E42 Traveler Replacement
Date: June 26, 2000
From: Jerry Bernath bernathj@pocketmail.com
Hello Rick,
Since I did not hear back, I am note sure that you received my first e-mail responce so I will try again.
Yes, I did replace my traveler with a Harken Big Block Traveler and glad that I did. I ordered the parts from West Marine and Harken bent the new traveler track exactly right with the dimensions I gave them. Even the hole pattern lined up although I did have to drill one size larger to accomidate the new SS bolts. You want the blocks with the jam cleats at the ends, NOT the middle, ie., do not use the racing style. It is necessary to remove the teak moulding at engine bulkhead wall AND the port and starboard in the aft cabin to reach the nuts. You should carefully cut the headliner with a knife across the entire bulkhead and about 1 foot on each side. This will allow you to pull down the headliner & padding and you can then reach the track bolts/nuts. The rest is straight forward. One suggestion is to do what something additional I did. Since the cabin top was exposed, I installed a pad eye right in the center about 6 inches aft of the cockpit which is a good place for a fixed point connection of the lower sheet block (I use snap shackles).
This allows me to fully emclose the cockpit, ie., the main sheet blocks are out of the way. It is great when you are just motoring or motor sailing down the waterways and want full protection in the cockpit. Back to the installation process.
When you re-attach the headliner, use a staple gun with Stainless Steel Staples, remount the teak moulding and use 3/8th teak plugs to cover the screwa. These plugs, by the way turn out to be a pain & I have not yet finished the job.
One last comment. I had thought to install a main sheet winch but after several trips, decided that with the 6 to 1 purchase, I could live without one. As a ingle hander, I found it ok with this purchase and the jam cleat on the lower block. It is actually less trouble, and less costly, than adding a self tailing winch.
Date: December 25, 2001
From: Jerry Bernath bernathj@pocketmail.com
Dear Jerry,
I believe we replied by e-mail instead of on the forum.We followed your advice, and installed a Harken big block traveller, with carbo triple block to keep the mainsheet at the aft end of the boom. This frees up the crew (e.g. the "Admiral" ) to handle just the foresail sheet while maneuvering. We took done a portion of the aft cabin liner, and through bolted the track with one quarter/20 ss. bolts through large fender washers. Then we stapled back the liner with money staples and added teak trim to cover the staples. We had really good advice from Charlie Russell at New England Yacht Rigging.
We also had our aft sunshield that attached to the dodger and then to the aft end of the cockpit coaming made with a zipper which allows for the lower 8" of sunshade to be lifted to allow full use of the mainsheet and traveller when enclosed. After this, we had a teak trim piece cut by a pro and we installed it over the spot the old traveller went. It completed the cockpit surround in teak, and it looks great.
Sorry for the delay, we are home for the Holidays, then we fly back down to Fla. to continue our first year on the boat, hoping to visit the Keys and the Bahamas this winter.
