Pearson Boats - Common Systems > Deck Mounted Hardware

Traveler

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selene:
Definitely doable - especially as the P323 has a relatively short boom, which has always seemed overbuilt to me (which I like), so the stresses on it would appear to be acceptable.

Garhauer manufacture travellers for Catalina, and we have a number of boats in our marina with similar travellers mounted on the cabin top, so I know that they could easily build one for you.  You may also want to look at the projects page on this site, as it has a description of a similar setup, complete with photos (http://www.pearson323.com/projects/traveler.pdf).  Overall it looks like a fairly straightforward mod.

Dave:
That is a nice mod. This is on my list of things to do. It will make winter sailing a lot nicer.

Libations Too:
Selene, a very nice job indeed!

As to moving the traveler to the cabin top on the 323 I think it has some real advantages, as other posters have noted. However, I also think it comes with some disadvantages, especially when sailing singlehanded and when in high or gusty winds. The original traveler and mainsheet control offers the advantage of quick and easy release or easing of the main. If you need to dump the main in order to maintain boat control in a gust or ease the main until the traveler can be adjusted the existing setup is great...and it can be accomplished while at the wheel as long as one has the mainsheet in one hand (singlehanded). It seems to me that a cabin top traveler with main sheet winch and rope clutch arrangement on the cabin top would be a problem for a singlehanded sailor...unless one has a trustworthy, below-deck autopilot so that your "helm" position is forward of the wheel. My wheel pilot works great most of the time but when in close quarters with other boats and in high or gusty winds I tend to hand steer and I find that having the mainsheet in my hand for quick release is important.

Vantage:
My original intent was to move the traveler to the cabin top and use a mid boom sheeting arrangement. The cost of using Garhauer equipment was not significantly more than the just replacing the existing traveler configuration as I did. But in the end I decided to leave the design as Bill Shaw intended. I also left the halyard winches on the mast and the reefing system alone for the same reason. Replacing worn out equipment is one thing, but design changes need to be considered very carefully. Just my opinion. Mac

Alma:
I agree with leaving stock (but improved) traveler and boom hardware as designed. What about the old traveler? We know the loads on mid sheeted booms are much higher than ours with the associated safety concerns. Would new mid-boom hardware foul the dodger?

I believe I've seen mid-boom retrofits on a 323. We're lucky that our coachroof is strong to begin with and the underside accessible for the reinforcement that would be necessary. What is the up-side of concentrating and transferring the sheeting loads to the coachroof? I see myself tripping over a recently added traveler rail inches above the coachroof where I used to glide back into the cockpit. That's a nasty face-plant four feet below...

I don't mind the fact that my ALMA doesn't have any lines led to the cockpit. I've seen problems with lines running through multiple turning blocks, "organizers" and stoppers when sailing on other yachts. I prefer simplicity and knowing what a line does before I adjust it. A line coming from the masthead to the mainsail halyard winch on the mast is pretty difficult to mistaken for a mainsheet or the outhaul. Not-so when a spagetti of lines terminate on the coachroof and a quick adjustment is necessary... Sure YOU may know what is what- but if a mate needs to act quickly it could result in the WRONG line loosened at just the worst moment.

All those turning blocks and "organizers" create friction that increases wear on the new hardware and the 40 year old hardware that now needs to double it's effort to accommodate improvements.

We are free to modify and change Bill Shaw's well thought out design at will.

The multitude of filled fastener holes where the now obsolete "space-age" hardware added by enthusiastic owners was removed from some 323's is a testament to "KISS".

Keep it Simple Sammy!

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