Replacing the Traveler and Mainsheet
Related Topic: Adding Dodger and Bimini, Raising a boom on an E32, Moving traveler to coach roof
Date: February 22, 2001
From: Al Augustine ABig2guy@aol.com
Paul:
Was wondering if anyone has changed their traveler on 32 to Garhauer marine unit and which one did they use.
Date: February 22, 2001
From: Tom Gilbert TGil95746@aol.com
HI .... I removed and resealed my traveller. It leaked a lot. Piece of cake. Tom
Date: February 25, 2001
From: Bob Flath oldthumper_e32@yahoo.com
I changed my traveler to a Harken system shortly after buying my E32 5 years ago. I had to replace the rail as well. The new unit works great. My sheeting system is 6 to 1 (three up and three down), and the car itself is 4 to 1. Works nicely and easily enough for female crew to handle except under heavy wind.
Date: February 25, 2001
From: Bob Flath oldthumper_e32@yahoo.com
I changed my traveler to a Harken system shortly after buying my E32 5 years ago. I had to replace the rail as well. The new unit works great. My sheeting system is 6 to 1 (three up and three down), and the car itself is 4 to 1. Works nicely and easily enough for female crew to handle except under heavy wind.
Date: February 27, 2001
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.com
Bob,
Do you have cams on your setup? And if so are they at the ends of the track or on the car?
Date: October 24, 2001
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.com
E32 owners,
I'm considering replacing the original traveler, car, and main sheet set up on our 1982 E32 and am looking for owners who have replaced theirs. I'm looking at Harken and Lewmar and would like to hear your advice and constructive criticisms.
Date: October 24, 2001
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.com
Bob,
I was wondering if you could give me some more details. Did you keep the companionway location? Which track did you use? Which car did you use and does it have cam cleats on the car or track ends? What kind of end-track controls do you have?
Date: October 24, 2001
From: Jim McMordie jim.mcmordie@marconi.com
If you're considering replacing the traveler rail, you need to remember that, at least on my 1976 E32, the rail is curved to fit the hull. I put a traveler off a C & C 34 on my boat (larger cross section & better traveler). I had to lay the extrusion on a block on my driveway and drive my car up on it to put some bend in it to fit my boat. The traveler works great! Just had to do a little bending to get it to fit. Good luck !!
Date: October 24, 2001
From: Pete Doddato sailaway@olsusa.com
Paul,
I replaced my old traveler and track with the Harken small boat kit. The kit and new track fit nicely in the place of the old one and works very well. It says in the catalog that it is rated for boats20 to 27 feet but it is much better in size and strength than the original. It is effortless to use under load. The Torlon ball bearings are very smooth rolling.
Date: October 24, 2001
From: Don and Nancy Reeder dreeder@nettally.com
I don't know where you live, but you might want to check out this web site: www.donssalvage.com. It is located in St. Petersburg Florida. He sells used and new stuff. I had to replace the entire traveler system on my 1977 E32. From Don I bought 5 feet of aluminum traveler track for $5 per foot. I bought an off brand name car to fit the traveler (brand new in original packaging) for $55. The car had mounted on it two turning blocks and two cam cleats. I paid $20 for SS hardware. The whole thing cost $100 and was new stuff. An equivalent system for Harkin was almost $600!
Installation was a bit painful as I had to pull down all the overhead under the track to get to the nuts. I've used this equipment for about two years now and it works perfect!
Date: October 24, 2001
From: Kevin Coon kkcoon@worldnet.att.net
Hi Paul,
I modified my existing traveller to make it a line driven system. I fabricated a triangular stainless steel part to connect the traveller car to the lower mainsheet block and attached a block to each end (port andstarboard) of the new part.
I also added bulkhead mounted bulkhead blocks to the sides of the cockpit at the ends of the traveller. Then put a jam cleat on the side of the cockpit above the bulkhead blocks. This gives me a 3:1 ratio which is adequate for me. I use a single piece of line that allows me to unjam the leeward jam cleat while I am positioned on the windward side.
The only down side of my system is that if no tension is kept on the leeward traveller adjustment line: the slack line can jam under the traveller car. It happens more with mine than with the store bought systems. This is not a big deal with the way I handle things, I keep the traveller and mainsheet under control when tacking, jibing, or adjustment.
The traveller track is not as large and impressive looking as a lot of the stuff on newer boats, but it has never given me any problems with strength. Garhauer makes a very sturdy system that I have installed on friends' boats,
it was much less expensive than the Harken.
If my description isn't clear and you want a picture, let me know: I'll make a sketch and scan it.
After doing this, I made a lot more minor adjustments than before. I think it is well worth the effort.
Have fun!
Date: October 25, 2001
From: Robert Flath oldthumper_e32@yahoo.com
I kept the same location. The Harken car was part of a set from Boat/U.s. for a range which included a 32' boat, and I bought a track to match. It goes all the way to the combing on each side with pulley end caps. Cam cleats on the end pulleys to lock the car in place when needed. The track had to be cut to the proper length (easy to do).
Date: October 25, 2001
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.com
Bob,
Which track did you get, the low or high profile track? How do you like the cams on the outside? I was considering the car with the cams on the car so that people didn't sit/step on them.
SailNet has the Harken stuff on sale right now and even then it looks to run about $800 for the entire setup.
Date: October 27, 2001
From: Robert Flath oldthumper_e32@yahoo.com
I got the low profile track...in retrospect the high would have been preferable. Cams on the car is better as well . . . No one seems to sit on them, but the crew steps on them constantly which adds to wear and tear as well as crew discomfort. In adddition, cams n the car would be easier to reach when heeled at any significant angle.
Your price seems reasonable to what I paid piecemeal for my system.
Good luck and happy sailing!
Date: October 25, 2001
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.com
Pete,
Did you use the low or high profile track? Does your car have cam cleats or are they on the end of the traveler? Also, whats the purchase of the main sheet--4:1 or 6:1?
Date: October 25, 2001
From: Pete Doddato sailaway@olsusa.com
Paul,
The Harken Small Boat Traveler kit comes with track end blocks (4:1 purchase or 2:1) with cam cleats mounted on pivoting arms so the control line can be engaged or released from a variety of positions. They also have shock absorbing bumpers on the end. It is a very nice unit for the money and much stronger and easier to use than the original. I used the high beam track. It measures 1" high. That was the same height as the old one. My mainsheet has 4:1 purchase.
The whole thing took only a few hours to install. Be careful sliding the car on the track.....all those little balls could fall out. They provide a tool to help you accomplish the task and it is easy. I bedded the track in
poly sulfide caulk to prevent leaks below. Good luck.
Date: October 26, 2001
From: Paul Uhl endvr32@endeavourowners.com
Pete,
My understanding of the high profile track is that it needs to slide onto the through bolts whereas the low profile track is bolted on through the top of the track. Is this correct? If so, how did you slide the high profile track onto the bolt heads with the cockpit coamings the way they are?
Date: November 8, 2001
From: Pete Doddato sailaway@olsusa.com
Paul,
The track and traveler I used on my boat is the small boat kit. The hi beam track is 1" high and 7/8" wide and bolts through the top. I had considered the mid boat size kit but after looking at the small boat kit I realized that it was much heavier than my original equipment and would be easier to install without making any changes to anything on the boat.
You are right about the hi track for the mid size boat kit, it does slide on over a bolt.
My traveler works very well and I feel it is strong enough for most of the sailing I do. Going offshore for any distance and time would be another matter.
Good luck with the project.
