The original traveler:
• Had only a 2:1 mechanical advantage in the traveler control purchase system. Given the weight and beam of your boat and her inherent ability to carry a lot of sail, this was never enough, making it difficult to adjust the traveler under load.
• Included sheaves, both at the car and at the end of the traveler track were very small, adding friction to the system, again making it difficult to adjust under load.
• Included sheaves that were just plastic rolling on a stainless shaft. There were no bearings. This again added friction.

The sum of these three deficiencies makes your traveler very difficult to adjust and, since traveler position effects the balance of the entire boat, the boat less comfortable to sail. In addition, the original mainsheet blocks lacked any bearings causing a lot of friction, making it difficult to trim your mains'l.


This new system includes the following to address earlier deficiencies:
• A new traveler car with new ball bearing control line blocks
• A new ball bearing fiddle block with becket, also with ball bearing sheaves
• New end cars, with double 2" diameter ball bearing blocks creating a 3:1 purchase, 50% greater than before.

Ultimately the boat will be more comfortable to sail. You can flatten the main as necessary and keep the boat sailing with less heal. The only parts of the old system you will retain will be the original stainless steel risers at each end of the track and the track itself.

Approximate Dimensions:

Car:
• Length: 5"
• Width: 3"
• Height : 1-3/4"
Includes 60 recirculating 1/4" High Load Torlon ball bearings in two upper races to support the load on the traveler car without binding. When not under load, the car rolls on 60 recirculating 1/4" Delrin ball bearings in the bottom two races.

Fiddle block with becket:
• Sheave diameter, major: 2-1/2"
• Sheave diameter, minor: 2"
• Maximum line diameter: 1/2"

Control line sheave diameters, singles on car and double on end controls: 2"

Track details (short length included for transferring car onto existing track):
• Height: 1-1/2"
• Width, maximum: 1-1/2" at top and bottom
• Width, minimum: ~9/16" at middle

1) You must choose whether you have one boom bail or two boom bails using the drop-down menu above. This changes the style fiddle block with cleat we supply with your kit. Below are details describing the different block / mainsheet configurations.

View photos at left:
• The block shown with the cleat mounted on the top of the cleat platform is for mainsheets that have a single bail mounted on the boom directly above the traveler. The line is pulled down to cleat the mainsheet. This arrangement was typical for end boom sheeting.

• The block shown with the cleat mounted on the bottom of the cleat platform is for mainsheets that have two bails mounted on the boom, one above the traveler and one aft. The line is pulled up to cleat the mainsheet.

2) Track and risers are not included. See "May we also suggest below:" for a new track if needed. Mid-boom travelers were fitted beginning in approximately November of 1989. If you have an earlier boat with a cockpit mounted traveler, you will need the stainless steel risers in addition to this kit if you want to move your traveler mid-boom and mount it to the cabin top. If you need to add the stainless steel risers, please contact our tech support department listed in the tech support link at the bottom of the page.

3) A 50% nonrefundable deposit will be billed when your order for this item is accepted. The balance will be billed when the product ships.

4) The traveler assembly is an oversize item which does not conform to our standard shipping policies. Call 800-959-7245 (800-959-SAIL) for a shipping estimate.

5) When you order a special order item it sets off a chain of events like Willie Wonka in the chocolate factory. Once you turn the valve the chocolate is coming down the pipe. If you then decide you want caramel, the chocolate is still going to come out of the pipe. We can't put the Chocolate back in the pipe, so someone is going to have to eat it, and it's not going to be us! Your order can't be canceled, returned, or magically changed into caramel, so please order carefully the first time!