Traveller Cylinders or Bearings

Hey guys,

My traveller has both a cylinder and a ball bearing (it came this way). They both need to be replaced.
What is the difference between the traveller cylinders and ball bearings? Does one or the other perform better? Murry's sells the bearing set for $20 and the cylinders for $10... So are the bearings twice as good!?

-Scott

I use one of each, I think it makes it easier to install and remove from the track over having two slugs. Main thing is to keep the track clean and lube it occasionally.

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Corkguy H18, Tiger, Wildcat

I used to run with one ball and one slug until at the NAC a few years ago when I reached down to pull the traveler in upwind (main sheeted tight, double trap conditions) and the load caused the ball to pop out of the track. Only time it's ever happened to me, but once was enough. I use two slugs now which I think slides just as well or better anyway.

sm

What type of lube are you guys using on the track? Paraffin wax?
-S

I would stay with things that don't attract dirt. Dry silicone works well. Do not expect the traveler to move under load. Best if it does not. Then when you sheet hard the car doesn't move towards you instead of getting sheet tension. To move the car... sheet out first.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

I've been racing with two balls for about five years and only once had the traveler pop out under load, but it was because I have a triple block for the upper and shackled it to the outermost bail on the boom and the angle didn't give the bearing much to hold. Since then I shackle the block to the middle bail and have not had a problem with the traveler.

I found keeping the traveler track clean important, too. I have used a cloth and gently rubbed out gunk which accumulated. I also found a couple nicks in the track, using my bare fingers, which caused the traveler to stick and sanded them out. Definitely use a dry lube and don't over-do it.

I run 2 slugs. No real reason why now that I think of it. It does help to dremel a 1/16" off the lip where you insert the car. I just smear a bunch of silicone lube in the track like I've seen others do. I'm sure it attracts dust but have yet to have an issue. I can get the car to move out under pretty much any load I believe.

Two slugs and Boeshield for lube.

Jim

Two Balls in good shape and no lube. I keep track very clean and burr free. I have even run 600 grit sand paper down track to make sure it is smooth. Many boats have excessive wear or crap in the track which prevents anything from moving well.

As far as the traveler popping out, I always tie a knot in my traveler end of my sheet that prevents the traveler from going past the inside of the hull. I never want to sail with the traveler all the way out.......

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H18 '85
H18 '89 "Knotty Passion"
H20 '96 "20/20 Vision"
Fleet 259 Central Coast California

When I was referring to the traveler car popping out in my earlier post, it was not a situation where the traveler slid out of the opening at the end of the track (I always tie a stopper knot in the traveler to prevent that from happening). In this case, the traveler ball actually extruded out the back of the track under load. As a result, we had to stop the boat, dump the mainsheet, untie the traveler line, pull the traveler car up to the windward side, install it back in the track, and re-string the traveler sheet - all in ~20 mph breeze. Not a good way to start a race....

sm