Adding a mainsheet track to Jeanneau SO 33i

[NPMR]

Having played with the new-to-us Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 33i this year and done about 1000 miles, we think that the standard factory system fitted of in-line pulleys in front of the spray hood leaves a lot to be desired. So we plan to fit a track.

This will have to stay in front of the spray hood as the cockpit position for a boom-end system is taken up by the instrument/steering mount and table.

Any recommendations as to brands (Harken stuff on board at present - wiches etc) and likely problems we'll face? Such as strain of the coachroof or shock loads from the dreaded gybes!

 

[mrming]

Give Harken UK a call - they're not cheap but the service is excellent and they'll help you spec a system, including bending the track if you need it. Their windward sheeting car is genius too.

 

[bobgoode]

Deffo Harken. Good quality and works well and matches the existing kit so will not spoil the look. I fitted a lift in/out track across the cockpit of my SO32....have a look at PBO 526 from Sept 2010. In the cockpit the helmsman can steer and trim, handier than coach roof.

 

[Bikerwookie]

I fitted a harken 32mm big boat high beam track to my 33i. The loads are quite high around 1.5t if I remember right. Went for a triple carbo 72mm on the car with 72mm carbo double and a single on the boom. 4:1 on the traveller is close to the limit so we did a custom 6:1 for racing with. System works brilliantly. No kicker is needed as the sheeting point is quite far forward. The loads on the deck are through the original eyebolt points but I used 3 x m8 with backers each side. I also left the track long so it extends out to the wooden handrails. This gives a great way of dumping in strong winds and gets the boom from above the cockpit in port. Track was mounted on laminated teak blocks to get the height over the hatch. You could use the harken kit to get the height bu hey are £700 and you loose the width of the track.

 

[maby]

We were thinking of doing this on our 33i before we sold her and I discussed it with the engineer at the dealer where we bought her. He confirmed that it can be done with standard Harken kit. He did recommend making up some reinforcing plates to put on the underside of the coach roof where the pillars supporting the track are bolted through - he was not confident that there was enough strength in the GRP to take the load in the event of a heavy gybe.

 

[Bikerwookie]

I must admit if I was in his shoes I would cover myself with "not confident in the event of a heavy gybe". I have a marine engineering degree/background and it was my own boat. We try hard not to crash gybe it but it can happen and has when racing. The fact the load is taken on 4 points as opposed to the original 2 and those 4 points are linked with the 32mm high beam made my mind up to go ahead. If i had known that the deck is very thick where the original system is bolted through I would not have worried about the instal so much.