loa
Member
I'm going to change my mainsheet traveler on my Jeanneau Sunrise 34. Has any one used a Barton size 2 ? Any comments ?
Mainsheet traveller
- Thread starter loa
- Start date
Theshipscat
Well-Known Member
Yes I fitted one last year. Much better than the old thing that was onboard. My boat is only 30 foot but has a huge fractional rig. If I remember right the is mast 13.5 m. It handles that ok. You can of course get better but it costs a lot more.
Quandary
Well-Known Member
For a decent size main I think Harken is worth the money, depends how much adjusting you do though, some people rarely make much use of it. The free running car can hammer the end stops a lot to their severe detriment but you can use carefully positioned stopper knots to reduce the impact.
surekandoo
Well-Known Member
Stop knots - brilliant idea. Many thanks.
Quandary
Well-Known Member
Don't set them to take all the strain of an accidental gybe, or you will pull the eyes out. I try to position the figure of eight knots to stop about an inch from the stopper, with the length of the purchase that gives enough stretch in the rope to decelerate the car but still stop on the end stop.
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
Had a Barton as the original on my boat, ran badly on my boat because of the inefficient plain bearings and was too small on 2 counts:-
Track depth insufficient to prevent deflection
2:1 purchase insufficient on control lines
Replaced it with a recirculating ball-bearing one from Lewmar, mainly because the track was considerably deeper and therefore stiffer than the Harken one (it had to span 744mm over the mainhatch). It also had infinitely adjustable fixings instead of the fixed 100mm on the Harken.
It's the mid-range Lewmar one I used - allegedly for a 12-15m boat.
End stops are open to punishment, even with a stopper knot on a Dyneema control line, there's sufficient force on a gybe to loosen the (original) self-tapped 5mm bolts. They've been replaced with a 6mm through bolt.
Track depth insufficient to prevent deflection
2:1 purchase insufficient on control lines
Replaced it with a recirculating ball-bearing one from Lewmar, mainly because the track was considerably deeper and therefore stiffer than the Harken one (it had to span 744mm over the mainhatch). It also had infinitely adjustable fixings instead of the fixed 100mm on the Harken.
It's the mid-range Lewmar one I used - allegedly for a 12-15m boat.
End stops are open to punishment, even with a stopper knot on a Dyneema control line, there's sufficient force on a gybe to loosen the (original) self-tapped 5mm bolts. They've been replaced with a 6mm through bolt.
Quandary
Well-Known Member
I think that mainsheet traveller controls are one place where Dyneema is perhaps not the best choice, it is slippery to grip and has no stretch to absorb shock loads. I do admit that I get only a couple of seasons out of braid before the teeth chew it up, because it is endless it is not convenient to move it much but you can usually find a useful bit that is long enough for a replacement in the oddments bin for not too much.
loa
Member
Traveller
Yes Harken would be my number one choice but the boat's an '88 model and will never be competitive also everytime I reach for my cheque book my wife goes into catatonic shock. So "value for money" it looks like the Barton unless there are compelling reasons not to. The regettas out here, on the Gironde, tend to be sailed as much for the social life as the competition. First prizes of Bordeaux Grand Cru don't go amiss though ! The original Lewar system has lost one of the bearings from the traveller and it's difficult to get twist on to the sail. Lewmar have discontinued this model so no spares. .
Yes Harken would be my number one choice but the boat's an '88 model and will never be competitive also everytime I reach for my cheque book my wife goes into catatonic shock. So "value for money" it looks like the Barton unless there are compelling reasons not to. The regettas out here, on the Gironde, tend to be sailed as much for the social life as the competition. First prizes of Bordeaux Grand Cru don't go amiss though ! The original Lewar system has lost one of the bearings from the traveller and it's difficult to get twist on to the sail. Lewmar have discontinued this model so no spares. .
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
I have to disagree on both points, having used Dyneema/Spectra since they came out.
It's rather less stretchy than pre-stretched polyester, but less stretchy than Vectran or SS wire.
As for slippery!! It depends on the braid exterior, but in 15 years use with jamming cleats I've found Dyneema/Spectra more wear-resistant and less slip-prone than normal braid-on-braid.
PS. My current traveller strings are 4 years old and have been turned end-for-end and are probably good for another 2 years - the boat does about 3500nm pa under main - so they've worked hard.
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BAtoo
Well-Known Member
I've used the Lewmar System on 2 boats now (older Bene's with worn out Goiot Systems,one on a 38ft fractional rig and one on a 31ft Fractional rig).
Both worked perfectly well and easy to install in the old holes as a sliding bolt head.
Didnt go for the Barton system as Lewmar seemed better. Couldnt justify the expense of Harken and I don't think its much better than the new Lewmar kit anyway.
FWIW our local sea-school prefers Lewmar to Harken for their deck gear.
Both worked perfectly well and easy to install in the old holes as a sliding bolt head.
Didnt go for the Barton system as Lewmar seemed better. Couldnt justify the expense of Harken and I don't think its much better than the new Lewmar kit anyway.
FWIW our local sea-school prefers Lewmar to Harken for their deck gear.
Quandary
Well-Known Member
Charles,
Where do you get your soft Dyneema. I have dyneema but only for halyards and genny cars, a couple of different makes but both are harder and stiffer than polyester braids and the coats are smooth and harder to grip. The main halyard, supplied by Selden in their standing and running kit for my boat can even creep a bit in a new Spinlock clutch. For the two ropes most handled, the traveller control and the fine tune on the mainsheet I like a soft feeling grippy rope that does not cut into my hand when I wrap them round my fist, but have to sacrifice some durability for that quality.
I have not been able to find a rope that withstands clutches and teeth and is durable but soft to handle like yours.
Where do you get your soft Dyneema. I have dyneema but only for halyards and genny cars, a couple of different makes but both are harder and stiffer than polyester braids and the coats are smooth and harder to grip. The main halyard, supplied by Selden in their standing and running kit for my boat can even creep a bit in a new Spinlock clutch. For the two ropes most handled, the traveller control and the fine tune on the mainsheet I like a soft feeling grippy rope that does not cut into my hand when I wrap them round my fist, but have to sacrifice some durability for that quality.
I have not been able to find a rope that withstands clutches and teeth and is durable but soft to handle like yours.
