We sail our 94 26 on a lake that can whip up a lot of wind quick. I am wondering if I add a travler for my main sheet if I can handle higher winds before I reef. I also was thinking of tracks for my jib leads. What have you all found with these additions?
travler
- Thread starter bmorr
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It will to a certain degree by allowing you to 'blade' off the main and decrease its Angle Of Attack to the higher wind. If you have a good vang, you can simulate the same effect by vang sheeting. Keep the vang on hard and just ease the mainsheet in the puffs. the boom will go out (lowering the AOA) but not up (keeping the twist the same) because of the vang. Same effect. If you like how it works, get the traveler. Its easier and long-term easier on your rigging.
Good advice. Yes, yu'll find, even on a boat our your size (a big boat feel) that a traveler is much easier to use than letting out the mainsheet. Why? 'Cuz there's simply less string to pull back than a mainsheet to reset to where your main was before the puff. Another technique is to feather up into the wind, some boats will do that themselves, which is basic "boat-to-skipper" language meaning: Time to Reef! 
Good luck, enjoy.
Good luck, enjoy.
I too am looking at installing a traveler on my 2008 Hunter 25 and am interested in how to mount the rail. My cockpit floor is sloped and has a ridge in the middle so some sort of raised platform is required. If you have a plan please share your solution.
Ok guys, let me answer this one.
This reply will refer to both the 26 and 260. First, you cannot put a traveler on top of the cabin coach roof as it will interfer with the raising of the companionway. If you did, the cabin roof would have to be beefed up where the bases would go and that can be tricky if not expensive.
The only other way to install one is right before the companionway coaming going inside the boat which not only gets in the way but is short to the point it will not work much good anyway.
I have read of other arrangements for a make shift application in the back which I am not use to but not sure if it would work. However, let me say this. First, get a good vang with the with the release on the boom, not at the deck, which will allow you to adjust the boom vang quickly plus the block is not beating against the cabin roof near the base of the mast. Finally, the boat was built for primariily the ease of trailering and crusiing not for racing as I was most involved witht he project.
However, I use to race the boats against many good racers and various boats with all the bells and whitles and beat them with a stock boat out of the box primarily thru sail control, knowledge of the sailing area, condition of the boat, crew knowledge and inter working with the skipper and so forth.
Marry Christmas and Happy New Year. God Bless.
crazy dave condon
I
This reply will refer to both the 26 and 260. First, you cannot put a traveler on top of the cabin coach roof as it will interfer with the raising of the companionway. If you did, the cabin roof would have to be beefed up where the bases would go and that can be tricky if not expensive.
The only other way to install one is right before the companionway coaming going inside the boat which not only gets in the way but is short to the point it will not work much good anyway.
I have read of other arrangements for a make shift application in the back which I am not use to but not sure if it would work. However, let me say this. First, get a good vang with the with the release on the boom, not at the deck, which will allow you to adjust the boom vang quickly plus the block is not beating against the cabin roof near the base of the mast. Finally, the boat was built for primariily the ease of trailering and crusiing not for racing as I was most involved witht he project.
However, I use to race the boats against many good racers and various boats with all the bells and whitles and beat them with a stock boat out of the box primarily thru sail control, knowledge of the sailing area, condition of the boat, crew knowledge and inter working with the skipper and so forth.
Marry Christmas and Happy New Year. God Bless.
crazy dave condon
I
Thanks guys, it will give me something to think about.
Jackdaw- I confess I have not played with the vang like I shoud, a goal for next season.
Stu- thanks that is what I thought but wasn't sure.
Pole Holder- If I go ahead I will run the track across he companion way. I had that arrangement on a previous boat (older Mac).
Crazy Dave- I am not a racer, but sail on a lake here in Colorado that can whip up the winds rapidly. What I have found is the boat handles a lot, but my passengers are at times a little uneasy. This is my 4th boat (had it about 3 years) and my wife and I just love it. What role are you refering to in its developement?
I hope you all have a nice Christmas and look forward to a sailing 2013.
Bill
Jackdaw- I confess I have not played with the vang like I shoud, a goal for next season.
Stu- thanks that is what I thought but wasn't sure.
Pole Holder- If I go ahead I will run the track across he companion way. I had that arrangement on a previous boat (older Mac).
