MAINSHEET TRAVELLER FOR VENTURE 2-22 ?

[AGAMON]

I recently bought a 1974 Portager 22, which as far as I can tell is identical to the Venture 222, at the Habitat for Humanity. It was cheap and not pretty having been spray painted black top to bottom. But it was relatively complete, with an excellent trailer. After a lot of work, i have sailed it 5 times, with varying degrees of success. It is obvious how much this boat could use a center of the boom main-sheet and traveler arrangement. The Original rear bridle is rally just barely adequate. Along with a Boom Vang, I think this upgrade would really improve main control. Problem>>>>>>>>The boat has a pop-top and a cabin top traveler would be awesome but isn't a great idea if i want to pop the top......has anyone put a mainsheet traveler between the cockpit seats and if so did it work well? Thanks
AGAMON
Portager/Venture 222 HIGH HOPES Denver CO

[sailor ja]

Do you have any photo's? what if you made a brace that allows you to attach the traveler arrangement over the cabin and pop the top ?

[ChockFullOnuts22]

That pop top interferes with a lot of possibilities. With a mid-boom mainsheet traveler, I doubt you'd have much allowance for side-to-side movement at all when the pop top was up. The only place I really see you being able to mount the lower hardware is the step at the front of the cockpit, but that's definitely aft of center on the boom. It may work just fine when the pop top is down, and give you the results you're looking for, but it's hard to say without seeing everything set up.

[johnnyonspot]

I have seen boats with traveler in the forward end of cockpit, right up close to the companionway door. That way it is as out of the way as possible and the only time the mainsheet could get in the way is when close hauled. The mainsheet need not connect directly to the middle of the boom; a bit after of midpoint should be fine, and perhaps better than midboom.

[MD Dunaway]

Go to search modifications. Category rigging. MacGregor 25. Keyword mainsheet. It will come up with the one entry mainsheet traveler.

[AGAMON]

Thanks for the advice and suggestions. I sailed the boat after completing a traveler installation between the cockpit seats about a foot back from the hatch and it sailed like a completely different boat. I used a 28" piece of arched traveler, and using a piece of a derelict e-scow which i bought for $200.00. side note-------The aft 2 feet of the e-scows hull had been cut off and the foredeck had been peeled off to save a painting which was used in a boathouse for decoration, At 28 feet I loaded it on my flatbed trailer after cutting another 8 feet of it off. Other then the Hull, the e-scow was loaded with enough Harken hardware, of the same era as the Venture's, for five boats. I am getting off point here, A simple Lewmar car and a couple of basic, blocks and the traveler was installed. I went way over board, and a straight piece of track across the seats would be adequate, The mod completely changes the way the boat feels, though, and it allows for highly improved main control. And instead of crowding the cockpit, it opens the back up, and the main can be sheeted across the traveler to keep access to the hatch relatively clear. A very successful and simple modification for such a drastic improvement, I will post Pics of my mod as soon as I can, but it is very similar to the traveler mod shone in this forum. Oh if anyone needs an E-scow mast and boom let me know.

Agamon
(Portager) V222 High Hopes

[johnnyonspot]

Can probably put on a bimini now too.

[MD Dunaway]

Glad that worked out. When I sail the V21it seems like something is always tangled up in the A-frame type main sheet. May try that myself.