83 Supercat 17 traveler

[Bean]

I have an 83 Supercat with the original cable traveler. The boat also has the wrap tramp on the stern. How would I add a traveler car? With the tramp wrapping all the way around the rear beam how would you put the rail on?

[Kevin Keller]

You would have to do what I am doing. I am having a new trampoline made and will use eyestraps or hooks screwed into the beam which you attach the tramp to. I will take pics when mine is done.

[Bean]

I would be very interested in seeing what you are doing.

My thoughts of options would be:

Add a track to the back like what is on the sides. To install it you would have to attach it to the tramp and then screw it or rivet it on because of the use of that same track on the sides.

Add eyelets to web into

Add a spacer under each srew point on the track to raise it a few mm and then cut slots into the tramp at those points

Replace the cross tube with a new one and rewor the tramp or replace it.

The spacer idea is the one that is swimming around in my mind most right now.

Thoughts?

[Bean]

The more I lok at this the more I come back to the idea of installing another rope track to the rear cross bar. That would have a rope track on both sides and the rear. Then I could tention from the front bar.

What are your thoughts on this? Is that rear track strong enough riveted to the rear beam? Can the tramp be properly tentioned from just the front?

Thanks for input.

[Kevin Keller]

That would work I guess. You would have to put a piece of aluminum maybe 1/4" x 1/2" x the length of the track inside of the beam so you can screw the track to it. The beam itself is probably not strong enough to thread alone. That is what I did to my SC-20. I put 4" aluminum beams that are 1/8" thick.

All you need is one side to tension the tramp.

What kind of tramp track do you plan on mounting to the rear beam? I had a hard time finding it myself and chose to use eyestraps.

[Matt Haberman]

Bean,

What you describe is exactly how it was done in the early days of using the harken traveler, before the tramp track was extruded into the beam. Riviting the track to the beam works, but it will loosen over time so Kevin's suggestion of the screws and backing plate is a better long term solution.

[Bean]

I haven't looked for the track yet but the eyes sound like a good idea and they would most likely allow me to use the current tramp with some enhancements. What would you think... 4" centers for the number of eyes??

[Kevin Keller]

4 inch centers are what I used.

[Bean]

New idea for the traveler?

I am considering taking the track and laying it over a 1"x .25" x 8' aluminum bar stock. Using the mounting points as a template and drilling and threading the bar stock. Then drilling the tube the same way without the threading. If I attach the ends the rest of the holes should line up perfect. That should get the track mounted.

My concerns: Is .25" of aluminum enough to secure the track? Will non-radiused bar cause any issues (square stock behind round tube)?

What are your thoughts?

Hulls are beefed up and getting painted now. Project is coming along nice.

[Kevin Keller]

That is pretty much what I did. I think I used a 1/2" wide piece instead of an 1" wide. As long as you don't over tighten it, I don't think there will be a problem with the radius. I used a centering punch to make sure the holes were centered correctly. 1/4" should be plenty of thickness for threading.