mainsheet traveler hardware

[jeffery carson]

I'm not sure if this is a resources/product question or a design/asthetic question. I'm rerigging my 36' ketch, essentially an Angleman Seawitch. I've talked with several designers and two people who have identical boats. All agree that the mainsheet should be on a traveler with control lines so I can maximize efficiency. Looking around, all I can come up with is the Harken/Schaeffer style, contemporary hardware. Everything else on the boat will be bronze and wood shell blocks.

Is there a source for something that will perform like Harken but look like Seawitch? Or should I just use the black Airblocks hardware and shackle my wood/bronze blocks to the traveler car? Opinions?

Jeff

[rbgarr]

Do you have a picture of what your current arrangement looks like?

[jeffery carson]

Nothing handy. Currently it's a mid-boom sheet, on the coachroof, T-track with bronze car and stops, but no control lines. The two people with identical boats have said that being able to haul the car to windward has been critical to performance.

I am building a new companionway hatch cover that the track will shift up onto, along with a laminated bridge. It will be all new construction so the sky's that limit from a design perspective (although not cost!).

Sometimes I wonder if I'm just making my life hard by worrying about asthetics so much, but I have to look at this thing everytime we sail, so I might as well enjoy what I'm looking at.

[Bark]

Have you looked through Classic Marine's website?

www.classicmarine.co.uk

[rbgarr]

Does or will the track curve on the same arc as the coachroof? If so, to be hauled to windward the sliding car may need to have ball bearings. A Harken car and track (or similar) might be what you need and the rest of your fittings could be bronze shackles, pulleys, cleats, etc.

[Gold Rock]

Port Townsend Foundry has made several all bronze traveller arrangements that would no doubt be right up your alley. Lots of time required and LOTS of $$$, but what the hey...