New traveller sizing for angled load?

[JordanH]

Hi All,

We had quite a good shake down cruise over the past 6 weeks. We hit some winds which really helped us find some weak spots on the boat; a few days of 25-35 knot winds and on the last day when we were broad and beam reaching in ~28knots of apparent wind for 18 hours straight and the 12' short, mixed cross-seas took the crew and the traveller to task... fortunately the crew survived, but alas the traveller did not. We over extended the system either through wind pressure or, more likely, some harder gybes and as a result the ancient stop pins bound in the aluminium track and stop holes are bent out of shape; Pins and track are done.

My Contessa 26 has a custom built, raised traveller that is near the stern, aft of the boom by a few feet, creating a ~45-60 degree vertical mainsheet angle. (I still must go properly measure the angle and distance) This angle and placement is unlikely to be changed so I'm hoping to improve the system that will work on the existing structure.

So... I'm on the hunt for an improved traveller system and I'm stuck on two points; How do you calculate the load for an angled mainsheet and which style/design (make/model) will handle such an angled load.

For those mathematically inclined who may wish to begin with a load calculating formula I found in the Harken catalogue, P=28, E=10, V=up to 35 knots, X.... Angled load changes this I suspect.

Keep in mind this is a 1983 Contessa 26 on the Great Lakes; We rarely see more than 20-25 knots but I've already been out in 30+ with comfort. I want durability, I don't shy away from the weather and I really don't care about weight but I do care about cost.

[tommays]

Garhauer Marine Hardware -3019126

Tell them what want it will be nice at a fair price

[mitiempo]

Rather than expose a traveler to a load angle it is not designed for why not change the mount angle to meet the load. A roller bearing traveler with the load at that angle will put the entire load on the bearings on one side.