[C320-list] Traveller woes

[Scott Thompson]

Thought I would follow up on my original post after solving this 
problem. In looking at some pictures on the Garhauer website I 
determined that I did not have the very old traveler design that was the 
target of the traveler upgrade kit. That is, it appeared my traveler 
already had the newer design.

However in looking at the details more closely I determined that there 
were some subtle differences between the MT-2 traveler Garhauer is 
selling today and the one on my boat. The difference has to do with how 
the lines are kept captive on their sheaves. As I noted in my original 
post, the blocks originally installed on my boat kept the lines captive 
on one side in part by using a vertical stainless post near the sheaves. 
In principle, this kept the line on one sheave from departing that 
sheave. However, it allowed for a gap between the sheaves. The control 
lines, if left slack, would tend to fall into this gap partially, and 
then if loaded up again often would bind in place, jamming the sheaves. 
The newer design more completely captures the control lines on each 
sheave so that this cannot happen even if the lines are completely slack 
on one side.

After discovering this design difference I spoke to Guido at Garhauer, 
who kindly forwarded me more detailed photos of the current design so 
that I could verify my findings. (The photos on the website do not 
provide detailed blow ups of the control blocks.) Based on that, I 
ordered a complete set of replacement control blocks. Guido told me that 
it would be best to replace the entire traveler car rather than try to 
replace the control blocks on the car, so that is what I did. The 
install of the new car and end controls was very easy. (I had 
anticipated frozen bolts, etc., but did not encounter this.) Basically 
unbolt the old ones and bolt on the new ones. All you need are some 
screwdrivers and allen wrenches.

This past week I tried the new system out, including sailing upwind and 
reaching in 20+ knots apparent wind. Wow, what a difference! The new 
system never jammed and was much easier to trim and adjust, even heavily 
loaded. Wish I had done this years ago.

I'll eventually post some pictures of the old and new controls so that 
you can more easily visualize the subtle difference in design that 
apparently makes a world of difference in performance. (Of course new 
bearings help too.) I'll follow up on this post when I do that.

Scott Thompson
Surprise, #653 (1999)


On 6/28/2019 11:31 AM, Scott Thompson wrote:
>  On my most recent sail trips the mainsheet traveller has been nothing 
> but trouble going upwind. It's hard to move under load (makes a lot of 
> noise) and the lines are constantly binding. the latter is not a new 
> problem.
>
> Upon close inspection it seems like I may have two problems. First 
> some of the sheaves on the port side are not turning freely as if the 
> bearings are dirty or worn. Second, the control lines themselves seem 
> to bind between the sheaves and the stainless posts that are supposed 
> to keep them in place. I'm thinking of downsizing the line from the 
> recommended 5/16 to 1/4 to see if it helps with the latter problem.
>
> Has anyone else had these issues, and successfully solved them?
>
> BTW, my boat is a 1999 model. I recall a discussion long ago about 
> traveller upgrades since Garhauer apparently came out with a new model 
> at some point. but I have no idea if I have the old or new model. How 
> can I tell which is which?
>
> Scott
>