Mainsheet traveller vs bridle
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Technique
Forum Discription: 'How to' section for dinghy questions and answers
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7442
Printed Date: 10 May 25 at 8:32am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Mainsheet traveller vs bridle
Posted By: Webmuppet
Subject: Mainsheet traveller vs bridle
Date Posted: 28 Dec 10 at 12:43pm
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I would ask this question on the Graduate forum but a) it's a bit quiet on there and b) it's a fairly general question: Our ancient Super Grad came with a stern mounted traveller, however most Graduates seem to use a simple bridle/horse arrangement so I converted mine to that format. Aesthetically the boat looks a bit weird without the traveller because it was obviously designed to have one and I'm tempted to reinstall it. What are the advantages of using the traveller ? and how would we use it ? (the previous owner had locked the traveller at the centre and left it there. As I'm new to sailing 'double-handers' I don't want to find myself with too many controls, especially if they don't offer any advantages. Just in case it's relevant we use off the boom sheeting with a 40mm Harken ratchet mounted on the boom, Many thanks in advance, Nigel   ------------- I am the milkman of human kindness, I will leave an extra pint (Billy Bragg) Graduate 2530 'Galaxy' |
Replies:
Posted By: SoggyBadger
Date Posted: 28 Dec 10 at 2:18pm
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Travellers date back to the old days before really efficient kickers when the mainsail leech tension and mast bend was controlled by the mainsheet. The idea was that you could let the traveller run out in higher winds so that you could sheet the main in hard whilst keeping the boom well off the centre line. OK until you get a gust and have to ease the mainsheet when the mast straightens and the sail gets fuller. So it didn't work well in practice. Most owners will have either replaced it or just left the traveller in the centre and upgraded the kicker. ------------- Best wishes from deep in the woods SB |
Posted By: G.R.F.
Date Posted: 28 Dec 10 at 2:37pm
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Interesting this discussion should happen along just now, I've been going through this exact same thinking with my new boat. I fancied a bit of a traveller arrangement mounted on a bridge above the tiller so I could do away with all that rope intefering with the wiggle stick as it seems to at only the most inconvenient moments. They're trying to talk me out of it into some other subterranean system I haven't quite worked my head around yet, but if it were me, and it were already there, I'd use it personally, I hate those what do you call them? Horse things? ------------- https://www.ease-distribution.com/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ease-distribution.com/ |
Posted By: Webmuppet
Date Posted: 28 Dec 10 at 4:15pm
Thanks for that Paul, we have already upgraded the kicker and cunningham to a higher ratio so they shouldn't be a problem, however I'm still tempted to refit the traveller just 'cos it looks a bit odd without it. I was just hoping that somebody might be able to justify its presence, but if it's only going to be of use in strong winds that shouldn't affect us as we probably wouldn't go out if it's blowing hard (boat was purchased to sail with my daughter), Cheers, Nigel ------------- I am the milkman of human kindness, I will leave an extra pint (Billy Bragg) Graduate 2530 'Galaxy' |
Posted By: ham4sand
Date Posted: 28 Dec 10 at 4:25pm
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Whatever happens that's a nice looking graduate ------------- John Hamilton cherub 2645 - cheese before bedtime cherub 3209 - anatidaephobia laser 176847 - kiss this [FORSALE] |
Posted By: SoggyBadger
Date Posted: 28 Dec 10 at 4:41pm
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Nigel, From a purely retro aesthetics viewpoint I'd agree that it'd look better with the traveller back on. Just don't expect it to be anything more useful than misplaced ballast  As ham4sand says it's nice grad you've got there  ------------- Best wishes from deep in the woods SB |
Posted By: Webmuppet
Date Posted: 28 Dec 10 at 5:22pm
Thanks for your positive comments, we've been very surprised how much fun the Grad has been -my daughter who had completely lost her confidence is now very keen on racing the Grad in the handicap fleet ....roll on some warmer weather ! Team Graduate hard at work on the Graduate's initial clean-up
------------- I am the milkman of human kindness, I will leave an extra pint (Billy Bragg) Graduate 2530 'Galaxy' |
Posted By: Merlinboy
Date Posted: 28 Dec 10 at 5:33pm
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Nigel, its seems your traveller enquiry has been answered. I would leave the bar on the boat, just for cosmetic reasons. On another note, i am/have been on the lookout for a grad to sail with my daughter, preferably a super grad as i don't want to be painting a boat every year like i am with the mirror. We bought the mirror to teach my little girl to sail and to be honest i think the graduate is better suited, mainly because we can have fun racing against some faster the boats then drifting along in the mirror. If anyone knows of an Old Grad that needs a home, let me know. It could actually turn out to be the ultimate pimp project!
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Posted By: Mark Antony
Date Posted: 28 Dec 10 at 6:35pm
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Specific to the Grad, you do need to use a high bridle system in order to get the boom centrelined without causing the top batten to stall. To get the best out of the totally optional sheeting arrangements of the Grad, which can have the jib clew being brought as close as 250mm from the centreline, you need the main out of the way of the slot.
Staying with the old deck mounted traveller system would mean that the downward thrust of the sheeting would cause the top batten to stall before you got the main in enough to be out of the way of the slot.
I’d have a look at Steve Cockerill’s set up for his Rooster Grad for guidance on what best to do
For any other potential parent/child team out there, I thought I’d let you know that next years nationals will be at Stewartby SC – 30th April to 2nd May.
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Posted By: ifoxwell
Date Posted: 29 Dec 10 at 10:16am
Yup spot on... if you want it to point as well as other Grads then you have to bring the jib fair leads in... and then centering the boom, whilst not stalling the top of the sail, is essential to getting it all to work. If your sailing for fun then it doesn't matter much but if you want to race then a well set up Grad will out point just about any thing. Ian ------------- RS300 |
Posted By: zippyRN
Date Posted: 02 Jan 11 at 5:10am
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as others have said the traveller is an old idea - and current thinking has all but eliminated in the mainsheet in controlling the leech of the mainsail - in the 'old days' a kicking strap was a 2 or 3 :1 tackle with a v cleat vs the 12:1 , 16 :1 or more mechanical advantage in cascade kickers , with cam cleats adjustable whille fully hiked ...
in the cse of the boat shown retaining the traveller is correct from an aesthetics point of view - is it required? ( i have a recollection of it being required on ents with the 'higher up the transom' tiller cutout ... )
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Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 02 Jan 11 at 10:55am
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Nige Really taking this off topic, how is/did your daughter get on with her Bug? ------------- |
Posted By: Lukepiewalker
Date Posted: 02 Jan 11 at 3:11pm
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From a tiller/rudder wrangling point of view doing away with the traveller would make life much easier. Allowing a fixed rather than removable tiller, or if you already have a fixed tiller allowing easier fitment/removal.
------------- Ex-Finn GBR533 "Pie Hard" Ex-National 12 3253 "Seawitch" Ex-National 12 2961 "Curved Air" Ex-Mirror 59096 "Voodoo Chile" |
Posted By: Webmuppet
Date Posted: 02 Jan 11 at 10:13pm
Richard, PM being sent, Nigel ------------- I am the milkman of human kindness, I will leave an extra pint (Billy Bragg) Graduate 2530 'Galaxy' |