Blown main sheet traveler car- need advice ASAP

[SchockT]

Yes it happens, but the likely cause was age and weathering. Of course severe impacts don't help either!

If the end caps aren't expensive, just order spares, or at least keep an eye on the new ones and replace them if they look suspect.

[mikehoyt]

There are now alloy end caps to replace the plastic ones. Part # HC2276. In the attached link look about halfway down the page for the paragraph that begins "If you've ever busted the plastic ends on your pre-2004 traveler car, you know what walking on marbles is like." APS - Harken Micro and Small Boat Traveler Components

The other thing that was pointed out is that these are old cars. Mine was built in 1987 and has worked for 25 full seasons before this failure. I am not worried about failure again in my lifetime!

Note - in the link above the forum seems to have put my link under the word APS and Sailnet Store link under the word Harken. Click on the APS word.