Mainsheet traveler on small ketch

[westerly33]

Hello,

I am wandering whether mainsheet traveler installation on small ketch makes sense? I think that keeping the main to close will backwind the mizzen and that is why it is useless.
There is no traveler on my boat and as I can see some bigger ketches have no mainsheet travelers as well.

Regards.

[WanderingStar]

My ketch has no travelers either.

[Allanbc]

My ketch doesn't have a main traveler either. I agree that the main would probably backwind the mizzen.

[Jeff_H]

Adding a traveler would allow you to adjust twist in the mainsail and adjust the angle of attack, so that you would be able to minimize the negative impact of the downdraft (backwind) from the mainsail on the mizzen while also controlling the impact of backwinding from the jib on the mainsail. In many ways the interaction of the mainsail and mizzen on a ketch means that a ketch needs a traveler a whole lot more than a sloop or catboat.

Jeff

[klem]

I have a traveler on my ketch and it is incredibly helpful in controller sail twist as Jeff suggests. The boat really would not sail as well without it. A boom vang would allow some of the same control but a traveler would be best.

[MARC2012]

I have a traveler on mine.marc

[westerly33]

Originally Posted by Jeff_H

Adding a traveler would allow you to adjust twist in the mainsail and adjust the angle of attack, so that you would be able to minimize the negative impact of the downdraft (backwind) from the mainsail on the mizzen while also controlling the impact of backwinding from the jib on the mainsail. In many ways the interaction of the mainsail and mizzen on a ketch means that a ketch needs a traveler a whole lot more than a sloop or catboat.

Jeff

Jeff, how long is your traveler rail?
I can install only 26 inch rail. Do you think it worth it?

Thank you.
Alexei

[christyleigh]

Originally Posted by westerly33

I can install only 26 inch rail. Do you think it worth it?

Mine is about 48 inches from the factory but anything you can do to add more adjustment possibilities is a Good Thing..... never bad. I also added a crude but functional knotted rope traveler to my mizzen that came with none since the very beefy dingy davits provided the attachment points. I have to manually move the mizzen mainsheet connection from knot to knot for adjustment but the forces on the mizzen on my small boat are so small it's easy to do.

[Jeff_H]

Originally Posted by westerly33

Jeff, how long is your traveler rail?
I can install only 26 inch rail. Do you think it worth it?

Thank you.
Alexei

I actually own a performance oriented sloop with nearly end boom sheeting so my traveler is around 6 feet long, but the small ketches that I sailed had roughly a 3 to 4 foot long track.

Jeff