Fit a mainsheet traveller system or leave well alone?

[GILow]

Hello Cruisers,

I have been pondering our mainsheet traveller lately. It is about 4 or 5 feet long, conveniently placed just behind your backside when steering, close enough to reach but not so close that you end up sitting on it.

It is the basic sort, with the sliding "stoppers" that you can set to a position in advance to limit the movement of the traveller car or jamb the car in an upwind position, etc.

The thing is, human nature being what it is, the stoppers are a bit of a pain to move, so they don't get moved as much as they should, often resulting in less than decent mainsail shape.

I am contemplating fitting a reasonable traveller system, with a 2:1 or probably 3:1 purchase. Of course, if I do this, I am adding complexity to a nice simple system. What do people think about the pros and cons of the two systems? Is the extra complexity warranted on a cruising boat?

Matt

[Sailmonkey]

I've got the same pin stop traveler, but it's only 2.5' wide so I'm suffering with the pins. If I had a traveler as wide as yours I wouldn't even be asking about it. I would have the traveler ordered already!!!


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[GILow]

So, I'll take that as a yes then.

[Benz]

Another vote for yes. If you're going to put up with a traveller at all, it may as well be one can be used for it's purpose.
Ben
zartmancruising dot com

[thinwater]

Absolutely yes. You'll use it every day.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Another "Heck Yes!"

The pin stop hassle encourages you to not do what your easily could...
And want to do!

[msrcal36]

Heavy wind on SF Bay (20-25 knts) calls for a traveler that can be controlled under load. No way to move slides under heavy load except on a tack. It is a most us tool to depower (spill wind) when you become overpowered as well as pulling the traveler to weather in very light air to help pointing.

[boogalloo]

Fit a recirculating ball traveler with a 4:1 purchase and flip release jammers
You will use it every day of sailing.
So easy and effortless to adjust trim and sail form at a moment without fiddling with main sheets and vang all the time

[roland stockham]

What about setting up a tackle each side to try it, can usually be done with a few lashings. See if you like it and get an idea of how much purchase you really need. Then if you use it invest in a new traveler.

[bmz]

If you have a boom vang, you don't even really need a traveler(if you don't have one you probably should get one). The only thing a traveler can do that a boom vang can't, is to close the leach to windward. But a windward leach actually slows your boat down.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by bmz

If you have a boom vang, you don't even really need a traveler(if you don't have one you probably should get one). The only thing a traveler can do that a boom vang can't, is to close the leach to windward. .........

Wrong.

A good well placed traveler changes the angle of attack of the mainsail without changing the trim of the sail.

Sail Trim Users Guide

[leftbrainstuff]

Originally Posted by msrcal36

Heavy wind on SF Bay (20-25 knts) calls for a traveler that can be controlled under load. No way to move slides under heavy load except on a tack. It is a most us tool to depower (spill wind) when you become overpowered as well as pulling the traveler to weather in very light air to help pointing.

+1. We're cruisers not racers.

On a 46' boat a pulley car system with mechanical advantage is mandatory. I find if I regularly wash the line, clean the tracks and apply mclube then all runs well. There is obviously more maintenance but worth it IMHO.

We also run barber haulers on our jib sheets for the same reason. Repositioning cars is a pain but necessary to fine tune sail shape after a tack or gybe.

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[bmz]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Wrong.

A good well placed traveler changes the angle of attack of the mainsail without changing the trim of the sail.

Sail Trim Users Guide

But you want the trim of the sail to change when you change the angle of attack. You want a tighter leech when close hauled than when off the wind. If you set your traveler for the correct leech tension off the wind, as you change the angle of attack with your main sheet, it tightens the leech when you sheet in--which is what you want.

[Kiwi.]

Originally Posted by bmz

If you have a boom vang, you don't even really need a traveler(if you don't have one you probably should get one). The only thing a traveler can do that a boom vang can't, is to close the leach to windward. But a windward leach actually slows your boat down.

It takes a really really powerful vang to replace a traveller on a 40ft plus boat and there is no room for one on a Swanson 42 as the dog house gets in the way. With a powerful vang you also have two adjustments to make when you want to change the angle of attack without changing the main shape. A powerful vang also changes the mast and boom curvature which may or may not be desired. Finally a vang cannot replicate the effect of a traveller set up to windward which can open the upper leach of the main.

Our Bavaria 49 has a traveller that's only about two feet long; it is definitely on the make it longer list. Even at such a small size we have a 4:1 purchase on it and use it often.

[bmz]

Originally Posted by bmz

But you want the trim of the sail to change when you change the angle of attack. You want a tighter leech when close hauled than when off the wind. If you set your traveler for the correct leech tension off the wind, as you change the angle of attack with your main sheet, it tightens the leech when you sheet in--which is what you want.

My error, it should have read: "if you set your boom vang for the correct leech tension off the wind,"