[benesailor]

Looking for some ideas for what size and type of line for a lewmar size 2 traveler.
Specs:
Mid-boom sheeting
Boat Length 40'

My current cordage is not working. It swells up and is binding/slowing my car down. Just the the wrong stuff for the job. Wrong size and all.

I can't find the specs for this traveller on-line.

Looking for something that is slippery, less kink.

Would New england ropes regatta braid 8mm work? or go with 10mm? Single braid?
I know what they recommend; what do y'all think?

Any recommendations would be much appreciated.

 

[Stumble]

The current size 2 is supposed to handle up to 10mm, but I would recommend nothing larger than 9. The smaller the line the easier it moves inside the blocks and as mentioned over time line swells.

Beyond size, you don't need strength, just something that doesn't absorb water.

 

[benesailor]

thanks

 

[zz4gta]

I use salsa line on my traveler and others that I rig. It works really well and runs very fast.

 

[benesailor]

I use salsa line on my traveler and others that I rig. It works really well and runs very fast.

Saw that yesterday

It was recommended at the sailshop that i avoid single braid dyneema because it is slippery and may slide thru the cam cleats.

I believe i'll get samson MLX; polyester covered dyneema core.
Product

Is the Salsa slippery?

Thanks

 

[Stumble]

A couple of things...

1) the biggest issue with traveler lines is that they twist inside the blocks. Any single braid is far less suseptable to this than any double braid. Since the core and cover can start to twist inside each other leading to hockles. Salsa is one of many single braids that works fine to control this.

2) the second biggest issue is that the cover can get hung up and pushed down the core. Causing fattening of the line (another reason to not use double braid.

There are a lot of good single braid lines on the market that will work. Since a traveler typically only has very moderate tension there is no need for high tech stuff like dyneema or salsa. Things like Tenex work fine at much lower prices. That being said I have amsteel traveler lines since it was in my bag when I went to replace the traveler last time and I was too lazy to replace it after it was on.

Dyneema is slippery stuff, but it works fine in cam cleats. At least in low load applications like travelers. I wouldn't trust a jib sheet to a cam alone.

 

[JonEisberg]

Saw that yesterday

It was recommended at the sailshop that i avoid single braid dyneema because it is slippery and may slide thru the cam cleats.

I believe i'll get samson MLX; polyester covered dyneema core.
Product

Is the Salsa slippery?

Thanks

I love MLX, I've gone to it for jib and staysail sheets and furling lines, but I think it would be a poor choice for traveler controls, for the reasons that Stumble describes...

I agree that a line like Salsa would be best, no problem holding in a cam cleat, and it has a nice hand which can be important with traveler control lines. If you don't care for the color/appearance of Salsa, Regatta braid would be a decent choice. Regatta Lite could also be nice, but containing some polypro won't last as long due to UV degradation... The relatively new PhD rope from Yale could work nicely, as well - I'm using that for my mainsheet now, it's non-hockling and runs through blocks very nicely...

Samson made a line called Apex, very similar to Salsa, which would make a great line for this application, but it's been discontinued. Some vendors might still have some laying around, however, it was only available in yellow/white...

 

[benesailor]

Thanks all for the clarification; i guess i'll rethink this. Look at some salsa

 

[zz4gta]

I've never had salsa slip in a cam cleat. I like MLX, and it's a blended core, I'm using it form my mainsheet, but the salsa works very well as a traveler line.

Tenex, if it works for Stumble, than that's fine, I would never spec it out though. Regatta lite stretches, a lot, and doesn't last that long. Its fine for runner tails, but not much else.

 

[Stumble]

Zz,

You are talking about a 8mm line with a working load of what 25-50lbs? Sort of using bungee cord stretch isn't going to be a concern.

Again I don't like any double braids for traveler lines since the cover and core always wind up twisting inside each other. But almost any single braid will work. I personally prefer lines that don't absorb water for travelers since they are always in the cockpit and get wet and stepped on. But the water thing is personal preference not required.

Any dyneema cored double braid is ridiculously over specced. Remember traveler lines have very low loads so they don't need the strength.

 

[pdqaltair]

I would not suggest Dyneema in a traveler. Sure, it's cool, all the big kids are doing it, but it also has zero shock absorption. Previously I had polyester (Samson XLS is my favorite, Regatta Braid is way to snag prone for my testes, but that is personal), I swapped to Dyneema when someone gave me what I needed for free (demo), and I HATED it. Like jibing into a brick wall. Since then I have actually switched to dynamic climbing rope and I love it. I have the nearly-new Dyneema in the basement, no idea what it's good for.

Nylon for dock lines and anchor rode, high mod for sheets and halyards, and polyester for many in-between tasks. It all depends on what the job calls for.

And yes, many misguided owners put in too-big lines, thinking the grip will be better, that it is an upgrade. I also prefer smooth lines and gloves to fuzzy lines.