Wanted info on Main Sheet Traveler

[Ken R]

Need information on how to properly rig the main sheet traveler on our 1980 27' Hunter. As it is rigged I can not centerline the boom. Any assistance would be great appreciated. Ken R

 

[David Foster]

Where is your traveler?

Mine is at the aft end of the cockpit. Others are on the cabin roof. Tell us more about yours so we can help.DavidLady Lillie'77 h27

 

[jcherubini]

H-27 traveller... again

Ken, I like the fact that you have said you are looking for the way to 'properly' rig the mainsheet here!!!The CORRECT place for the traveller on the ordinary stock H-27 is at the forward end of the cockpit, directly across the companionway. The mid-boom sheeting was a compromise weighed against the benefits of a step-through companionway and a minimum of about 6 ft 3 in of cockpit-seat length. MY dad was not happy with the requirement for the mid-boom set up (and neither have I as any frequent reader here can tell you).Many people may not like my suggestion because they will insist on flying a bimini top or awning whilst under sail. This is anti-performance and nothing I would recommend anyway. On both our H-25 and the Raider, we often had the storm dodger up, just forward of the sheetline tackle, and never had a problem with interference. The travellers across the top of the cabin are just awful-- you can't really access it up there or lead lines aft to where you can. Worse, pulling on the middle of the boom is never going to give you the proper sail shape to sail well. It imposes the wrong sort of moment on the boom itself and the mechanical advantage is awful.Some people have put the traveller across the aft end of the cockpit, but this will interfere with tiller steering and also with its improvement-- the stern-mounted rack-and-pinion steering recommended by Edson (and me). I think even with pedestal steering the sheetline tackle going forwards past your head is going to get annoying.Take a look at a J-24 and see how they have put the traveller track on a neat little piece of ash like a bridge across the open cockpit. Now envision this with the H-27. It is there where you can handle it (because with the high boom that main is already responsible for most of your heel angle) and it will pull DOWN at the last foot or so of boom exactly as it should. Boom-footed sails should always have the sheet at the END of the boom, pulling straight down. Anything else is a (bad) compromise.I should write a book on this. [laugh]If you search the archives using my name and 'H-27' or 'traveller' you will come up with PLENTY of my comments and recommendations about this from before, including part numbers and so on.JC 2

 

[Dee Doyle]

More traveller questions ...

Am still shaking down the '89 30'that I "upgraded" to ... one of my major dissatifactions[among several] with the boat is the traveller system on the coach deck. I had a 28.5' '87 previously, that had the companionway traveller ... excellent for single-handing. The current rig on the 30' is not easy for me to single-hand, let alone for guest crew to manage ...My rigger suggeted he do some modifications on the coach deck rig before we drill too many holes in the boat. I have been a good girl, and very patient, BUT, I hate it! Am having a chat wit hthe rigger tomorrowre my first request, to mount traveller in the companionway. Question ... has anyone with this boat done that? As it is, with other lines leading back, I have a mess of spaghetti strings all over the place! I am also unhappy with sail shape and difficulty trimming. What do you all think?I do not think I will compromise seating too much [regardless of the fact that there is room to berth seven folks on board], I sail typically with a crew of 3, including myself, so the cockpit will not be too crowded. ???The new boat has a dodger, which I MAY install in NOvember, and I have a bimini that is deployed only in the anchorages, or if we HAVE to motor in the heat/sun. So, my belief is that the main sheet coming to compaionway will be no less in the way as it was on the 28.5. ???? Any insights will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. D~ s/v Esprit