Removable main traveller?

Q

Quandary

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I was working on the canal the other day and encountered a tiller steered Irish Sun Odyssey 32i that had a proper 6 part mainsheet rather than the usual tackle in front of the main hatch. In the canal he had clipped the sheet off to the pushpit out of the way but he showed me his removable traveller which when fitted spanned the cockpit on a metal beam which snapped on to permanent fittings either side. Seems to be a feature that would overcome one of my principal objections to this type of boat.
Unfortunately the conversation was curtailed by locking activity so I did not get to ask him where he got it.
Anyone know who makes or sells such a thing?
 
Sorry to waste your time, Googled and found it, made by Barton, complete kit retails around £400 but is often discounted to about £370 (Jimmy Green) The permanent end fittings are the innovative bit, they retail at around £100 a pair but there is an excellent machine shop (Lock 3 Engineering) at the bottom of our garden which might custom make them for me so I might be able to use Harken beam track and cars.
 
Here's a link that describes fitting the Barton system to a Sun Odyssey 32:

http://www.bartonmarine.com/news-2013/187/your-installations-explained-%C3%82%E2%80%93-removable-mainsheet-traveller-system/

I've been interested in fitting one of these to my own boat as the mainsheet is shackled to a fixed eye on the cockpit floor which doesn't allow very much control over sail shape. I see the maximum length of the Barton track is 28 inches - doesn't seem very long? When you have this sort of arrangement where do you sit to steer, forward or aft of the track?
 
JimC said:
Here's a link that describes fitting the Barton system to a Sun Odyssey 32:

http://www.bartonmarine.com/news-2013/187/your-installations-explained-%C3%82%E2%80%93-removable-mainsheet-traveller-system/

I've been interested in fitting one of these to my own boat as the mainsheet is shackled to a fixed eye on the cockpit floor which doesn't allow very much control over sail shape. I see the maximum length of the Barton track is 28 inches - doesn't seem very long? When you have this sort of arrangement where do you sit to steer, forward or aft of the track?
Click to expand...
On my HR 34, the track is fixed, but in the same position as the removable option, about halfway along the cockpit and about halfway from the sole to the seat. In spite of what might appear to be a nuisance, it is comfortable to seat abaft when tiller steering, and is handy to rest one's foot on while sailing or to brace against when hoisting the main. I normally helm while holding the very end of the tiller. The actual position would naturally depend on the size and geometry of the cockpit, the length of the boom and so on.
 
johnalison said:
On my HR 34, the track is fixed, but in the same position as the removable option, about halfway along the cockpit and about halfway from the sole to the seat. In spite of what might appear to be a nuisance, it is comfortable to seat abaft when tiller steering, and is handy to rest one's foot on while sailing or to brace against when hoisting the main. I normally helm while holding the very end of the tiller. The actual position would naturally depend on the size and geometry of the cockpit, the length of the boom and so on.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I take it that on your HR there is a sufficiently wide gap between the track and the end of the tiller for you to pass between them when changing sides on going about.
 
JimC said:
Thanks, I take it that on your HR there is a sufficiently wide gap between the track and the end of the tiller for you to pass between them when changing sides on going about.
Click to expand...
I just had to pop out to remind myself - yes, there is about a foot ahead of the tiller, which is why I said that what is needed will differ from one boat to another. The HR has an especially long cockpit compared to some.
 
Surely it would be nice if the traveller was just forward of the tiller allowing you to sit or switch sides in front of both?
 
Quandary said:
Surely it would be nice if the traveller was just forward of the tiller allowing you to sit or switch sides in front of both?
Click to expand...

But then you'd have to let go of the tiller as you changed sides to go about, to get your arm out of the way of the mainsheet as it tracked across; also an involuntary gybe could be most unpleasant.
 
JimC said:
But then you'd have to let go of the tiller as you changed sides to go about, to get your arm out of the way of the mainsheet as it tracked across; also an involuntary gybe could be most unpleasant.
Click to expand...

Dunno? I owned and raced a Sigma 33 where the track is just in front of the tiller for years without ever realizing that there was a problem.
 
I did the same on a Sun Od 32. I used a system that Rutgerson do with quick release end brackets, before Barton brought theirs out. Barton a lot cheaper, don't know how quality compares.
 
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