Cockpit Mounted Main Sheet with no Traveler

[Sailor_Grant]

Is this a normal setup for boats? I bought my 1976 Catalina 30 with it and it’s the only boat I’ve ever seen with a center of the cockpit mounted main sheet with no traveler. I believe it was done when it was refitted with a steering wheel, there is evidence of a old traveler in front of the steering post.

[Kalinka1]

No it isn't normal What is it fastened to? if it's the pedestal guard that isn't strong enough for the loads developed. Also you don't have as much control of the main as you would with a traveler. I would be tempted to re install a traveler across the transom behind the helm position such that the helms person can control it from the wheel

[Adelie]

Looks like a custom pedestal for the main. Need photos from different angles to be sure. If there are good backing plates at bottom might be OK.

[Pete17C]

If you don't want to put a traveler back, dual mainsheets would allow you to better trim the main.



and I agree with Kalinka1, the present location is not going to hold, especially if you gybe and it gets ahead of you and goes slam! It could rip the pedestal right out, or at least give it a funky new shape/angle.

[Shrew]

Was it installed by the same guy that installed the portable gas tank? Both look like they were done while drinking the beer in the empties rolling around the deck.

[Don C L]

Not normal. I too am imagining the accidental gybe...

[Sailor_Grant]

It is an triangle frame that bolts through the fiberglass floor ( which is 3/4 - 1 inch thick )

3 bolts per leg, all reenforced with large washers. So 6 reenforced bolts total.

[Don C L]

Well, maybe... another shot would be good. So it is not attached to the pedestal?

[Adelie]

It needs a 3rd leg fore or aft of the other 2.

If it were me I would set up a bridle at the back of the boat and have most of the purchase go there with one line going forward then down to the existing location so sheeting is in a convenient location but the bulk of the load is carried by something stronger.

[thomm225]

There's a guy on my dock with the same setup. His is on a Bristol 31.1

It's a strange setup and not the original.

[toddster8]

I have seen that exact same setup on other small Catalinas. In fact, one that I took lessons on, come to think of it.

[charliehows]

Originally Posted by Shrew

Was it installed by the same guy that installed the portable gas tank? Both look like they were done while drinking the beer in the empties rolling around the deck.

LOL; good read of the photo, I had to go back twice to check it. I think this one's a "where do you start?" problem...

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Sailor_Grant

It is an triangle frame that bolts through the fiberglass floor ( which is 3/4 - 1 inch thick )



3 bolts per leg, all reenforced with large washers. So 6 reenforced bolts total.

That is going to rip out at a bad moment. The leverage in a bad gybe will be almost incalculable.

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by GILow

That is going to rip out at a bad moment. The leverage in a bad gybe will be almost incalculable.

It might not be easy to calculate, but almost calculable? No.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Adelie

It might not be easy to calculate, but almost calculable? No.

Well, the point is, it will be a shock load. I guess you could take the weight of the boom, try to figure out its probable speed in a gybe, derive the kinetic energy from that, figure out the elasticity of the system and spread the kinetic energy over the stretch to get the peak force.

Good luck with all those variables.

Almost incalculable does not necessarily mean the force is too LARGE to calculate. It just means it’s bl—y HARD to calculate.

I would know. I’m a mathematician.