No traveller

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nickfabbri

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We are thinking of buying the new Hanse 320. Now this does not come with a traveller as standard. Instead there is simply an eye bolt in front of the binacle. The rep say it doesnt make much difference whilst the optional traveller ruins the look of the cockpit and is a real nuisance. Will not having a traveller really make that much difference?
 
For a cruising boat probably wouldnt make much difference provided you have a decent kicker to keep the boom down.

If you have small kids in the cockpit an eyebolt may be a bit safer with less moving parts they can jam their fingers in.
 
Its a cheap and simple cruiser thing and to be honest if it works dont knock it. If you are looking for ultimate performance then obvioulsy it will be lacking
 
I would love a good traveller on our boat, to get the best from your main a traveller is a big help, a good kicker can help to flatten the main in strong winds, but in light wind when tacking upwind you may want to get the main centered as much as possible, but still have it fairly full, so the traveller can be set above the centerline with the mainsheet let off a bit....

Now our boat has a eye in the cockpit, (Wierdly on top of the binnacle) and no traveller, which is something Ithought I would be unhappy with when I bought the boat, but in reality I have found that I have not really had a issue with this, when the wind is light, I have found I cant sail so close because their simply isnt enough power in the main....and when the wind is up a bit, It doesnt make much of a difference....

I think on a bigger boat with a more powerfull rig then its probably essential, but on a sub 10meter boat not as much.

I would think the money would be better spent on a fully battened main, which will make a big difference to the boats power, and then in the future if you fancy a bit more tweaking, add the traveller.

Who are you getting the boat from? Ive dealt with Simon Beeby in plymouth and always thought he was a good bloke.

Have fun!

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It depends on - quite a number of factors, the main one being the vertical distance between eye bolt and boom - on my Hunter 245 the mainsheet is attached to an eye at the bottom of the cockpit, and this ensures that there is a downwards as well as inwards pull on the boom. And there's a kicking strap to play with as well. Works fine; simple, effective and safe.

Yes, a traveller will give you more control of sail shape, on the other hand some travellers are a thundering nuisance in the cockpit, and can be dangerous as they go whizzing across as an unwary crew isn't expecting it.
Have a good look at the set up and decide what you want.
 
I think that youve hit the nail on the head there,, if the crew is unwary, ie inexperienced, then its probably more a hinderance than a help.... Better to keep the setup simple at first, then add more bits later when everyone gets the feel for things. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

They can be dangerous, even on the coachroof, if they arnt managed effectiveley. To keep the traveller safe you need to keep it under control, which probably means centering it and leaving it, or making the sailing even more complicated, which is not really helpfull if your just getting started.

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A central eye bolt will certainly be an improvement on the arrangements on some older boats like Snapdragons where the mainsheet went to a bar that ran across the back of the cockpit. A longish sheet that was always at the furthest end and hopeless for going upwind as there was no means of getting it up the track.

Should be OK for normal cruising.
 
Once you let one in, he'll bring his mates and you will soon have a whole camp. Where are they going to park their caravans?
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I have just that system on my boat, and it does work although the kicker is very critical in controlling twist.

On the plus side, the cokpit becomes a nicer place to be for the crew.
 
Lovely for balancing the boat upwind just at the top of needing to put a reef in. Mrs FC now very proficient at feeling the boat and just tracking down to relieve the helm.
Mines a very cruising boat.
 
As everyone says it depends on your type of sailing & what you want from a boat.I had two Hunters with the eye bolt on the cockpit floor & they performed OK.I now have a Moody with a traveller & I use it alot & think it is of great benefit,but I am from a racing background(dinghies & big boats) & I like to get the best out of my boat.I also like good sails,chutes& spinnakers & folding/feathering props.
For family cruising the centre eye bolt is adequate,but don't Hanse do a removeable type traveller so you could have the best of both worlds.
 
On my little 22'er there is an eye on the cockpit floor. I get frustrated not being able to control the mainsail twist without a traveller, but I am from a dinghy racing background and am neurotic about always having sails perfectly set.

I attach a loop of rope around the mainsheet and the coming mounted winches to act as a traveller when I want to get the best out of her upwind, and it does make a difference.

Otherwise the eyebolt is a fine set up, simple, no (potentially dangerous) moving parts and takes up zero space.

But 'ruining the looks of the cockpit'!
Sorry, but what is he on about? For me a sailing boat is for sailing.
 
Can't comment on the spoiling the cockpit aspect but I went through exactly the same issue with my Hunter Channel 31 and don't regret fitting the traveller at all. (similarly as std it would have had an eye bolt). It does very occasionally get in the way but modern boats with wide transoms need to have the main depowered and the traveller is very useful in this regard. Especially on the Hanse, which I think has a small self tacking headsail so is heavily mainsail biased (I could be wrong here) Also I would NOT go for a fully battened main. If I'm right in saying the Hanse has swept spreaders then you will struggle to depower the main if it is fully battened - that coupled with no traveller would I think be a bad combination
 
My SO 32 has no traveller, works fine for family sailing and leaves a clear cockpit so the book club (wife and daughter) don get upset. With a crew I add a handy billy to the coachroof eyebolts to get a better sgheeting angle. Next mod up the scale is a rutgerson track designed to fit across the cockpit which is removeable by releasing two drop nose pins. (See Jeanneau owners web site and search for tips ansd modifications to a SO32)
 
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