Mainsheet track redundant?

[Ruffles]

Just a thought. Some tailored 2" cockpit cushions covering the whole seat area would make the cockpit a lot more people friendly. Make them in sections with velcro on the adjoining edges. They won't move if they're well fitted.

I made some years ago. Makes it feel 5 degrees warmer.

Is the traveller arrangement original?

I tend to use the traveller as a way to reduce the load on the tiller. With the new main I can let the boom out, bring the boat upright and yet maintain a flat sail to windward. But most importantly lighten the tiller to allow a youngster to steer the boat.

 

[Ardenfour]

Thanks for the pictures Avocet. Might be an idea to copy your setup before I remove the track, since I've already got the u-bolts, though I feel yours would create even greater obstruction as it would be difficult to step over the strops.
Ruffles, I'm pretty sure the traveller is original

 

[Avocet]

Yes, that's true, although it has to be remembered that my intention was to create an unobstructed "bench" seat because my traveller went right across the whole width of the cockpit. In port, I can drop off one strop, leaving a passage through and the boom slightly to one side (although I never really bother).

 

[Daydream believer]

Problem with the strop - as I see it- is that the jammer block will float about & be awkward to cleat & uncleat
Plus being free to move it can whack one on the knee when maneuvering if the mainsail shakes the boom

 

[dylanwinter]

I diligently read all the posts

and I did all that stuff when I was racing keel boats

but in my opinion real cruisers have end mains

I would not want to live with all that gubbins in the main working/living part of the boat.

Flattening the main with the kicker is enough for me

but I sail 4KSBs

 

[Avocet]

Problem with the strop - as I see it- is that the jammer block will float about & be awkward to cleat & uncleat
Plus being free to move it can whack one on the knee when maneuvering if the mainsail shakes the boom

Yes, it does that a bit - usually when head-to-wind on a windy day, especially when hoisting the main. That's relatively easy to cope with, to be honest. The other problem is when you gybe and the strops try to garotte anyone small and in the way. In practice though, as long as we bear that in mind, neither is insurmountable. The other problem with the mainsheet horse that preceded it was that there's a big inspection hatch in the cockpit sole, put there by the previous owner, which makes access to the gearbox, flexible coupling and stern tube a doddle, but working on them was always a pain because of the track running across the cockpit just above them.

 

[Caer Urfa]

Here's another photo which shows the shackles a bit more clearly.

Always nice to see some enthusiastic young crew for the future

Mike

 

[sailorman]

Here's another photo which shows the shackles a bit more clearly.

With that set-up a track would be much safer that the double block with jammer & becket flying about :disgust:

 

[Colvic Watson]

I agree with sm, knowing how those things thrash about it's a set of dentures waiting to happen. Without changing the mainsail, I'd buy a cheap used over length boom and take the mainsheet to a track on the aft deck; or even better a horse over the lazzarette locker like the Halcyons do.

 

[Avocet]

Aye, that's a thought. That ridge at the back of the cockpit is a couple of inches across. If I could form a track to the same curve, I could bolt it through the ridge (I can get to the underside and it's an exceptionally stiff bit of the boat, with a vertical face immediately either side of it. I've a feeling the back of the longer boom might hit the backstay though. I'll have a look next time I'm out there. The becket is well below "denture" height though - even on a kid that size. Avocet's quite a small boat!