Hunter 376 Owner Modifications and Upgrades

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Traveller Cleat

posted 09-12-2008 by Donalex

Bob, Went to the boat and took photos. We are only allowed one per post so if you need other views let me know via this site - I believe we can exchange e-mails without cluttering the thread. It seems I made two 16 gauge stainless plates 2 1/2 square and mounted the cleats on them using 1/2 high spacers to make it easier to get the lines into the cleats. The cleat fixing bolts were countersunk heads into the plates with aerotite nuts (Nyloc nuts) on the top. These plates were then simply screwed on to the deck with four 8 gauge self tapping screws. I now dont think they found the alum plates for the winches. They are bedded on mastic and are screwed straight into the deck and they have withstood numerous gybes without even looking as if they would move. Some of these have been crash gybes. The cleats are set 6 ahead of the front rim of the sheet bins - see photo. Single handed I bring the traveller lines to the steering console, laying one over the gear lever and the other over the wheel brake so they are ready to hand. For info I increased my traveller tackles to 6 part using more 2 more ball bearing sheaves each side. There was very little improvement in the loads so I do not think this is worthwhile. The traveller car is a beast to pull up to weather when fully sheeted in and, though I have never tried it, I have thought of putting the line on the mainsheet winch when on starboard tack and on the port sheet winch when on port. This would be just temporarily to set it up, after which I would transfer the line back to the jammer. Neither winch is in use on that particular tack. Tip:- When I first had the boat we were sailing downwind in light airs and gybed many times. Suddenly I noticed the traveller had slid across the boat and was very nearly off its mountings. Under warranty the UK dealer replaced one of the T bolts on each side with a through bolt. Originally there were two T bolts on either side sliding in the traveller extrusion. I suggested this was fed back to Florida but do not know if it ever was. The only way to tell if this has been done would be to take the blocks off the traveller ends.