How bad/good is the Supercat cable traveler? :: Catamaran Sailboats at TheBeachcats.com

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How bad/good is the Supercat cable traveler?

revintage

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 13, 2017

Last visit: Jan 26, 2025

Posts: 282
Posted: Nov 22, 2021 - 01:47 PM

Thinking of building a really low budget traveler system for the beater cat I am about to build from the KL 15.5 hulls(same as the obsolete Nacra SL16) and left overs in my workshop. The real thing with Harken 22mm rack and traveler, that I have om my other cats costs to much. So if the SC cable thing works at all, it might be the budget and lightweight solution.

As I have a mainsheet swivelbase assembly from a 5.5, I thought that would come in handy. The idea is to have two blocks, one as "traveler" along the Dyneema line(instead of cable) and one block for adjusting traveler in/out. Both connected to the mainsheet lower blocks. Really rough sketch, hope you get it anyway.

I would really like some images on the cable fittings on a SC and info of how loose/tight the cable is stretched.

The original, note it is upside down:

From the SC20 manual:

Edited by revintage on Nov 22, 2021 - 02:15 PM.

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Brgds
Lars

Frankentri 5.8/5.5/Inter20
Aerow trimaran foiler

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1192604934176635
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Edchris177

Rank: Chief

Registered: Nov 26, 2009

Last visit: Aug 10, 2024

Posts: 2531
Posted: Nov 23, 2021 - 01:21 AM

Hey Lars,
I might have a better solution...as in a Harken car/track. It’s up at my lake house, I’m in Korea right now, but will be back there in the next couple days, will take some photos.
It’s off my old Mystere 6.0XL, was not the traveller for that beast, but used as a jib control when I bought it. I didn’t like it, removed it & have never used it since.
You can have it if it works for your setup. Will have to look into shipping. We have planes going to Europe every day, it might work to send it with one of the pilots & have them forward it. I don’t do Europe very often as it’s shorter trips & you have to work more days.
Minimum days, maximum pay is my motto!

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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revintage

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 13, 2017

Last visit: Jan 26, 2025

Posts: 282
Posted: Nov 23, 2021 - 05:28 AM

Hi Edchris,
Interesting, thanks for the offer! Is it something like the Classic Tornado(before self tacking) with a wire from inner hullside to hullside?
I am in no hurry, as I haven´t bought the hulls yet, will check them out next Friday. Looking forward to the photos.

Edited by revintage on Nov 23, 2021 - 05:41 AM.

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Brgds
Lars

Frankentri 5.8/5.5/Inter20
Aerow trimaran foiler

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1192604934176635
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Dogboy

Rank: Mate

Registered: Mar 19, 2004

Last visit: Nov 21, 2024

Posts: 964
Posted: Nov 23, 2021 - 09:43 AM

Maybe search craigslist/classifieds for a used Hobie 16 rear crossbar and salvage the traveler track & car from it. They can be found relatively inexpensively and I would think will work immensely better than a cable.

sm
revintage

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 13, 2017

Last visit: Jan 26, 2025

Posts: 282
Posted: Nov 23, 2021 - 10:02 AM

DogboyMaybe search craigslist/classifieds for a used Hobie 16 rear crossbar and salvage the traveler track & car from it. They can be found relatively inexpensively and I would think will work immensely better than a cable.

sm

Thanks for the advice, but unfortunately there are few SH parts to find in Sweden. BNR Netherlands have a lot, but shipping makes cost rise, especially if they are above 5 feet long. Besides that, the cable solution is lightweight and I have all the parts. It will also cure my curiousity.

Like I mentioned, it is a really lowbudget fun/beater project with 3m beams, as complement to my other cats and dinghies. No more trim than cunningham, mainsheet and traveler. At first no spreaders/diamond, no boom, no mast rotator and no trapeze .

Edited by revintage on Nov 23, 2021 - 10:06 AM.

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Brgds
Lars

Frankentri 5.8/5.5/Inter20
Aerow trimaran foiler

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1192604934176635
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Edchris177

Rank: Chief

Registered: Nov 26, 2009

Last visit: Aug 10, 2024

Posts: 2531
Posted: Nov 23, 2021 - 11:19 AM

QuoteIs it something like the Classic Tornado(before self tacking) with a wire from inner hullside to hullside?

No wires. It’s a small track, affixed to a tube, with a Harken car. I can’t remember the specifics, I took it off as soon as I bought that 20’ beast. It’s at the bottom of a pile of Nacra beams & old Hobie tramps at the lake house.

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Hobie 18 Magnum
Dart 15
Mystere 6.0XL Sold Was a handful solo
Nacra 5.7
Nacra 5.0
Bombardier Invitation (Now officially DEAD)
Various other Dock cluttering WaterCrap
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revintage

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 13, 2017

Last visit: Jan 26, 2025

Posts: 282
Posted: Nov 24, 2021 - 06:13 AM

Had to calculate the loads involved. As I don´t know how slack the cable should be I went for 200mm above beam. The traveler blocks will also be able to take part of the load, but I calculated with a vertical load only, on the Dyneema with the blocks centered at two different widths.

EDIT: Added a downward load of 0.5kN to the traveler block to show how this affects the Dyneema load. Figures within brackets.

Edited by revintage on Nov 24, 2021 - 06:53 AM.

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Brgds
Lars

Frankentri 5.8/5.5/Inter20
Aerow trimaran foiler

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1192604934176635
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texastuma

Rank: Mate

Registered: Nov 22, 2012

Last visit: Jan 27, 2025

Posts: 419
Posted: Nov 24, 2021 - 09:55 AM

revintageHad to calculate the loads involved. As I don´t know how slack the cable should be I went for 200mm above beam. The traveler blocks will also be able to take part of the load, but I calculated with a vertical load only, on the Dyneema with the blocks centered at two different widths.

EDIT: Added a downward load of 0.5kN to the traveler block to show how this affects the Dyneema load. Figures within brackets.

Edited by revintage on Nov 24, 2021 - 06:53 AM.

I don't think there are any issues with load. There will be more load than the jib sheet on the Nader, but use 5/32" wire or Dyneema and call it good. I would recommend going out to the end of the beams; just for further adjustment. Plus, depending on what you use as a traveler system, a good portion of the load can be absorbed by the traveler line.

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Scott

Prindle Fleet 2
TCDYC

Prindle 18-2 Mod "FrankenKitty"
Tornado Classic "Fast Furniture"
Prindle 19 "Mr. Wiggly"
Nacra 5.8 "De ja vu"
Nacra 5.0
Nacra 5.8
Tornadoes (Reg White)
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revintage

Rank: Mate

Registered: Aug 13, 2017

Last visit: Jan 26, 2025

Posts: 282
Posted: Nov 27, 2021 - 08:50 AM

Did this sketch and applied some sheeting forces to it. Should be no problem with only 14sqm main area.

Edited by revintage on Nov 27, 2021 - 05:33 PM.

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Brgds
Lars

Frankentri 5.8/5.5/Inter20
Aerow trimaran foiler

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1192604934176635
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