TIE HEADSAIL CLEW TO ROLLER FURLING INSTALL
TIE HEADSAIL CLEW TO ROLLER FURLING FULL

Prepare the Area – Previously, I had repaired some core rot in this area and faired the cockpit seat.

The lazarette area was a possibility, but it would require modifying the lazarette locker lid and that seemed like too much engineering. The bridge-deck was also never really a consideration, because they would interfere with movement in and out of the boat and also remove a nice seat. Further, the traveler is best placed at the end of the boom for most amount of purchase. For example, The cabin top wasn’t a good choice, because I didn’t have much room up there and it would also likely interfere with my dodger. I decided on the aft portion of the cockpit seats, in about the same location as the previous traveler had been.

Determine Location – There are a number of places one can place a traveler including the cabin top, bridgedeck, aft portion of cockpit seats or lazarette area.

I’ll be new to sailing when I eventually hit the water, so a traveler may give me more ability to fiddle and play with the sails as I learn the ropes.

By installing the traveler, I was able to build out two blocks which will support the mattress.

TIE HEADSAIL CLEW TO ROLLER FURLING FULL

I plan to have a teak grate in the cockpit that will be able to be raised up to create a full mattress in the cockpit.

The engine controls will be mounted below the traveler and the traveler should stop most lines from getting caught up in these controls.There are some benefits to upwind sailing when using a traveler as you have more specific control over the mainsheet’s location.In the end, I decided to go with a traveler, here’s why: Further, I liked the price of buying two blocks compared to an entire traveler system. I also wasn’t a big fan of how much room the traveler might take up in the cockpit.

TIE HEADSAIL CLEW TO ROLLER FURLING INSTALL

I was a torn about this decision, because it would be far simpler to use the existing mounts for mainsheet blocks than to install a traveler. A few did prefer the traveler and mentioned it’s ability to better go upwind. I would say the majority of other B27 owners actually liked the mainsheet, dual block system that originally came with the B27. When I first bought my Bristol 27, it had a traveler and I also asked other Bristol 27 owners (via our Facebook group) as to what they would prefer. It was a decision between using the old mainsheet blocks or adding a traveler. The traveler has been installed for a couple months now.

Tie headsail clew to roller furling