Can Anyone Identify This Traveler and Track?

[Boatguy30]

That’s some old junk no where near strong enough

[carlosproa]

Originally Posted by Chotu

I recently learned I need to shape the sail with the sheet, then use the traveler to get the “sheeting angle” right in order to properly sail a multihull of the type I’m building. Never had the good fortune of sailing anything but 1980s slow boats before. So it’s a learning curve.

Thanks ThumbsUp and fxykty!

I figured out a way to install a proper traveler, bridging the cantilever dinghy davits, but also securing the traveler all along its base as it needs to be.

Can anyone identify the type of traveler and track I have so I can order a long section of track?

Here are pics of the cross section of the track and the traveler car’s underside.

Hint: The donor boat originally came from France if that helps.

Thanks!

Those are the ones I have in my EDELCAT33, and look as bad as yours

[philcun50]

You may think you need a traveler but so many cruising people I know including myself (I don’t have traveler) don’t use them even if they have one. If the breeze is light like when you want lots of twist they just motor, 5 knot rule. If breeze so strong you need to drop it down, you can control it with the vang which to my mono hull mind is better. Mind you most are yachts.
Travelers are not something you can’t install later.
Are davits strong enough? There can be a lot force. Remember most travelers are screwed down every 100mm.
Lot of difference between cruising and racing.
As you say you are budget minded, zero is better than anything especially if you can evaluate the need first.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by George DuBose

Looks like the traveler car is a Nicro Fico "X" track and the traveler car also.

RigRite has these items but for 300% price increase. I bought a traveler car for my Nicro Fico track and RigRite whacked me for $600. Then I wanted blocks for the ends of the traveler track and they wanted $300 each and had the nerve to tell me that it would take 3 months TO MAKE THEM.

I found the end blocks with double sheaves from Garhauer for $75 each. That's a price I can live with.

Good eye! I think you may be right here.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

That’s some old junk no where near strong enough

Well, the “old junk” has already passed the test. LOL

This rig, traveler and track were on a 50ft cat from France that circumnavigated and ended up back here in Florida for sale when the owners swallowed the anchor.

So it was obviously strong enough, despite not being pretty.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by philcun50

You may think you need a traveler but so many cruising people I know including myself (I don’t have traveler) don’t use them even if they have one. If the breeze is light like when you want lots of twist they just motor, 5 knot rule. If breeze so strong you need to drop it down, you can control it with the vang which to my mono hull mind is better. Mind you most are yachts.
Travelers are not something you can’t install later.
Are davits strong enough? There can be a lot force. Remember most travelers are screwed down every 100mm.
Lot of difference between cruising and racing.
As you say you are budget minded, zero is better than anything especially if you can evaluate the need first.

I am shooting for the best light air performance possible. So I think I have little choice but to listen the people here who are really experienced with modern cat sailing techniques.

I’m with you all the way here. That’s what I thought too.

But, I’ve been corrected. Apparently it can get pretty tricky managing the huge main on a cat like this and it’s better to get the shape first by the sheet, then move it wherever with the traveler.

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by carlosproa

Those are the ones I have in my EDELCAT33, and look as bad as yours

Is there a brand name on yours at all?

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

Chotu,
I don't know where you are located at the moment....but there are salvage yards up and down the coast which may offer an opportunity to find some of this stuff. The one's here in Florida have tons of this stuff laying around.

Florida. The US capital of all things marine. I’ll have a look around then go with the suggestions here if nothing decent turns up.

[Boatguy30]

What kind of 50’ cat? Like Carlos says he has one on his Edel 33. That’s about what’d I’d reckon it’d suit. Beside why put ugly junk on a “new” boat?

[Chotu]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

Beside why put ugly junk on a “new” boat?

Maybe because I don’t sail, have a boat or live my life to impress people?

You don’t even know the dimensions of what you’re looking at. Are you seriously going to tell me the safe working load from those 2 pics? If so, I’m impressed.

So what’s the SWL on this traveler system in my pics?

[MicHughV]

Sailorman in Ft. Lauderdale and Marine Salvage in St. Augustine.
I've been in both, they typically have pretty decent salvaged stuff..negotiable prices....brush up on yer bargaining skills..and you can walk out with some good stuff....especially now, I warrant their business has likely been slow since Covid..

[Rucksta]

Chotu

I don't know what the track is.
The track on a Privilege 48 I sail appears identical and unbranded.

The track and double cars are able to take the working loads.
Friction was high requiring winching to move the traveler under any load.

Addition of a boom vang to take some of the vertical load off the main sheet improved performance so a 4:1 tackle allows traveler adjustment by hand.

Cheers

[Thumbs Up]

You should check used but probably buy new and do a custom curved track. Curved or straight it will need a continuous support beam to fasten it to. This beam
could notch over the davits. You might be able to shorten the boom bail attachments a foot or so to get more of the curved beam traveler over the roof. (If I am picturing correct). How wide is the cabintop? How far aft from the mast base is the aft edge of the cabintop? From the mast base to each aft corner of the cabintop? You said the boom was ? 20'? The curved track on the flat roof (How much camber in your roof?) would make for a really nice traveler setup, a curved track is subject less to sideways forces and will hold the sail shape perfectly, even help control your gybes.

[Boatguy30]

Originally Posted by Chotu

Maybe because I don’t sail, have a boat or live my life to impress people?

You don’t even know the dimensions of what you’re looking at. Are you seriously going to tell me the safe working load from those 2 pics? If so, I’m impressed.

So what’s the SWL on this traveler system in my pics?

Well, you’re carrying the load on just those 10mm axles pressed into to the alloy. Pretty easy to see its going to blow in about 15 knots on your boat. What is it about 38mm track?

BTW, are you the same guy that had the sprinter van with NH plates or did the project change hands after Matthew? Well know the original builder didn’t even take the advice of the designer so what listen to an experienced rigger/catamaran owner. Windows will probably fall out in 10 knots so maybe 15 knots on traveler will suit.

[Rucksta]

Originally Posted by Boatguy30

Windows will probably fall out in 10 knots so maybe 15 knots on traveler will suit.

and your chickens may turn into emus and kick your outhouse down