Harken Traveler - project done!

June 2010 - Marina Cortez San Diego, CA 

Yes we have completed our traveler project!

 OK all but replacing the companion way hatch with the wood sliders.
We now have a Harken ball bearing traveler 6 to 1 purchase with cam cleats attached to the control blocks.

 We returned our old control blocks (they were brand new) because we decided to get the ones with the cam cleats attached. We went to Sailing Supply and picked them up and brought the car. Dave helped us lace the end blocks to the car.
We brought them to the boat and had to remove the pin that holds the line to the control block so we could get in the socket head screw. That screw holds the control blocks to the track by screwing into the control block and then it extends into the hole that we drilled into the track. Then we just put the pins back into the car holding the line. Not hard to do.

Then Debbie attached the fiddler block to the car below.

Next on the list to replace is the fiddler block.

Seems nice while playing with it in the cockpit :)

The cam cleats swivel also.

We think we should be able to work the traveler from the wheel.
On the Catalina while single handling it I would stand in front of the wheel and steer and work the traveler. Now this could be done from behind the wheel with minimal effort.
For us this is a huge improvement as we use the traveler every time we change a point of sail.

We also got the dodger\spacer\bimini project completed and secured the starting battery.
Now we just need to hunt down all the gear on the boat that will fly around and secure it.
Then we are off sailing!
Uploaded pics to the photos section.
After looking at the picture I need to loose some weight!
Hmmm now for a solid boom vang?