes life much easier.
I will defer the performance arguement to Alan and do not race my 35.5 but I have the cabin-top mounted traveller. I sail singlehand frequently and do not find it a problem with the traveller where it is. It also opens up the cockpit, preserves the shins, and if you ever want to install a bimini or cockpit enclosure makes life much easier.
TJ if your going the cruising route,
also get rid of that destroyer wheel. You look like you are on Harley with monkey bars. No wonder the admiral is complaining she probably cannot move in that cockpit. A cabin mounted traveller is no problem for singlehandling but getting from behind that wheel may be. A good helmsman does not need all that forgiveness and leaverage. I use a small wheel for space consideration and it serves me well for 90% of the time. I'll use muscles to fight weather helm when need be. What seems to be advantageous in a racing boat is not necessarily the best for a cruising rig where some comforts are more necessary than speed. Consider perhaps trading wheel and traveller with someone who is actively racing. Them firey Ferraris always looked cooler than a family van but to travel cross country the van was and still is a better option.
also get rid of that destroyer wheel. You look like you are on Harley with monkey bars. No wonder the admiral is complaining she probably cannot move in that cockpit. A cabin mounted traveller is no problem for singlehandling but getting from behind that wheel may be. A good helmsman does not need all that forgiveness and leaverage. I use a small wheel for space consideration and it serves me well for 90% of the time. I'll use muscles to fight weather helm when need be. What seems to be advantageous in a racing boat is not necessarily the best for a cruising rig where some comforts are more necessary than speed. Consider perhaps trading wheel and traveller with someone who is actively racing. Them firey Ferraris always looked cooler than a family van but to travel cross country the van was and still is a better option.
Benny - Destroyer Wheel
Benny - I have the smaller wheel as well, and I go back and forth on using the destroyer wheel. Before I had the autopilot, I liked the big wheel for cruising because it made it easier for me to get out from behind the wheel, sit out to the side and steer. Also, I had steer with my toes and keep my hands in my pockets during those long chilly overnight passages. Now that I've got the autopilot, I generally only use the big wheel for racing. Again, it lets me get out to the side for better visibility and gives that little extra oomph when pushing the boat in heavier air. My avatar pic is from my Chicago to Mac race in '05. As you've noted, it's all about the balance between racing and cruising. I like to do both and while I appreciate having to make sacrifices to each, I try to optimize for both, while keeping the admiral happy as well. Often a juggling act. Unfortunately, it looks like time commitments are going to prevent me from the Chi-Mac race and/or the Hook race this year, so I'm going to try free up some Wednesdays to try and make it to the boat for bouy racing. We'll see how that goes. And I'll set my sights back on Mackinac for 2008. Maybe see if I can get an ol' pro like Alan to join me and show me what my boat can really do.
T J
Benny - I have the smaller wheel as well, and I go back and forth on using the destroyer wheel. Before I had the autopilot, I liked the big wheel for cruising because it made it easier for me to get out from behind the wheel, sit out to the side and steer. Also, I had steer with my toes and keep my hands in my pockets during those long chilly overnight passages. Now that I've got the autopilot, I generally only use the big wheel for racing. Again, it lets me get out to the side for better visibility and gives that little extra oomph when pushing the boat in heavier air. My avatar pic is from my Chicago to Mac race in '05. As you've noted, it's all about the balance between racing and cruising. I like to do both and while I appreciate having to make sacrifices to each, I try to optimize for both, while keeping the admiral happy as well. Often a juggling act. Unfortunately, it looks like time commitments are going to prevent me from the Chi-Mac race and/or the Hook race this year, so I'm going to try free up some Wednesdays to try and make it to the boat for bouy racing. We'll see how that goes. And I'll set my sights back on Mackinac for 2008. Maybe see if I can get an ol' pro like Alan to join me and show me what my boat can really do.
T JTJ if you are still racing, by all means
keep your equipment. Yes with the big wheel you have the advantage of steering from the sides. I installed a helm chair a couple of years ago and that is mostly where I steer from so the small wheel works fine and since my feet are elevated I can also steer with my toes. I know how you can keep the admiral happy, buy her diamonds. Fair winds.
keep your equipment. Yes with the big wheel you have the advantage of steering from the sides. I installed a helm chair a couple of years ago and that is mostly where I steer from so the small wheel works fine and since my feet are elevated I can also steer with my toes. I know how you can keep the admiral happy, buy her diamonds. Fair winds.
traveler
hi, If the admiral is complaining about the traveler while at anchor an easy solution is to use an opening shackle to attach the block to the traveler. while at anchor you attach the shackle to the toe rail; the boom is out of the way and the the main sheet is also out of the way. I like your wheel, must return a lot of feeling from the rudder. Again you can easilly remove that while at anchor, while sailing you can forward of it or on auto pilot so It should not be an issue. cheers, a.
hi, If the admiral is complaining about the traveler while at anchor an easy solution is to use an opening shackle to attach the block to the traveler. while at anchor you attach the shackle to the toe rail; the boom is out of the way and the the main sheet is also out of the way. I like your wheel, must return a lot of feeling from the rudder. Again you can easilly remove that while at anchor, while sailing you can forward of it or on auto pilot so It should not be an issue. cheers, a.
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