Traveller Position

[Marksman]

My traveler was in the cockpit and was later moved to the cabin top. I use it all the time as it is easy, and center placement is rarely the best for efficiency.

[Missou]

As I mentionned above, I am Saxoldies' wife and we are now shopping for our boat. We are making a list of all those things we prefer and those we don't. We also are looking at ways of fixing the boat to make it more attractive and more easy to leave on. I stayed on a Catalina 22 at our sailing club for a good part of August last summer and I just realised that I was moving the boom to the side while on the pick so that it would not be in the way while I was doing things in the cockpit.

We also sailed on a S2 26 that had the traveller in front of the companionway and even with a cushion, you are not able to rest comfortably against the cabin.

Our boat will be our home not just a weekwender and we want to find the most perfect ONE. We understand that we will have to make some sacrifices and some choices but we are hoping to make the transition from land to sea as pleasant as possible.

[barnakiel]

My major concern with bridgedeck mounted travelers is the sheets tend to interfere with:
- the human traffic,
- the instruments next to companionway (if any),
- the dodger.

Sailing without the sprayhood may be OK on a racer but to me in open water it is a NO&NO way.

There is virtually no way to avoid this and so it is the last option I would elect for a cruising boat.

b.

[Sailmonkey]

If you're shopping for a boat, look at boats with the traveler arch. End boom sheeting and nothing in the way of the companionway!!

[saxoldies]

Originally Posted by Bash

Some traveler systems are more difficult to relocate than others, and you may find it easier to replace a girlfriend unwilling to adapt to the present system.

Not an option since she is the one that will provide funds for cruising !
One example of a boat we looked at is the S2 11 Aft Cockpit.

[Missou]

So I guess I'll make all the important decisions right Sax

[cfarrar]

This may not be the answer you want, but it sounds like you should eliminate from your search the boats with mid-cockpit travellers. There are still plenty to choose from! Colin

Edit: we went through the same thought process because we had little kids. I like boom-end sheeting from a sailing point of view, but I didn't want the kids' fingers getting snagged by the traveller car and blocks.

[rgscpat]

Aren't there partially removable travelers?

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by rebel heart

Depends on the boat. As long as you have enough structural backing you can put it nearly anywhere you like under the boom (or aft of it, to some extent).

And honestly unless you're racing, most people don't even use the traveler. Consider just using a deck block for the mainsheet. Not saying it's a great idea, but it's a reality for most boats out there.

We use our traveller a lot.

[goboatingnow]

Its a common arrangement on racing boats, designed so the crew can easily trim the main.

It has no place on a cruising boat.

by the way under-way, do not sit within its damage area, very nasty accidents can occur, if the traveller slips under pressure.

As to traveller position, on the coach roof is best, as the second crew can easily trim, behind the helm, as in centre cockpits is OK, bit I always found in very crowded to get in there to trim, when the helmsman was busy, you usually ended up outside the cockpit on the coaming, and that not thats safe.

Dave

[tropicalescape]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

We use our traveller a lot.

Me to..mine is located at the rear of the lazerette two feet from the stearn..works well for me.One owner of the same type boat moved his to the top of the turtle deck,looked good..DVC

[Factor]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

We use our traveller a lot.

So do we, but then its a few metres long so it does give excellent assistance to sail shaping.

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Its a common arrangement on racing boats, designed so the crew can easily trim the main.
It has no place on a cruising boat.................

Thats a big, and incorrect, call. It has an important place on our cruising boat.

[sy_gilana]

Do yourself a favor. Look out for boats with a twin-sheet system. Tis the berries I tell ya! There are various ways, but the classic is such. Two blocks hanging on the boom, in the old position. Each block has a becket and the bitter end. So the sheet goes from the becket, down and back "x" number of times, then exits the lower block with plenty of sheet to spare. It then enters the other lower block and reverses the process ending at the other boom block becket. The lower blocks are snap-shackle attached to strongpoints at or near the rail, (sometimes shared with running back)

Theory of operation. The windward one is always a sheet, the leeward one is a kicker, or sail flattener. On downwind work, the windward one is moved to the opposite fixing point, while the leew'rd one that was there moves for'd to become a preventer.

The end of the boom can be put anywhere you like in any type of wind, up, down, in, out. There is no traveller at all, but the advantages of a traveller are retained. If the lower blocks have integrated jamcleats, you can free the winch. You can also use this to crane supplies, hoik an outboard, or recover a floating drunk in the drink.

Give it some thought, you might just love it....

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Factor

So do we, but then its a few metres long so it does give excellent assistance to sail shaping.

Thats a big, and incorrect, call. It has an important place on our cruising boat.

I didn't mean you shouldn't have a traveller, I just mean on a cruising boat it should never be in the cockpit, way too dangerous, I witnessed a death due to that fact

[barnakiel]

Malö Yachts

On the arch - as suggested above.

b.