[C320-list] Harken Traveler Sticking

[Dave Hupe]

 This is our 5th season for our older boat (1994).  Our traveler was very hard to operate and I liberally sprayed under the top of the car, under the edge of the bar where the car would pull upward under load, and also all the associated blocks using Sailcoat as best I could.  It helped a lot.  I just did the same thing as we readied the boat for this season, since it seemed very stiff again .... also with good results. 
I think part of the problem is the camcleats that are mounted on the traveler bar itself. The trim cord seems to drag a lot on top of the teeth of the camcleat when it is released and you try to pull from the other side. I know that some people have dismounted the camcleats and mounted them instead further aft on top of the cabin outside of the winches.  That makes it easier to reach the camcleat.  I plan to do this sometime. 
I have not had binding issues with my camcleats like Jeff Smith alludes to. However, mine originally were very worn.  I bought rebuild kits for both (about $15 each?) and they were returned to like new condition. 
Like Jeff I also had to rebed my traveler since it was leaking.  This was hard to diagnose. The leak would show up around the small hatch in the head.  Water would leak at the traveler and the water would slowly migrate through the cabin top core to the hatch location ..... often with a delay between the initial water infiltration and  the leakage,
Dave Hupe
1994 C320 (#32)