OK, now it is time for that traveller upgrade. The First 235
has a 2:1 Harken traveller which, for the most part, does a great job. Seeing
as we are racing now, and the hardware is original, it was time to think about
replacing the 2:1 with a 4:1 to make things easier. Another reason is that the
235 has mid boom sheeting, loads are higher when using the traveller and main
sheet than on a boat with end boom sheeting.
I started doing my research on this at the end of the season
last year. Worked out the parts needed and how much it was all going to cost. A
fair amount to be honest. I was hoping to utilize the original track as I
really didn’t want to deal with pulling the track off the boat. I bet you
already know where this is going….. Anyone who has worked on a sailboat and
needed to remove and add hardware knows that access most of the time require
one to be a contortionist with small but agile and strong hands……
I ordered all the hardware from Vela Sailing Supply in
Texas. These guys are great, awesome prices and top notch service when you need
it. Took a couple of days for it to arrive but that was of no consequence because
at the time, there was still snow on the ground and the temps were in the low
teens most of the day.
So I was poking around the Harken website and I was looking
at the parts lists that they had and I came to a realization…… I had ordered
the wrong car. The one I had was for light loads and I had too much sail area
for it. So I had a quick conversation with Vella customer service, got an RMA,
and then sent the incorrect car back. At this time I was the luck owner of 2
traveller cars as they of course couldn’t refund me until they got the one I
previously ordered back. Lucky me eh?
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| I love the smell of new hardware in the morning. |
So the weather hadn’t really been cooperating anyway but
there was a weather window on a Friday in early March, so I took the day off
with visions of removing hardware and adding the new stuff utilizing the existing
track. I took off one of the end stops easy enough and then I slid the car off
the track. Torlon balls everywhere!! Oh how they roll……. I initially thought they were very worn to do
that. That was until I tried to slide the new car on with the captive bearings.
Hell, the new end slipped on fine, I was on a roll. /rimshot…… So as you can
imagine the new car would not slide on…. Hmmm…. Oh yeah, there is that clip
holding the bearings in. Oh looky, directions….. So now I RTFM and find out
that on track older than like 2000 or something, mine is at least 1992, you have
to remove the clips, very carefully (their words) put the bearings in a box or
bag, pull the track (sigh), and then
carefully slip the same number of balls in to each side of the car. Ummmm,
yeah, gonna have to pull the track anyway now… no to the ball bearing step.
Order new track. Back to Vella’s website cause spending money unexpectedly is
fun!
That put an end to the work for the day but, hey, I had the
day off and it was Friday!
So the following week a long box shows up with the track in
it. I pull it out and the first thing I notice is that it is the high beam
track. Ok, no big deal as it would still work. Then I notice there are no holes
in it. Definitely the wrong track. Wait, check your order Dan! So I do and I
ordered the low beam track that has the predrilled holes. Back to Vela, no
worries, here is a return label for FedEx. Your correct track will be shipped
today. Nice! Still cold as a well digger’s @@@ anyway. This is all starting to
remind me of the turnbuckle cluster of couple years ago with the old and slow
boat……
So the correct track shows up and I can finally figure out
when to do all this. As I know it will be a two person job, Clay and I get
together at my place after proper motivation and we start un-bolting. Of course
access is nonexistent for some of the bolts. On my '92, some of them were behind
the bulkhead that the companionway stairs attach to. This could be different on
other 235’s. So we cut a circular hole that an access port cover will
eventually fill. Remember my contortionist with small strong thin hands
comment? Oh yea, that was fun to get out. I think there were 5 like that.
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| Yeah, that is easy to work inside. |
So next on the list when the weather cooperates is to fill
these old holes with thickened epoxy, damn do I love epoxy, and then get the
new track set. Did that on the next weekend and that went OK. At this point of
beers, which happens frequently as you probably can tell now, Clay and I were discussing
the track and how maybe I should have gone with the Lewmar system. They have
their bolts in the track and they slide and then you can match your original
pattern. Well seeing as I didn’t plan on new track or even pulling the old one
that was not a consideration. Ahhhh 20/20 hindsight. About half the cost too.
See how Clay did it on Blue J here.
So I had been puttering about when I could, getting things
marked, drilled, filled, etc for the new track. Finally the weather was decent
last Sunday and Clay came over and I had been working earlier getting the holes
drilled and was putting Butyl Tape around each hole. After some more
contortioning on my part, we got it mounted with the ends and the new car, ran
the line and were done.
All told if I would have thought it through a bit more, I
probably would have gone with the Lewmar system instead. Just due to cost
savings to be honest. Half the price…..
Anyway, Seeker has a new 4:1 Harken traveller system which, does not suck as Harken is the original vendor. Launch
is this coming Saturday and that will give us nearly 4 weeks of sailing before
the first race. Liking that for sure.
Here is the parts list;
- Harken 2731 car.
- Harken 2743 end control. Set of 2.
- Harken 342 double block. 2 of these.
- Harken 22mm low beam track. 1.5 meter length. Cut down to 51"
Original track was 42", new track is 51". Gained about 5" or 6" more track travel.
