Mainsheet track

[Forna396]

Hi,
My 37ft Van de Stadt has the mainsheet track across the cockpit seat in front of the pedestal steering, thinking of removing and installing a pad eye in front of pedestal to connect control block with cam. Question is will this be ok to control mainsheet?
Thanks

[Jim Cate]

You will loose the ability to ease the traveler down to unload the main, something quite useful IMO. Also if you do it, be sure that the cockpit sole in way of the pad eye is actually strong enough to take the vertical loads... most are not, being designed to take the loads from a few folks standing on it. The mainsheet can develop some impressive loads going to windward.

Jim

[Forna396]

I am in final stage of building so no problem in reinforcing the cockpit sole. I am in two minds on what to do. The yacht will be used for cruising and to have no mainsheet track across cockpit seats will be much nicer and not in the way.

Thanks for your reply

[psk125]

Not having a traveler will impact the trim of the main - how tight the leech is, in particular. You may want to boost the boom vang in order to be able to adjust the leech while reaching.

[sailormed]

On utube you have vid’s of “Old Seadog”. He had the same setup as you on his vd Stadt boat and solved it by having 2 mainsheets, one Port one SB. Worth considering?

[Cheechako]

For a cruiser I dont see it as a huge thing having single point mainsheet location.. and many boats were built that way. The main automatically unloads itself in a puff a bit by lifting.
Having a traveler allows you to have the boom to the lee side and the main tight, which is great for racing, but maybe not so great for cruising.
Frankly, I lived 95% of the time with never moving the mainsheet on the traveler. Pretty much as you are proposing.
The traveler, especially located in the cockpit, is short and doesn't go far enough anyway.
If I really wanted the boom down to the lee and tight I used a 4 part tackle to the toerail.

[grantmc]

OP you need to take account of how much you use the traveller (NZ spelling) yourself. If it's not something you use certainly makes your decision simpler.

[Dockhead]

Traveler controls angle of attack of mainsail when sailing to windward. An essential control if you care even a little about sailing. I wouldn't be without it personally.

That being said, I did sail on one big racing Swan without a vang. It had an immensely powerful hydraulic vang to completely control leech tension, allowing mainsheet to control angle of attack. But the pro crew hated it; you couldn't haul the boom to windward for example.

YMMV, but I personally would never give up the traveler.

[Quebramar]

Apart from sailing close-hauled in very light wind, in which the traveller can move the boom to the centreline without tightening the main, I would think a good bang can mitigate the lack of traveller, especially when cruising offshore. It is when you have a leeshore that you would really want all options to allow the right pointing.

[SVTatia]

Originally Posted by Forna396

Hi,
My 37ft Van de Stadt has the mainsheet track across the cockpit seat in front of the pedestal steering, thinking of removing and installing a pad eye in front of pedestal to connect control block with cam. Question is will this be ok to control mainsheet?
Thanks

How is your mainsheet rigged - mid or end-boom?

Originally Posted by Quebramar

Apart from sailing close-hauled in very light wind, in which the traveller can move the boom to the centreline without tightening the main, I would think a good bang can mitigate the lack of traveller, especially when cruising offshore. It is when you have a leeshore that you would really want all options to allow the right pointing.

A good bang is the bad sound of an accidental jibe

I am sure you meant a "a good vang" and I agree.

My mainsheet is end-boom, I removed my mainsheet track and replaced by a single line going to a double block on port, a triple on the boom and a fiddle on starboard (4 to 1 purchase). I appreciate the space vacated by the track and as far as trimming is concerned, a 3 or 4 foot mainsheet track would not make much of a difference on boom angle as compared to my actual setup. The only drawback is the amount of extra line I have to deal with, which I don't mind.

[Forna396]

Hi
My mainsheet is rigged at the end-boom.

Thanks for the replies, very helpfu.

[Forna396]

Hi,

There is a new YouTube blog out, White spot pirates explaining her new mainsheet system she made. I like the idea and will free up the cockpit.
Thanks

[grantmc]

Originally Posted by Forna396

Hi,

There is a new YouTube blog out, White spot pirates explaining her new mainsheet system she made. I like the idea and will free up the cockpit.
Thanks

Forna I have some doubts that Nike of White Spot Pirates made the best choice in adding a 'soft' traveller to Karl. I've exactly the same type of boat, (German designed and built Reinke Super 10) and my boat is fitted with a traditional 'hard' traveller. It sits just behind the rear companionway. The rear companionway leads to a rear cabin with two berths, rather than a tunnel through the boat in most centre cockpits..

Advantages, that I suspect motivated Nike's choice, is first that it was a very inexpensive option. Secondly it can easily be tucked out of the way when at anchor. That's especially useful because the easiest access from a dinghy up on to a Reinke Super 10 is via the transom. And so it's easy to trip on the traveller.

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by Forna396

Hi,
My 37ft Van de Stadt has the mainsheet track across the cockpit seat in front of the pedestal steering, thinking of removing and installing a pad eye in front of pedestal to connect control block with cam. Question is will this be ok to control mainsheet?
Thanks

Keep the traveler. It is invaluable controlling weather helm. It also can be a real addition to boat speed when going to weather or close reaching because letting down the traveler moves the force of the main more forward and less sideways. If you are worried about the traveler car moving across from side to side, lock it off with traveler control lines or sliding locks.

Moving the boom by adjusting the traveler is easy and instant, much better than fiddling with two mainsheets or than going without.

[Forna396]

Originally Posted by wingssail

Keep the traveler. It is invaluable controlling weather helm. It also can be a real addition to boat speed when going to weather or close reaching because letting down the traveler moves the force of the main more forward and less sideways. If you are worried about the traveler car moving across from side to side, lock it off with traveler control lines or sliding locks.

Moving the boom by adjusting the traveler is easy and instant, much better than fiddling with two mainsheets or than going without.

Yes very true, thanks.