Crazy Dave- I am not a racer, but sail on a lake here in Colorado that can whip up the winds rapidly. What I have found is the boat handles a lot, but my passengers are at times a little uneasy. This is my 4th boat (had it about 3 years) and my wife and I just love it. What role are you refering to in its developement?
I hope you all have a nice Christmas and look forward to a sailing 2013.
Bill
We sailed a 95 H260 and found the vang made a big difference and then we stepped up to a staged vang where you take your standard vang and hook it to another sheeve for additional 2:1 leverage. Then run it back to the cockpit for your line clutch. You can even run to to both sides so you can work the vang just link the mainsheet.
It made a huge difference to us.
Ray
It made a huge difference to us.
Ray
Thats the ticket.
Bmorr, its called 'vang sheeting' but that is a bit of a misnomer, as nothing is actually sheeted. It kind of works like this.
Normally when going to windward the vang is not used, but to vang sheet set it so it snug when the main is sheeted all the way in and you are happy with the twist. Now, when a puff come on, just ease the mainsheet. The boom will go out, but not up. This is the exact same effect the traveler would have.
As Stu notes a good traveler is easier to control. And its also easier on your boom. But its a good way to get a feel for the control. Your boat is rather tender, so it is a good trick to have in your book!
Ray,
Thanks for your description of the staged vang and running lines to both sides. Would you happen to have a photo of this set up you could share? I have a 2008 H25 which is not designed for a main sheet traveler and knowing that this is a “tender” boat easing the main without losing sail twist is important.
Thanks and have a very Merry Christmas.
Andre
Thanks for your description of the staged vang and running lines to both sides. Would you happen to have a photo of this set up you could share? I have a 2008 H25 which is not designed for a main sheet traveler and knowing that this is a “tender” boat easing the main without losing sail twist is important.
Thanks and have a very Merry Christmas.
Andre
Shipmates: Here's why a traveler is an important sail trim control if the boat can accomadate one. The traveler comes into it's own in a gust. When the boat heels over, you just drop the traveler down and the boat comes back on it's feet. After the gust passes you merely reposition the traveler to its former position and sail on your way. No other sail trim adjustment is necessary assuming the wind and point of sail remains the same. What you've done is change the angle of attack. You could adjust with the mainsheet and that's you're only alternative if you don't have a traveler.
Here's why no futher adjustment is needed if everything stays the same. Picture the screen door in your garage. Assume there's a grove in the floor and the screen door has a pin in the outside edge that rides in the groove. When you open and close the screen door does the shape of the screen change? Obviously, it doesn't. It's the same with the traveler. When you move it the shape of the mainsail doesn't change. If you adjust to the gust with the mainsheet you're messing with twist and draft position and you have to re set for the conditions.
The above is why I prefer the traveler.
Here's why no futher adjustment is needed if everything stays the same. Picture the screen door in your garage. Assume there's a grove in the floor and the screen door has a pin in the outside edge that rides in the groove. When you open and close the screen door does the shape of the screen change? Obviously, it doesn't. It's the same with the traveler. When you move it the shape of the mainsail doesn't change. If you adjust to the gust with the mainsheet you're messing with twist and draft position and you have to re set for the conditions.
The above is why I prefer the traveler.
Unless you sail the Hunter 26 or 260, it is much different to sail with a traveler on this boat than most others due to the circumstances of the construction of the two boats.
crazy dave condon
crazy dave condon
The original poster was not asking about construction or what would be involved in adding a traveler to the 260, he was asking a rather generic question about sailing chararacterists of sailing with one. That's how most people have answered.
Andre, If you go to Harken.com and select "product support". Select Boomvang systems and they have drawn out all the systems currently used. A cascading boomvang allows the boom to be securly held down so you can dump the mainsheet in big puffs. This keeps the sail flat for larger winds. I would also advise a "Cunningham" for even better control of the sails flatness. A cunningham is very easy and cheap to install.
Good use of the vang and mainsheet will give very, very good control of the main without a traveller.
Ray
Good use of the vang and mainsheet will give very, very good control of the main without a traveller.
Ray
Jackdaw;
He was specific to the boat, not a boat in general. If most boats a longer traveler is great but it is difficult to put one on the hunter 26 or 260 to make a differnece.
dave condon
He was specific to the boat, not a boat in general. If most boats a longer traveler is great but it is difficult to put one on the hunter 26 or 260 to make a differnece.
dave condon
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